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Skills in this Project:
Solidworks
Arduino/Coding
Adobe Suite
Procreate
KeyShot Rendering/Animation
3D Printing
UX
Prototyping
System Thinking
App Development
The Overall Project:
This was an individual project that lasted 2 university semesters where I was given the opportunity to explore any area for a design opportunity. Within this area for design opportunity, I chose to research concussions within sports in Australia. This is due to my belief from when I played contact sport that the current measures aren't effective for medical staff on the sideline. This project has heavily influenced by research and development of creating a product for the end-user while incorporating future technology to create a product that is user friendly and provides an easy and accurate diagnosis. While incorporating business model thinking in order to aim for the product that can be market-ready, in terms of IP strategy, business vision, and viable technology.
Product render in red gradient background, which was created in KeyShot 9
Product render in red gradient background, which was created in KeyShot 9
Product render in aqua gradient background, which was created in KeyShot 9
What is CON-I?
CON-I is a concussion diagnosis headset that is highly usable, objective and provides a detailed analysis for sideline medics. CON-I enables medics to be supplied with a tool that can be able to diagnose an athlete’s concussion in 5-7 minutes while obtaining quick and accurate information with regard to the athlete’s condition. This is to prevent athletes from returning to play too early, avoiding the potential of exacerbating brain injury.
'CON-I' Features
Athlete Safety
Concussion Diagnosis
Eye-Monitoring Technology
Reaction Based Testing
Wireless Charging
App Connectivity
How It Works:
CON-I aims to obtain quick and accurate information with regard to the athlete’s condition. In order for the athlete to be provided with an in-depth assessment, giving them enough information to make a justified decision. So if the athlete chooses not to see a doctor, they know enough about their condition to not return back to sport too quickly. The medic simply attaches CON-I onto the athlete’s head where the test is conducted. The test utilizes a reaction-based technique that is displayed through Augmented Reality onto the frosted glass visor in the headset.
CON-I Features:
This new device incorporates a new system additionally consisting of an app that allows test results from the headset to be viewed and sent away to the athlete’s doctor or the athlete. This app also offers a memory and balance test that don’t require in the scenario that the athlete is unable to wear the headset.
CON-I streamlines the concussion assessment context for both medic and athlete preventing medics from being rushed into making generalized assessments, therefore, preventing athletes from returning to play early. The overall aim of the new system is to prompt medics to easily send assessments directly to doctors so they can know more about the athlete’s concussion. This system offers a trustworthy improvement to what is currently provided in the current context.
CON-I Internals:
So, how does this headset provide a quick, easy, detailed diagnosis? The headset utilizes eye-monitoring technology and heads up display internally. Combined together with reaction-based testing, it provides an assessment in which objects flash up on the visor and the athlete moves their eyes to accurately and quicker look at the object displayed. Objects (circle, square, triangle) were chosen as they are commonly used in other concussion tests to identify when someone is concussed. This test along with calibration will take 5-7minutes. An example of how this test is played can be seen in the first video.
Data is analyzed through an algorithm that’s constructed on the basis of how accurately the athlete’s eye position is within relation to the object that’s displayed on the visor. This is through area brackets that surround the displayed object. If the eye position is in the first area, the athlete is fine. The second area resembles that the athlete has a mild concussion, where the third outermost area is when the athlete has a severe concussion. This process offers a system that can provide a diagnosis independently without needing to analyze the athlete for 30mins, which is the current technique used, thus reducing time in assessment and providing an easy to use a product that can destress the medic and provide an accurate diagnosis.
Headset Interface Display
User Experience:
The headset is designed to have the majority of its touchpoints (on/off, play/stop, etc.) so it can be highly accessible for the medic to reach and interact with. The buttons are also designed to be out of the way of the athlete’s hands when holding the sides. The headset accommodates a concussion diagnosis light below the battery level lights to notify medics of the athlete’s diagnosis as soon as the reaction-based test is completed. The light signal 3 different colours on the athletes diagnosis (red = severe concussion, yellow = mild concussion, green = no concussion).
How the frosted visor works when the user is wearing the headset.
CON-I App:
An app is integrated into the headset where data is transferred from the headset to the app for the medic to see and showcase to the athlete. The data can also be sent to the athlete’s doctor so they can know more about the concussion than just relying on the subjective analysis of the athlete. The app offers a memory and balance test if the athlete is unable to wear the headset.
Material Composition:
Materials were selected based on durability, weather resistance, comfort, ergonomics while showcasing a sporting aesthetic. As each headset would be exposed to the elements for the majority of its lifetime and worn on a variety of athletes on a weekly basis. The overall durability of the materials is crucial as the headset will likely experience drops, varying weather conditions, dirt, and other impacts during use.
Overall aesthetics were considered as well in providing a product that does suit the sports product aesthetic, this is where the introduction of synthetic fibre fabric on the part of the headset that comes most in contact with the athlete’s hands. This fibre also acts as grips and be comfortable for the athlete when holding.
CON-I Hygiene:
Hygiene is a crucial part of the sporting context, and how CON-I supports hygiene is through incorporating an interchangeable and removable hygiene pad. This pad comprises medical-grade silicon to support multiple uses but also can be easily cleaned/sanitized by the medic after the athlete has used the headset. The pad is attached via velcro to the headset to support an easy application and removal.
CON-I Strapping:
In order to fit multiple age groups and sizes the strapping in the headset is inspired by the ease of use within swim goggles in how they are adjusted at the front sides. The headset utilizes this functionality as seen in the photo to allow medics to pull the sidebands when fitting the headset, to be as quick and easy as possible. The bands used in the design come from ski goggles for their ability to stretch to fit, requiring a minimal amount of adjustment. The back part combines both straps to allow the medic to adjust the top strap.
CON-I Packaging:
The CON-I carry case offers sideline medics an easier way of transporting the headset around the playing field or offer protection when not in use. The case also offers inductive charging, which allows the headset to be charged in-between uses during the day to guarantee the headset will last multiple uses.
CON-I will enable sideline medics to be able to complete concussion diagnoses without the pressure of time and confusion that they currently face. Enabling them to provide an educative experience to athletes on their condition while also providing an in-depth assessment, being able to prevent players from returning to the sport too early. The supporting system alleviates the pain of not having a user-friendly data presenter while also being able to send assessments straight to the doctor. All these design elements create a design solution that aims to improve the current concussion context that safeguards the next generation of athletes.
The Design Process
The Problem:
Currently, the concussion assessment system used by sideline medics only generates a generalized assessment of an athlete’s concussion. Which leads to ongoing problems regarding when the athlete should return to play, whether their condition is severe or mild, or more information so the athlete can take their concussion seriously and seek professional treatment. By not knowing about their condition, athletes run the risk of jeopardising the health and wellbeing in aggravating their concussion symptoms by returning to play too early.
But why are generalized assessments being completed? It’s due to the current provided tool (SCAT 5) to do an assessment are too hard to complete, take too long, and is often confusing for medics. It isn’t designed for the environment they’re working in.
Miro Post It board of information gathered from interviews that could be significant for the project. This information helped in finding problems in the current context.
The Research:
At the end of the first phase of this report, it was evident that further research was required to better understand the stakeholders in the sporting context, eye monitoring technology, and further technology required to run the reaction-based test. As a result, interviews were arranged with industry leaders in headset technology, concussion research and sporting stakeholders. Questions were employed to get a clearer understanding of these topics and to find an appropriate design solution.
These interviews were carried out over a number of weeks in the design process. Where eventually, they acted as design validation when early prototypes were presented to be discussed. The entire process was based around the combination of secondary research and validation from experts in the industry, which strongly influenced the design direction.
The Development:
In developing the idea further, I sketched out the idea with the concept of creating a design that allows for more streamlined interaction for the end-user. Sketching started off with hand sketching but transitioned into digital sketching on Procreate as I wanted to teach myself a new program for sketching. The design of the headset was inspired by the Ready Play One VR Headset as it incorporated an interactive AR visor. The photo below illustrates the process of how the headset was created on Procreate.
The Prototyping:
From meetings with industry experts and user testing, the design did change in each stage of its development to improve the ergonomics, user experience, and user touchpoints that can be improved upon. Another one of these changes included the evolution in the headset strapping. The photos below show the evolution of the design in both physical and digital forms.
Stage 1 Physical Model
Stage 2 Physical Model
Stage 3 Physical Model
Stage 4 Physical Model
Stage 1 Digital Model
Stage 2 Digital Model
Stage 3 Digital Model
Stage 4 Digital Model
The Final Design:
CONI has encompassed the key findings that were acquired from the first phase of this research report. It will enable sideline medics to be able to complete concussion diagnoses without the pressure of time and confusion that they currently face. Enabling them to provide an educative experience to athletes on their condition while also providing an in-depth assessment, being able to prevent players from returning to the sport to early. The supporting system alleviates the pain of not having a user-friendly data presenter while also being able to send assessments straight to the doctor. With all these design elements creates a design solution that aims to improve the current concussion context that safeguards the next generation athletes.
Product Intro
Physical Model Showing Working LED Circuit
Physical Model Arduino Circuit
Manufacturing:
All internal parts of the headset would be made from Aluminum mould ABS Polycarbonate as it offers high durability and impact resistance at a relatively low cost compared to other plastics. Exterior parts or parts that come in contact with the users would be made from medically certified silicon as it has good hygiene compatibility, ease ergonomics due to its flexibility. The silicon is over moulded around the internal parts in production.
These parts do contribute to a variety of different manufacturing processes that can be costly due to the fabrication required to attach the fabric onto the headset.
Sample Technical Drawings
Roll-out Plan:
Having a design that can be brought to market as quickly as possible was an aim throughout the design process. This was due to stakeholder criteria of having a design that’s easy to replace, inexpensive to produce, and offers less technology. The sporting stakeholders would be purchasing this device for medics to use. Giving the market a sense of what the product can achieve, would be beneficial in developing the final solution. Allowing for further improvements to be made. This led to creating a rollout plan where the CONI will be released in 2 stages where the MVP will be released in 1-2 years, and the vision will be released in 5-10 years. Giving the stakeholders a sense of how this product can bring value for both medics and athletes.
What I learnt:
This project tested every skill that I've been taught in my 4 years of study at QUT. It was a pleasure to see the outcome of the project and being able to learn new digital skills in sketching (Procreate) and Rendering/Animation (Keyshot) that elevated my product showcase skills to the next level. One key aspect of the design I would like to see further improved upon would be the overall size of the headset. Having a smaller scale would improve weight and user experience with the design.
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