During the ideation process of this project, it is important I find inspiration from many places. I read an article (https://uxstudioteam.com/ux-blog/healthcare-ux/) on UX trends in healthcare to open my mind to more possibilities and encourage me to come up with more unique ideas.
Digital Health Tools for Pets
There are wearable devices for pets such as smart harnesses and collars. These can track body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, pH levels, and even how many calories they are burning. This can help owners monitor their pet’s health easily.
My thoughts
I think this is a great idea that lots of people would benefit from and I can already think of many uses for this. Knowing that your pet is fit and healthy would put a lot of owners’ minds at ease. It could alert owners if something wasn’t right and potentially warn of an illness or disease early on. If something were wrong with your pet, users could show the vet useful statistics.
This is something that I would use whether it be to track my pet’s health, location, or even just because it would be an interesting tool to have. Reading about this has sparked my interest in health tools for pets and I want to do more research into it.
VR in Healthcare
VR can be used in many ways in healthcare such as, in medical training and for patient treatment. VR can be used by patients in hospitals while undergoing treatments to help them relax.
“In a recent pilot study, patients undergoing surgery…had the option to use a VR headset prior to and during their operation to view calming landscapes during the procedure. 100% of the participants reported that their overall hospital experience was improved”
My thoughts
A hospital setting can be very anxiety-provoking so I think something like this could benefit many people. It may even help procedures be completed quicker because the patient will be relaxed and less distressed. I think it could even reduce pain because the patient is distracted, they don’t have to watch the procedure and their mind is taken out of the situation. There may be some people who are apprehensive about using this technology, such as elderly people, however, I still think it is a great idea.
Medical Wearables
These devices usually come in watch form and can track vitals, sleep patterns, help you keep track of medication, etc. They can be used by a variety of people with different health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
My thoughts
Looking at devices like these opens my eyes to other interfaces I could design for. I like the idea of these as they are easy to view on your wrist and they would encourage good health habits. They are also constantly up to date, unlike doctor’s appointments which just provide a single result. They would also be useful in appointments as you can show your healthcare provider your statistics. A disadvantage may be that patients worry it’s not accurate.