Author: katedono298
Final Review
We had a hard time yesterday coming up with the most effective way to make the visualizations for our project. We originally wanted to make a powerpoint because we weren’t sure that we would be able to print the graphs large enough to be seen for proper presentation. However, I definitely felt more comfortable during the presentation without a powerpoint because I feel like I was able to more easily engage with the visuals and with the audience. I was really impressed with how the first group integrated powerpoint into their poster style presentation to show the images in a larger view for everyone to see. This was something that I would have never considered. Additionally, the group did a phenomenal job outlining the full detail of their decision making in each step of the process which is something I feel we could have improved on in our presentation. While we did articulate our process and demonstrate the decisions that went into our algorithm, our presentation could’ve benefited from a more detailed diagram and explanation of the decision making that led us to our original idea and prototype.
For my personal health project, I made a bar graph indicating caloric intake and did not even think about adding any other factors into the graph to show a more holistic depiction of the information. I compared the data with my partner’s exercise schedule to look for any correlation in the data and did not even consider adding that information into the graph until it was suggested afterwards. It was very interesting to see other peoples’ approaches in choosing visual aids for their presentations. I found this method of presentation much more engaging both while presenting myself and while listening to my classmates’ presentations. It was helpful to see the information laid out in front of us all at once to be able to see more of a story and to be able to follow more closely what was being discussed during the presentations.
-Kate
Data Collection and Processing
Today Mira and I worked to create a more accurate, concrete algorithm to determine the difference between trembling and other movements that our patient does with her hands throughout the day. Our original program was based on numbers that we estimated to be decent cutoff frequencies to detect the kind of movement we were looking for. We realized after collecting data from the patient’s movements yesterday that there were certain movements, such as excitedly using hands while engaging in conversation, that fell within our criteria for trembling with our original code. We decided to look at the range in amplitude of the motion recorded from the accelerometer. After collecting this data, we were able to come up with additional constraints to make a more accurate algorithm. By increasing the amount of data we collected, we were able to more clearly detect the type of trembling motion we were looking for and decrease the chance for false positives.
-Kate
Chair Design Exercise
I really enjoyed the design case we did in class today. It was kind of relaxing to sit and prototype with both paper and clay and I liked the opportunity to compare the two mediums as I went through the design process. It was interesting to hear other people’s thought processes and to see what values and needs they prioritized in their designs. It was beneficial to hear from others who have first hand experience in caring for people with dementia and decreased mobility as they had insights beyond those details written in the case. I noticed that as soon as I came up with one idea, I had trouble looking past it to consider other options. A lot of the designs other people made had aspects that I had not even considered. This shows the value in working in a team to solve problems because it can lead to greater consideration and thought. The individual brainstorming followed by prototype and presentation seems like an effective way to approach brainstorming within a team because it allows everyone to get their ideas out without the opinions of others hindering their thought process. The physical prototype made me more comfortable with sharing my design with the class because it allowed me to have an actual physical object to reference as I explained my idea.
Personal Health Project
Through the personal health project I have noticed more and more the importance of journey mapping and taking a step back to look at the entire interaction involved, not just at the specific problem. Through interviewing, my partner expressed that his main health goal was to eat less junk food. We did readings and had class discussions about need statements so I wanted to be sure that this was the best focus for his overall needs. As I talked more with my partner, it did appear that this was a common problem for my partner. I was originally only focusing closely on what I assumed to be the problem so I was solely collecting data about what and when my partner eats. After listening to other projects and getting feedback from the reviewers, I took a step back and realized that sleep, diet, exercise, and work are all related and cannot simply be considered independently. I have now increased the amount of data that I am collecting from my partner to include workout time and duration to potentially redirect my methods of intervention. This same process can definitely be applied to other design projects in the future because it decreases the likeliness of completely missing an integral factor that contributes to the problem at hand.
-Kate
Day 1
It was very interesting meeting the patients that we will be working with over the next two weeks. Listening to personal accounts of living with diseases is different than reading about the diseases and hearing their stories presented design challenges that I never would have considered. The obstacles these patients face when using the new technology is enlightening because these are challenges that could be overlooked or prioritized lower in the design process. I think the personal health goal design challenge will be beneficial from an engineering standpoint because it presents a problem that is very applicable to our own lives. The process I go through to help my partner could probably be applied to my own life as well to make personal healthy lifestyle changes as well.
-Kate
BME Design 