Innolay,
Development of a technology-integrated solution to support active ageing,
October 2021 – February 2022
As part of the "Design of Human Machine Interface" module at Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences, the innovative insole "Innolay" was developed using the user-centered design process. This intelligent insole was specifically aimed at the needs of older people and offered an age-appropriate, technology-integrated solution to promote moderate daily activity and increase the independence of this target group.
Task definition
The main aim of this project was to develop a product that supports active ageing and thus promotes the well-being and wellness of older adults. The main challenges were addressed in several presentations held by different organisations and nursing homes as part of the course.
Through the application of various creativity methods and an iterative process the idea of an intelligent system that can be used by legal guardians, caregivers or family members via a smartphone application was developed.
Brainstorming
Personas to define product requirements
In the following step, personas of a granddaughter and a caregiver were created in order to understand their key goals and pain points.
Developing the idea
Based on this, scenarios were formulated and storyboards were created to visualise the interaction between the user of the insole and the user of the application. The smart insole was equipped with various sensors that recorded the movement data which enabled the calculation of the optimum activity to prevent injuries. Further functions were developed for the target group.
Paper prototyping and user testing
Then initial sketches were made. The solution was developed step by step using a paper prototype. The functional design of the application's user interface was validated with the help of user tests and the feedback was integrated into the further design process to ensure that the application met the needs of the users.
Based on the validated paper prototypes, the low-fidelity wireframes were created in AdobeXD. Further tests ensured a sensible implementation of all intended functions.
The visual design of the application was then developed using a mood board created in advance.
Wireframing and screen design
Key project learnings
Working with a mood board proved to be extremely helpful for the efficient implementation of the design. It greatly facilitated the communication of design concepts, which led to significant time savings while ensuring consistency throughout the design process. This gave me a practical tool that promotes fast and focused work throughout the design process.