Usable Design

Purpose
Blood pressure machine is suitable to be used for self testing by patients, to monitor blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and pulse rate. The blood pressure measurement is obtained by the use of the oscillometric method, meaning that the monitor detects the blood's movement through the artery in the arm and converts the movement into digital readings. (No need of stethoscope and the expert's ear.)

Consideration
The blood pressure monitor is not suitable for people who have circulatory problems, such as arrhythmia. Heavy arteriosclerosis and other circumstances such as spasms in the arm may result in erroneous readings and prolonged measurement time, which may be considered more painful.

1) Screen
2) Start/Stop button
3) Menu button
4) Scroll

Proposal no.1 - Wireless Homecare

Wireless homecare is the modern designed application for the mobile users to help them in saving their time and money. The system is operated through mobile, which controls all the switches of the apartment.

Application will have the record of all the switches of the house in form of names or switch numbers, such as light, TV, curtain or One, Two and so on. However preferred; all the switches of the apartment will be connected to the headboard of switches, which will be in the mobile application.

The technology will benefit mobile users in many ways:

• Time saving


• Easier way of controlling the switches


• Minimizing the Electricity bill


• Operate the switches while not present at home


• Peace of mind

http://www.premierelectricblinds.co.uk/SMARTHouseIllustrationNEW3.gif

Equipment

Switches
Mobile

Requirement

Mobile Application

Proposal no.2 - Carefree

Carefree is the innovative system designed for the ease of guests in hotel industry. The system works electronically by storing the customer’s details on the swipe card. The Guest can use any of the hotels facility by swiping the card which will automatically put the bill into Guests account.

As soon the Guest checks in the hotel they will be issued a magnetic swiping card which they can use it as key and later to make any transaction in the hotel which will save Guests time and will keep all the records at one place. Guest can also see the record of the transaction by swiping the card in the machine.


This technology will benefit Guest and the business in many ways:

• It is cost efficient system which will save direct costs in future.


• No human errors which will give positive image to Guest


• It will save time as fewer transactions to deal with.


• It will keep the Guest satisfied as they can view there transaction


• It will record all there transaction in one place and no receipts to deal.

Scanner, FRID Card and the display screen.

The system would work like in the picture above.

Original Image taken from

http://craziestgadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/pocket-projector2.jpg

Equipment

RFID card
RFID card readerA display screen for the records

Proposal no.3 - Wireless Blood Pressure (BP) reader and a message sender (WBP)

WBP is fast and mini version of checking BP from this wireless device. It has the facility to provide accurate information and has a repetition system. It gives a lot more carefree job by just wearing it on the wrist and doesn’t require a helping hand.

A lot more time saving is the use of message sender. It will be attached to the wireless BP reader and records all the information. Not only that, it will actually send all the relevant information into the doctor’s pager.

Alerts the doctor in case of emergency and gives the patient a stress free life. Gives you the result within minutes and keeps the patient's health to the maximum.

This technology will benefit the hospitals in many ways:

• Alerts the doctor at emergency times


• Keeps the doctor up to date


• Easier way of communication


• Fast way of sending the present information/situation of a patient


• No hassle for appointments or waiting for a doctor


• Regular and convenient way of check up


• Easy to use and handle


• Confidential


• Time saving for doctor and the patient

Equipment

Mini blood pressure reading device
Pager
A message sender device (which would be attached to the blood pressure device)

Bluetooth Blood Pressure device

These devices help to keep you up to date with some of the following
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Activity levels
Weight

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/graphics/images/2007/12-07BloodPressureBIG.jpg

Wireless technology exists but it hasn’t yet been taken a step forward where the results would be sent forwards for any kind of use.

Smart homes

As a part of my research I will be looking in similar projects that already exist such as Smart Homes. According to the site http://www.jrf.org.uk/housingandcare/smarthomes/

‘What is smart about this home?

Where the smart house really differs from other houses is that a communications infrastructure is installed that allows the various systems and devices in the home to communicate with each other. The modern home contains a variety of systems, such as central heating, fire and security alarms, and devices, such as televisions and lights that usually exist in total isolation from each other. In the smart house, these systems and devices are able to pass information and commands between them so that, for example, the security alarm can turn the lights on or off.
In developing the smart home, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation looked at how people currently use their homes and worked out how different technologies could make everyday tasks simpler or easier. Existing equipment in the home can be adapted to provide more functions; for example detectors normally used for security alarms can be used to identify if someone is in a room. New equipment can also be installed to automate tasks such as opening doors or windows.’

Picture from http://www.azalarms.net/Structure%20Wiring.htm

Proposal Ideas

Proposal no.1. Home Security while you’re away.

The purpose of having a controlled house system through mobile is time consuming as well as energy saver. No system programming is required such as having timer set to start the fridge or similar appliances. The best thing about the application is, it’s through mobile which is a portal device and nearly everyone has one.

My audience are the people who can afford the initial cost of the system, age group starting from 20+ and onwards. It will be very helpful to older citizen who find it hard to move and stretch. They would be able to control their heating system, lights, curtains, security, fridge etc.

Proposal no.2. RFID card reader for hotels.

The purpose of having an internal credit card system would benefit the business of hotels and would save staff member keeping records of goods sold.

My target audience are the business class people and people on holidays, age starting from 25+ and onwards.

Proposal no.3. Wireless blood pressure reader and a message sender.

The purpose of the Wireless BP reader and message sender is to keep doctors up to date with the health of patients and alert them when there is an emergency.

My target audience will be all the patients in hospital.