Diassess: User Input in the Design Process
Think about an everyday object that you find difficult to use. It may be a specific computer program that is unintuitive, a device where the “on” button is nowhere it be found, or even the uncomfortable headrest in your car that hurts your neck every time you try to sleep. There are many examples of devices with poorly-designed features, some of which may be due to a lack of meaningful user feedback during the design process.
User input is an important component of the development and integration of a medical device. Last week at Diassess, a bay-area startup company, the BIE cohort learned more about the process of incorporating user input into design. Diassess is working to approve and sell the first point-of-care, self-diagnostic DNA test for influenza. They were founded in 2013, spent many years developing their core technology, and are now in the process of approving their product and integrating it into the current healthcare system.
Over the years, Diassess has held many user-input studies. They recognize that the general public is a major stakeholder in their over-the-counter home diagnostic device, and should be a main consideration in developing the user interface of the device. Even those without a background in science or medicine should be able to use and understand their test with ease.
As engineers and inventors, it’s our job to solicit opinions from our future device users. This may include polling users on their desired qualities for a particular device, observing whether or not users are able to use a device correctly, or even asking about a device’s look or packaging. Later on, focus groups may help companies to formulate strategies for advertising their product to certain population segments.
Although Diassess engineers originally found it more intuitive to mold their diagnostic test in a specific way, they soon discovered through user studies that the general public, those to whom they were marketing, had different priorities and preferences. This and other user studies led them to change their design to be more easily accepted by consumers.
Overall, the BIE cohort was impressed with the amount of planning and thought that went into each new iteration of Diassess’ diagnostic test, and look forward to seeing the final product on store shelves in the next few years.
