User Interface (UI) / User Experience (UX) / Web Development
Limbitless Solutions Clinical Trials Website and App
Transforming the experience to empower clinical trial participants
Prior to the creation of this domain, the process for anyone to obtain a bionic arm was not optimally structured. Everything from email chains to communicate to lengthy paperwork colored the bionic arm recipients experience. With the start of the 2018 clinical trials for 3D printed bionics alongside Oregan Health Science University (OHSU), there was a need to create a more streamlined and inclusive process to gather applicants, communicate with them during the trials, as well as making the process less intimidating and more fun!
Who was involved?
My role: Lead design of web and app interface, developed user experience, assisted in front end web development
John Sparkman, Vice President, Co-founder, Albert Manero, President, Co-founder: Assisted in development of user experience
John Sparkman, Vice President, Co-founder, computer science interns: Lead backend programming and database management
What software and tools were used?
Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, Google Firebase Database and Storage, Visual Studio Code, HTML and CSS, Bootstrap, Flutter Dart, Responsive Design
G O A L S
1.
Create a clinical trial recruitment process that is easy to understand and engaging
Clinical trials are notorious for being lengthy and sometimes confusing processes. The process from announcement of the trial to the sign up and information gathering process needed to be consistent, easy to navigate and understand, and engaging enough to keep initial applicants interested in completing the entire process without frustration or impatience.
2.
Once members are in a trial, create an experience that is immersive, empowering, and fun
Instead of going down the traditional route where participants are treated like patients and interface in-person a couple of times a year, creating a system that is much more family or valued customers-friendly. Gamifying and personalizing the entire process is the end-goal: this allows the process to be empowering as well as entertaining.
3.
Improve the communication and feedback loop for participants
Initially most communication would only occur through lengthy email chains, phone calls, or talking in-person: all inefficient ways to maintain contacts with participants, especially those across the country. This also further made troubleshooting issues with devices even harder to diagnose and repair: the infrastructure needed to change so participants could easy touch base with our team and hospital partners.
The process: designing a system that doesn't exist yet
Designing websites and apps for the biomedical industry had been a fairly new development: there are still many questions that have not been answered, and many dangers when done incorrectly. This probably explains why infrastructure progress in that industry has been slower than others. Considering data and personal medical information security (such as HIPPA) and being sensitive to data collection while protecting the rights and safety of clinical trial participants in research are all precautions we had to consider while designing the website and app, as well as programming the backend and database.
The result
The Limbitless Clinical Trials Domain
1.
Dashboard that contains progress tracking and time limits: direct feedback for clinical trial applicants to monitor what's happening behind the scenes during the continuation of a trial.
Can send messages or notifications if any information is needed from them.
Contains the personal information as well and can be updated at any time.
Everything is easy to access in one place.
2.
For research and data security purposes: starting at the header with clear statement of intent of use for the information being asked so there is no confusion for the user.
Guided and segmented forms with clear language and minimal to no use of jargon.
Easy to fill out inputs, bite-sized pieces of information.
Questions populate based on the previous answers to tailor the form to each unique user's needs.
3.
Switching up traditional text inputs with graphics, sliders, chart and diagrams.
This makes it easier for users to respond to otherwise complex concepts or hard to communication information through only writing/typing.
4.
Guided instructions with many high-impact, clear graphics illustrating what is explained in the text.
Instructions for families and participants must be as clear and obvious as possible to ensure the best experience and the most accurate measurements
The Limbitless Clinical Trials App
1.
Main dashboard showing all updates and statuses for the user's device in one place for quick review.
Each section is color-coded to be consistent throughout entire app.
2.
Instant messaging with live chat: any member of the staff leadership team will be able to answer questions the family members or a participant may have with their device quickly.
This helps users feel connected in in-the-loop especially during repairs that are lengthy.
3.
Access to all training video games, as well as the ability to track progress with each game is available.
Keeping all assets for training effectively in one place and easily accessible will increase positive experience for users.
4.
When a bionic arm stops working, it is most likely due to mismatched calibration: the flex strength of the user is too low or high for the signal to be read by EMG sensors.
This interface helps users visualize and easily understand what their flexes are as EMG signals.
They can adjust the strength of their threshold by simply dragging the meter up and down. This gives users a huge amount of control and empowerment.
5.
Whenever repairs do come up and cannot be solved by calibration (physical breakage, for example), instead of families having to call or travel to our lab, they can simply submit a guided inspection report.
Using large graphics, easy language, and segmented information, this helps make reporting errors much more effective to understand for both families and our team.
