Objective: Design an alarm clock for elderly people

1) Asking questions:

What is the age of the target group? Assuming they say +70 years old.

Are they visually impared? I’ll assume yes, but they were glasses.

Do they suffer from shaking? I’ll assume yes.

Hearing problems? I’ll also assume yes.

Should it be an app or a physical alarm? Assuming they say it is up to me.

2) So what can be this group pain points we need to solve.

They cannot see well, so we need to avoid small numbers/text.

They are used to old alarms, and they are not tech friendly. They want something easy to use.

Some of them have hearing problems so the sound should be higher for some users. However, They don’t want to be scared by the alarm !

They normally want to set it up at the same time every day. They mainly use it for their pills rather than to wake up.

 

3) Now, let’s think of how we could address these issues:

Since they find comfort in what they already know, it might be a good idea to develop an “old fashioned” alarm clock.  They are more familiar too with clock hands, but they are somehow a challenge to set up considering the locomotive hardships. Therefore, it could be a digital + old fashioned alarm clock  to be placed upon any surface (night stands, desk).

– It would signal with a light whether it is on (green) or off (red) so they clearly know .

– It will have big numbers, easy to change with physical buttons that will be easy to press. There will be an On and Off swich to turn it on.

– The sound will grow gradually. It will start lower and increase to a moderate – high sound.  Therefore, they won’t be frightened by it if they are sleeping or doing something else.

– It will contain a box designed to store the pills next to it.

 

Problem Statement: Design an alarm clock for the elderly people?

Question to interviewer: Why? Is there any short coming for the existing alarm clocks?

Interviewer: You figure out

Question to interviewer: Does it have to be an actual clock?

Interviewer: Yes

Question to interviewer: What age group is considered elderly?

Interviewer: 55+

Question to interviewer: Does the elderly use alarm clock for any purpose other than a wake up reminder?

Interviewer: IDK

Assumption: I am under the assumption that elderly use an alarm clock just as a reminder and nothing else

Problem Statement: Design a mechanism for people aged 55+ to help them wake up

User segments:

Age group: 55-70

Relatively tech-savvy, trying to maintain an active lifestyle, health conscious, hearing ability starts to diminish

Age group: 70-80

Not tech-savvy, hearing ability low, physical control – low

Age group:80+

Not tech-savvy, hearing ability poor, physical control – low

Selection: User segment 1 – Age group 55-70 because TAM is higher and other segments are difficult to market the product to.

User segment pain points:

1. Trouble falling asleep and dislikes loud sounds
2. Forgets about setting alarms
3. Not app-driven, need an easy to use technology
4. Is usually with a partner or alone – seeks company
5. Misplaces alarm clock and need to search for it

Product vision: A personalized alarm companion

Product features:

Sleep planner: Elderly loves routines, a voice commanded setup with zero touches, and can be set for every day through one command. Customizable for weekdays and weekends according to schedule. Based on the alarm time set, sleep planner feature sets voice-based reminder for the right time to sleep (Based on age, sleeping patterns etc.)

 

Greetings from dear: Kids and grandkids can record their voices “Good Morning Grandpa” etc. that can be used as an alarm tone instead of the traditional tones.

 

Right wakeup time: Alarm clock designed to monitor the REM sleep cycle and wake up when only when in the light REM cycle closer to the set alarm. Sleep tracking based on breathing patterns (non-intrusive, equipment less sleep monitoring.

Bright color and with voice recognition: Easily noticeable color in the room with a docking station, responds to a question with a beep. For ex: “Alarm where are you” – beeps, snoozes based on voice command.

 

Prioritization:

1.  Sleep Planner: Impact: High, Effort: Medium
2. Greetings from Dear: Impact: High, Effort: High
3. Right wake up time: Impact: Medium, Effort: High
4. Color and Voice Recognition: Impact: Low, Effort: Low

Metrics:

1. Sleep Planner: Alarms set in a week, frequency of interaction
2. Greeting from kids: No. of messages recorded per user
3. Right wake-up time: Avg No. of snoozes

Trade-offs: Compliance with data capture, the success of certain features depend on user data.

 

Clarifying quetions:

1) Is this for waking up or as an reminder

2) At home or in oldage home?

3) Physical or digital product?

4) Any business goal ??

 

User identification:

1) 70+

2) Couple or living alone

3) Shaky hands,  forgetfulness, weak on hearing

 

Use cases to consider: 

1) Setting up an alarm – Priority High

2) Snooze . – High

3) Stop – High

4) Lost and Search  – Low

5) Battery change  – Low

6)  Fall and may break

 

Pain points

1) Setting up is difficult. May forget to setup

2) Might not even hear.

3) Disturb other family members

4) Snoozing button is difficult to find.

 

Solutions 

1)  Voice based setting up. Natural language.

2)  Alarm would ask before sleeping whether you wanted to be woken up?

3) No sound. Instead of gentle nudge to wakeup.

4) Gesture or  voice based snooze – No need to open your eyes and find button

 

Final product 

A wearable who would wake the person up by nudging. If technologically possible, then gradually make person ready to wake up instead of giving a sleep shock.  Setting up just by voice commands. Snooze by just raising hands or voice.

Metrics to capture.

1) no of alarms set and person really woke up

2) Time required to setup.

3) No of times person forgot but our product reminded to set up

Comments highly encouraged.