Ativo: A Data Inspired Design Used to Manage Energy Expenditure for Heart Failure Patients

Abstract

We present three subsequent case studies to design for heart-failure patients at home. The process resulted in the design of Ativo—a tool to help heart-failure patients with their energy management. The research was done using a Jawbone Move activity tracker to obtain data from two heart-failure patients for three weeks each. During the three weeks period, a cultural probe was conducted twice in combination with patient interviews to collect information and data on their daily activities. Another probe was used to test the viability of the concepts. The data obtained captured the critical events that may have gone unnoticed, which helped us to make a design rationale. A conceptual prototype was created and validated with a heart-failure patient using the cognitive walkthrough method. We received positive responses showing that the patient liked to have alternative ways of tracking her energy level throughout the day. After a month, the patient reported continuous benefits from the awareness derived from using the prototype.