Macula Mailbox
Project Overview
Georgia Tech Digital World & Imagery Group
Emory Eye Center
Collaborative Research Project
Team Size
4
My Role
UX Designer
Illustrator
UX Researcher
Timeline
Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
Challenge
PRL training devices are expensive and limited in availability, requiring frequent sessions that are particularly challenging for elderly AMD patients.
Moreover, the interfaces and user experience of current devices are poorly designed, offering little positive reinforcement to support patients during training.
Goal
Our team aims to utilize immersive technologies to make Fixation Stability Test and PRL (Preferred Retinal Locus) Training sessions more accessible for AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) patients. Our goal is to empower patients with greater self-efficacy while fostering collaboration between patients and their families.
AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) is a progressive eye condition that affects the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, leading to loss of central vision. It is a leading cause of vision impairment in older adults and can make tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces difficult.
Fixation Stability Test is a diagnostic procedure used to assess how consistently and accurately a person can maintain their gaze on a fixed target, which is critical for evaluating visual stability in conditions like AMD.
PRL (Preferred Retinal Locus) training is a medical process designed to help individuals with vision loss from central retinal damage, such as AMD, utilize healthier peripheral areas of their retina to enhance visual functioning.
Outcome
Our team utilized Figma, Adobe Premiere, and Adobe After Effects to create video prototypes showcasing the workflow of the immersive training experience and the mobile application.
Flow 1: Onboarding Process
The onboarding process introduces elderly users to hand gesture controls and the interface using clear, step-by-step voice guidance for a user-friendly experience.
Flow 2: Fixation Stability Test
Before starting the training session, patients are first invited to complete the fixation stability test, which evaluates the stability of their current use of their PRL location.
Flow 3: PRL Training
During the PRL training session, patients must focus on the direction of the PRL location and maintain their gaze for a preset duration to flip the postcard and access the text and voice message.
Flow 4: Creating Postcards
Upon completing all assigned training sessions, users earn stamps that can be used to design personalized postcards. To capture a picture, users should follow the direction indicated by the PRL indicator and use the headset's AR camera.
Flow 5: Postcard Collection
Under the Postcard Collection tab, users can explore and revisit the postcards they've gathered from previous training sessions.
Flow 6: Mobile Application
Patients' families can use the Macula Mailbox mobile application to create postcards for the patients' training sessions and review postcards created by the patients.
Unity Demo
During the design process, our team concurrently developed Unity demos to test the functionality and feasibility of the design.
Our team used the Varjo Aero VR Headset to test our designs and Unity demos.
Leveraging Headset Eye Tracking Data:
We aim to utilize the headset's eye-tracking functionality and data to replicate the effectiveness of the MAIA Microperimetry's Fixation Stability Test and PRL Training.
Demo for the Postcard PRL Training:
Patients must focus on the direction of the PRL location for a specified duration to flip the postcard and reveal the text and voice messages. If the patient shifts their gaze away, the music and the progress bar will pause, encouraging them to maintain focus.
Process
Design Requirements
Based on our research, we developed following design requirements:
Research Process
Our team visited the Emory Eye Center and interviewed Dr. Susan Primo, Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine. During the visit, we discussed the treatment process and the limitations of current technology. Under Dr. Primo's guidance, we also experienced the MAIA Microperimetry firsthand, gaining valuable insights into the device's functionality and application.
Our team conducted a systematic study and analysis of the handbook of MAIA Microperimetry —the device used by the Emory Eye Center for AMD treatment—to gain a comprehensive understanding of the treatment process, the technologies involved, and the parameters used to evaluate patient performance.
Literature Review
Our team conducted literature review to explore existing studies on designing immersive and gamified experiences for the elderly. We found that gamified experiences offer significant opportunities to enhance user engagement, build self-efficacy, and actively involve patients' families in the training process.
Ideation
Inspired by our literature review, our team developed a concept to involve patients' families by allowing them to send digital postcards to the patients. Patients can view these postcards by completing training sessions using the headset. Patients can also create their own postcards and send them to their families using the headset's AR camera, fostering connection and motivation during the training process.
Main Features
User Flow
Information Architecture
Low Fidelity Prototype
My Takeaways
Design for Healthcare:
In the early stages of the project, our team dedicated significant time to understanding the Fixation Stability Test and PRL Training. We also explored leveraging the Verjo Headset's eye-tracking data to create prototypes for VR and AR-based training activities. This process highlighted the complexities and challenges of designing for intricate medical treatments.
Design for the Visually Impaired:
The iterative process of visual design and user interfaces underscored the importance of prioritizing user needs while addressing complex design requirements. It also emphasized the unique challenges of meeting the diverse needs of all users, particularly those with visual impairments.
Design for the Elderly:
This project emphasized the critical need for equity and accessibility in design solutions. It reinforced the importance of considering the specific needs of underrepresented populations, such as the elderly, to ensure inclusivity.
Working with Immersive Technologies:
The project demonstrated the potential of AR and VR technologies in enhancing existing medical treatments. It showcased how these tools can provide new opportunities for creating innovative, effective, and thoughtful design solutions.
Collaborating with Experts:
Working closely with healthcare experts and receiving continuous feedback was an invaluable learning experience, offering deeper insights into the practical applications and challenges of medical design.
Next Steps
Research Paper Development:
Our team is currently summarizing the project findings and constructing a research paper to document our process, insights, and outcomes comprehensively.
Design Implementation in Unity:
We are currently implementing the design solutions in Unity, transforming the Figma prototype into an interactive and functional experience in preparation for future usability testing.
Workshops and Feedback Sessions with AMD Patients:
Following the Unity implementation, the lab plans to conduct workshops with experts and feedback sessions with AMD patients. These sessions aim to gather valuable input and refine the design to better meet user needs.
