Our design process emphasized balancing performance, usability, and market viability, specifically for older adult users—a group often excluded from mainstream digital health platforms. Through iterative testing and feedback, we identified key areas to optimize both technically and non-technically. 

Performance Design Trade-offs & Features

• UI/UX Simplification: Results revealed that an overly complex interface discouraged continued use. We optimized the interface for clarity, large visuals, and voice/text prompts to accommodate limited tech literacy. This reduced advanced customization features but improved user retention and satisfaction.

• Wearable Integration: While initially aiming for a feature-rich wearable, we prioritized essential metrics (heart rate, steps, sleep tracking) to balance battery life, usability, and cost. This trade-off improved manufacturability and user comfort.

• Data Sharing & Privacy: We streamlined data-sharing functions to allow users to opt into family connectivity features while ensuring HIPAA-compliant privacy protocols. Although this limited real-time data sync capabilities, it aligned with user concerns about privacy and control.
  
  

Practicality & Nontechnical Considerations

• Scalability & Partnerships: Testing validated interest from healthcare professionals and caregivers. This led us to develop a commercial-tier version for retirement centers and practitioners.

• Societal Impact: By incorporating gamified mental health prompts and community engagement tools, we addressed isolation among older adults—a nontechnical but critical health factor.

• Economic Access: A freemium model ensures the app remains accessible, with premium options for added features, increasing adoption across income levels.
  
  

Our optimization strategy ensures the product not only performs reliably but also aligns with the values and needs of its target demographic.

Planning & Task Breakdown

• A detailed Gantt chart and sprint schedule were created at the start of the semester, outlining phases for app development, wearable prototyping, internal testing, and presentation prep.

• Tasks were divided across our multidisciplinary team—electrical, software, and computer engineers—according to individual strengths, ensuring balanced workloads and accountability.

• We used tools like Discord and Google Docs for task tracking, milestone deadlines, and collaborative updates.
  
  

Adaptability to Technical Challenges

• Early feedback revealed our UI needed significant simplification for older adults. In response, we reallocated design resources and adjusted our testing timeline to focus on UX improvements.

• Wearable device calibration issues required re-prioritizing hardware testing ahead of integration with the app. This delayed initial rollout but ensured sensor accuracy and reliability before public use.

• Additional requirements for data privacy compliance were integrated into the later development sprints without derailing progress, showing our flexibility in adapting to regulatory concerns.
  
  

Completion & Accountability

• All major deliverables—including a functional MVP, user-tested app interface, and wearable prototype—were completed on time or ahead of schedule.

• Regular team check-ins and peer evaluations helped reinforce communication and ensure consistent progress despite changes in scope.