Product Journey

The last few weeks of my product development were mainly about reducing the size of the chair. The chair originally started as a much larger device that had a chamber for water displacement at the bottom. The chamber was moved to the back of the chair and the device was slimmed down considerably after talking to potential users who indicated that they would want it to fit more easily in an apartment or home. At one stage the chair had a removable back that could be used on regular chairs and in cars but potential users also indicated that those devices typically hurt their neck more than provide relief due to the awkward sitting position.

I created a video that focused on the benefit of “freedom”. In talking with my potential customer throughout the process I found that being able to perform activities that they used to do before (jumping, lifting heavy objects) was very important to her. I also learned that the empathy stage of Design Thinking can be used not only to determine what a consumer might want out of a product or service but just as importantly why they might want those benefits – what it would allow them to do differently or better or how it would improve their lives.

Obviously this “why” can help educate the marketing around the project but I think, in developing a product, understanding why the user derives certain benefits can create more empathetic innovation that better serves their needs. 

Final Tinkercad Link: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/cti68iP3V9N

Screenshots:

After reading the Downfall of Doppler Labs and 5 Lessons to Learn from Startup Failure, it seems that a lot of problems could/would have been solved simply by more thoroughly focusing on customer needs. In the case of Doppler, the founders prioritized size over battery life – and were destroyed in the market. Pearl’s car backup camera prioritized size over price.  Jawbone chased fads that were only fleeting indications of customer needs. And did Juicero really never come across a single test user who asked if they could just squeeze the bag by hand?

The answer seems simple: interact with more potential customers, engage in Design Thinking, develop empathy.

But is it that simple? These companies know that product-market-fit is paramount. They have millions of dollars to spend on research and development and market analysis. How could they be so wrong, so frequently (the failure rate was 90% in 2020)? I think the answer is that understanding the customer is very very difficult. You can spend millions of dollars and still be wide of the mark. I kept thinking back to the article of the mayor in Utah who spent three nights in a homeless shelter. That level of empathy and deep understanding on an even greater magnitude is needed I think to fully understand a customer. Decisions tend to be made a distance. Users are brought into the office for tests and focus groups. Data is culled but not always investigated in person.
Decisions are made from pre-conceived notions of what a customer wants, wrought in the semi-flexible and often overly-hubristic minds of startup founders.

If a technology is ever created that magically allows complete empathy with a consumer, where you could put on a headset and walk in that persons shoes, Freaky Friday style…then the success rates might change. But barring this sort of meta-startup I think the best route is something that we’ve been learning all semester long: observe, talk to, empathize with and fully understand your customer, throwing out your pre-conceived notions as best you can. I think my fellow class mate, Brian Skutch, did an amazing job of this when he basically told his potential user that the concept wasn’t his idea, in order to get to the unvarnished truth. It’s a form of disguise, similar to the mayor in Utah. It’s super difficult to get to the core of a customer’s needs but also so fundamental and often missed.

My product started with a bunch of ideas in my own head (a gelatin that could go in a bathtub, a water-bed that had exercise attachments, a fluid-filled couch cover). Observation was the first form of “co-creation” in a way, because through observing the user I came to realize that the device needed to be used throughout the day in order to provide spinal decompression for long periods of time and, ultimately, longer lasting pain relief. When I actively participated in co-creation, showing the user a 3D model and engaging in conversation, I found that the user wanted a product that was much slimmer. The user was imagining the device in her own home space and this process helped inform the structure and size of the chair. Further conversations revealed that the removable upper neck/back portion of the chair was unnecessary because the user finds similar objects (such as a pillow behind the back) to be uncomfortable. 

 

My understanding of Agile v Scrum is that Scrum is a subset or a flavor of Agile. The umbrella term “Agile” refers to an iterative development process where small, working prototypes are created at first and tested with customers in order to create learnings that are then imbued in the following iteration. The product is developed through constant, small, growth cycles – each cycle acting like a check to make sure it’s growing in the “right” (or customer-centric) direction. Agile also requires teams to be cross-functional (team members have multiple, overlapping roles) and self-organizing (they determine when and how the work gets done).

Scrum on the other hand is a subset of Agile and has specific rules on how teams should work. It sets the roles of a Product Owner, who works with stakeholders within and outside of the organization to determine what work needs to get done (and puts this ordered information in the Product backlog), the Scrum Master, who acts as an advocate, coach and shepherd for the team (making sure no more work gets added than agreed), and a small cross-functional, self-organizing team of up to seven individuals who do the work. Scrum also utilizes “Sprints” which are periods of time (30 days or less) in which the team has to create a product iterations. During the Sprint the team has daily standup meetings, 15 minutes or less in time, when they express and roadblocks to their work (which the Scrum Master can help lower) and what they plan to do that day. At the beginning of the Spring they all agree which items from the product backlog they will take on. Importantly, at the end of the Sprint they also reflect on the work done, what could have been done better and the iteration is shown to various stakeholders in order to inform the order of the Product Backlog and what needs to be taken on during the next Sprint.

Using Agile for the product development of my Weightless Chair, instead of version that has all the features I would like (heater, removable neck piece), I could instead create a bare-bones working product. For example, I could use a couch instead of a chair, fill a malleable plastic material with the water/saline solution, drape it over the seat and back of the couch and test it with my user. This way I would have a simple, preliminary iteration that would test the core question: will my user get long-lasting neck relief from sitting on a water/saline solution that decompresses their spine. And I wouldn’t have spent more time and money creating features or a full-chair, without first answering my most important question.

I made a couple of changes to my design. The main thing I did was slim it down considerably by moving the water-filled section to the back of the chair and removing the sides and large base. I also removed the arm-stretching device and came up with a design that would allow part of the chair to be removed so it could be used in cars or on different chairs.

I slimmed down the size of the chair in order to make it easier to fit in smaller spaces such as apartments. It also makes the product more aesthetically appealing and wouldn’t be as difficult to imagine in a home setting. I removed the arm-stretching device because my user explained that she wanted her arms to be at her side most of the time when resting and that she can do stretches without any aid or straps, which is what she does in the shower. I created a top section that was removable in order to make the chair more versatile, giving the user the ability to take the top part and use it on a different chair or in a car.

I spoke with my user again to make sure I was understanding the problem correctly and I did find that her core problem is lasting relief for her neck pain. Her current solutions, including stretching in hot showers and heating pads only last for a few hours. The root problem is that she has a herniated disc which is out of place. When the muscles around the disc are tight and her spine is compressed, the disc is more likely to touch a nerve and give her pain. By using a product that decompresses her spine for long periods of time, her herniated disc will be less likely to come in contact with the nerves near her vertebrae. 

I used Marius Ursache’s problem statement canvas in order to better understand the root problem, its emotion and behavioral impact, and the available solutions.

When neck pain occurs, individuals with chronic spinal issues who are normally active, experience discomfort and have restricted movement. Because of this they feel frustrated, anxious, nervous, and remain seated for up to 6 hours a day in positions that add to spinal compression. Currently, they use heating pads and stretches in the shower to alleviate the pain, despite the fact that this does not give long-lasting relief and does not affect spinal compression. However, the saline-solution/water chair allows for decreased spinal compression throughout the day, allowing for more permanent spinal decompression and comfort.

I also created a problem cycle:

Here’s a link to my revised Tinkercad design: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/7zvvjKax3eP

And below are a variety of photos of the new design.

 

   

Customer Conversations

Below is a full transcript of my conversation with my wife regarding her neck pain but the main questions I focused on dealt with the frequency and severity of the pain, methods she currently uses to alleviate the pain, the effectiveness of her current solutions and how valuable a solution would be to her. I added questions as the conversation went along and a main goal of mine was to try to understand if the neck pain was just a symptom of a root problem – namely spinal damage that would require surgery – or if it was a problem in and of itself.

I came to find that it was a bit of both. While her neck pain does stem from an underlying issue with her facet joints, there is no adequate solution short of major reconstructive surgery. Understanding that the root problem can’t be solved, the daily neck pain, exacerbated by certain movements, becomes a problem that she frequently tries to solve.

I learned during my conversation that on average she feels neck pain on a bi-weekly basis, on bad weeks the pain occurs on a daily basis. The frequency depends on her activities. Carrying heavy objects, stress or driving aggravates the pain. She described the pain as making her feel “anxious, uncomfortable and uneasy”.

Her current methods of alleviating the problem include stretching, heating pads and icy-hot patches. She currently spends around $25/week on these methods. While she says they are very successful at alleviating the pain, they only do so on a short-term basis. She said she would pay up to $200/month if she was able to get long-lasting, more permanent pain relief. She’s spent many thousands of dollars in the past ten years trying to alleviate the pain.

Considering the frequency and severity of the pain, the steps she currently takes to alleviate the pain and her willingness to pay for a solution, I believe that her neck pain is a real problem in her life.

I learned that she’s actually happy with the short-term pain relief she gets from stretching and heating methods. But considering the high amount she’s willing to pay per month for long-lasting pain relief, it seems long-lasting relief is therefore the most valuable solution to her. The stretching feature I built into the chair may not be necessary therefore because she currently stretches in the shower under hot water, which she finds helpful.

She responded favorably when I showed her my prototype. She thought it was cool but had questions and seemed apprehensive regarding whether the chair would actually decompress her spine. She didn’t think the arm stretching devices were necessary, she said it would be nice if it had a temperature feature to warm up the chair and asked if it was meant as an exercise device or something that could be used throughout the day. She mentioned that if it actually worked for long-term pain relief she would pay at least $1,000 for such a device. But, she said, space was a big consideration. Making sure it can fit in small spaces is important. That’s something I’ll have to consider as I continue refining the product.

My initial problem statement was as follows: Young to middle-aged female who works from home needs an accessible way to decrease compression on her spine while doing exercises and resting because she has a debilitating neck injury which causes her daily pain and frustration.

Based on my conversation with my wife, I would change that to also be focused on long-term pain relief. Something I learned is that what frustrates her the most isn’t only the daily pain, it’s also the inability to do certain things in her life – including carrying heavy objects, driving, flying, and even jumping, without a great deal of pain. I feel that the chair therefore needs to be utilized in a way to help her strengthen her spine to be able to not feel as much pain when she performs these activities.

Step 1

How frequently do you feel neck pain? Every week, a couple of times a week on my good weeks.

And on your bad weeks? Maybe like 4 days or 5 a week. When I have bad pain I have it every day for the whole week and then after about 1 week it goes away and returns to a couple times a week.

What adjectives would you use to describe your neck pain? When it’s really bad it travels to my arm and it’s like it feels like an electric shock and after the very intense pain goes away it’s more like a dull pain and it makes my neck stiff, I can’t really move it that well and when I’m like that I feel very tired.

How frequently do you get that really bad pain? It really depends on my activities, if I’m carrying heavy stuff or if I am very stressed out or if I’m driving, those aggravate the pain. Maybe once a month or once every two months depending on my activities during that time.

Describe an average “episode”. Average is just like, the muscles get very tight and I cannot move my neck. It restrains my mobility. How do you feel in those moments? I feel anxious, very uncomfortable and uneasy. That stress makes the muscles spasm and makes the pain even worse, it aggravates the nerves more.

What time of the day do you normally get the pain? Sometimes when I get up I have the pain from just being in bed too long or sleeping in the wrong position but usually it’s in the afternoon or at night after a whole day of doing stuff.

What activities cause the pain the most? Lifting heavy things, driving, sitting down for too many hours in the same position, flying makes it feel bad too. When I’m in a position that I’m restrained in, where I can’t stretch or move. 

One a scale of 1 to 10, how painful is an average episode? Like a 5.

How painful is a very bad episode? 10.

How painful is a not so bad episode? 2.

What methods do you currently use to alleviate neck pain? Changing positions frequently, doing stretching exercises, applying heat, Tai Chi, breathing exercises, neck stretches in the shower. Icy hot patches too. I really try not to take Tylenol or pills.

How successful are those methods? They are good because they alleviate the pain but they don’t solve the root problem. I have an injury from a car accident and it would require surgery but even then it wouldn’t be completely fixed. 

How often do you think about your neck pain? I learned to live with it and something I have in mind and I know if I move a certain way or lift something or turn my head I will get the pain, it’s something I’m conscious and aware of all the time. 

If the methods you described are successful, why do you still get neck pain twice a week? Because my daily activities are sitting a lot, I sit for too many hours and sometimes I do lift things in the wrong way.

How long does the relief last using your current methods of pain relief? It all depends on my activities. I feel better but the following day if I do something wrong I feel the pain again. Otherwise the pain doesn’t come back – it’s very related to the activities.

Are there any activities you miss/wish you could do without pain? I used to do a lot more aerobic and cardio exercises but now I have to be very careful with those. I just miss being pain free, since the accident 11 years ago I’ve never been pain free. I went through so many different treatments. I did acupuncture, physical therapy, water therapy, traction therapy, 

What’s Traction therapy? They pull your neck with a machine to stretch it. They gave me cortisone shots in my neck, I took Lyrica, which is nerve pain for years, I took that for maybe 2-3 years.

What’s the best method you’ve ever used to alleviate the pain? Aqua therapy and acupuncture.

How do those compare to your current methods of alleviating the pain? Well aqua therapy, I still do some exercises that I learned in Aqua Therapy, some of the stretching exercises. The current methods are great for a short period of time, the other ones were recovery methods and what I do now is like alleviating the pain.

How important to you is the difference between alleviating the pain and recovery? It’s very important but I know that I have reached a recovery plateau. So I’m able to function 60-70% better than when I first had the accident.

So would the best methods you used still be helpful? Yeah probably. But they’re expensive.

How much would you spend to keep doing acupuncture or water therapy? Uh maybe $150/month.

How much money have you spent in your life trying to alleviate the pain? More than $40,000.

How much money do you currently spend on alleviating the pain? I bought a heating pad, I buy icy-hot patches when I need them. $25/month maybe.

Has neck pain limited you from doing certain things in your life? Yes. Like exercising, playing sports, carrying heavy things like backpacks.

You currently spend $25/month to alleviate the pain. And this does a very good of short-term pain reduction. How much would you spend a month for more long-term pain relief? $200/month for long-term pain relief. It depends. I know it’s not fixable. If there’s something that could make it feel next to normal I would spend more, I kind of have low expectations at this point but yes I’d be willing to spend more.

If the pain was more effectively or permanently eliminated, what effect would this have on your life? I would be able to perform other activities, drive longer distances, jump. I would feel less stressed out because as I am very conscious of my injury I’m constantly thinking about it so it would make me more relaxed that I won’t get an episode.

Would you define neck pain as a problem in your life? Yeah it’s a problem for sure.

How important is it to you to alleviate your neck pain? It’s very important.

Why? Because it will improve my life quality.

Who in your life knows about this problem – family, friends, just family? Work? Family and friends. My inner circle.

Why just your inner circle? Well I feel like, as the accident was so long ago people who have come into my life lately don’t know about what happened and at the same time I feel like only people that go through stuff like this know how it can impact your life in 10-15 years and most others don’t understand.

 

Step 2

Show the product – Observe reactions.

Wow. And what are the arm things for? Cool. That arm position hurts, I can do it for a little bit but I would like my arms to float freely. Does ant-gravity work like this? What happened is my facet joints collapsed, so if I’m with my arms extended out for a period of time it starts to hurt. By my side and not up. How much is it? Not sure, how much would you pay? I would pay for sure $1000 at least if you tell me that it does help a ton. Smiles.

 

Step 3 

Would you help refine this solution, are you interested in this actually existing?  Yes. It needs some neck support for sure. The space situation is an issue. Does the water heat up? Does it get warm?

For my electronics assignment I created a distance sensor that, when activated, powers a small heater. The heater would be placed near the neck of the user so that the Weightless Chair would have the additional feature of warming the users upper back and neck during use. I have observed that heat (warm showers and electric heating pads) help my wife alleviate some of her neck pain and I thought it would be helpful to have an electric heating pad build in. 

Some frustrations I came across included figuring out how much resistance was most appropriate for the resistors in the heating element. I decided on 4 x 27 Ohm resistors in order to reduce the amount of heat and possibility of damage to the electronics. I also am using the Serial Monitor feature in the code section of Tinkercad, along with a temperature sensor, in order to monitor and print out the temperature. I could only get the temperature to print to the Serial Monitor though and spent a while trying to find a component in Tinkercad that would display the output of the Serial Monitor, which I couldn’t find.

Here’s a link to the Tinkercad Design:

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/lBi4cBADEty-copy-of-test/editel?sharecode=uoqsrUhN1ysejbbdKtPL_997PyNBGGf8ihvd1hHzpLg

Below are screenshots of the electrical set up with the working simulation: 

Full View

 

Close-Up of Distance Sensor

 

 

Close-Up of Heater / Temperature Sensor

 

Close-Up of Serial Monitor

 

Resources:

www.alanzucconi.com/2016/08/02/arduino-heater-1
www.alanzucconi.com/2016/08/02/arduino-heater-2

Lesson Seven

https://learn.adafruit.com/tmp36-temperature-sensor

I created a circuit that has a photo-resistor, speaker and two LED lights in a parallel circuit. When you start the simulation and turn up the light on the photo-resistor, the speaker and two LED lights turn on. If you remove or delete one of the LED lights, the other LED still lights up. It took me a little time to figure out how to create the parallel circuit but after playing around a bit I figured out that a cable needed to be run from the vertical path of the positive wire going into the anode of the first LED that leads to the same vertical path as the anode of the second LED. See below!

For my second design assignment I chose my wife as my target customer and focused on the problem of solving her neck pain, a chronic condition she’s had since we first met.

I defined the problem as: Young/middle-aged female who works from home needs an accessible way to decrease compression on her spine while doing exercises and resting because she has a debilitating neck injury which causes her daily pain and frustration. 

I did research on spinal decompression methods, therapies and back muscle exercises and found that aquatic therapy, where the individual exercises while submerged, gave lasting relief to many patients. The buoyancy that water provides decompresses the spine and allows the patient to build muscle more permanently. Just sitting in the water also helped decompress patients’ spines and also alleviate pain but the most recommended exercise I found was a sweeping “T-shape” movement of the arms. 

I designed a “weightless chair” that is filled with a water and magnesium-salt mixture in order to give the user the feeling that they are “floating” and decrease compression on the spine. They can rest in the chair or use a circular device to do “T-shape” exercises. The exercise device would be filled with water as well and have sleeves that the user puts their arms in so that their arms are also buoyant. 

The chair would allow my wife to exercise or relax while decompressing her spine, potentially providing her with lasting pain relief. I posted some images of my Tinkercard design below. 

I’m in the process of learning Tinkercad and started out by building an object that reminds me of my childhood: a Maltese Cross. My parents are from Malta and I grew up with this symbol of the island in many of the fabrics, ornamentation and Maltese souvenirs around our house.

It was harder than I thought it would be to create. I used an initial wedge shape, which I extruded using two more angled wedges in order to give the piece a downward, angled slope. I then mirrored this to form one of the spokes and duplicated across and down to create the rest. Getting everything to line-up was a challenge!

Here’s a link to the Sketchfab upload of the STL: https://skfb.ly/6UXOA

Below are images to my initial sketches and final Tinkercad model.