So why do we trust digital devices more? Understanding the ‘why’ is important in ensuring users have a positive experience when interacting with their devices. In this article, Design Engineer Rob discusses the why, and how we can use digital technology across other diagnostic devices.
A 2020 teardown of a digital pregnancy test showed that the actual ‘test’ part uses the same paper test strip as an analogue test. The main difference found was that digital device had added sensing and process electronics that could detect a reading and display it on a small screen in the binary ‘pregnant’, ‘not pregnant’ word format. Newer tests can also indicate weeks through.
For example, Clear blue has three types of test available for purchase. 1 – analogue, 2- digital, 3-digital with date. So why is it that trust in these devices is different when the underlying test is the same and how do these factors translate to other diagnostic and healthcare devices?
In the pregnancy test, when talking about trust – you’re looking at trust in the result. This involves creating a trustworthy conceptual model in the user’s mind on how the device works, considering what builds or reduces trust at each user step can help with this. In this case, ease/simplicity of conducting the test, feedback that the test has been conducted properly, and the way the result is presented are three key areas. Between the analogue and digital devices, slight differences in these areas affect the user’s perception of the device;
In the case of pregnancy tests, digital technology is used to build trust by making the result easier to interpret and providing feedback during the testing procedure which helps improve trust in this specific situation. Using techniques like journey mapping can help understand critical steps and how those steps are perceived by users, in turn offering opportunities for solutions.
A 2022 report revealed the 3 most important characteristics (out of a possible 10) for innovative diagnostic products for both clinicians and diagnostics companies were reliability, ease of use and cost. Keeping this in mind it is important to evaluate how a digital integration in a diagnostic product may affect these drivers.
HD take a lean approach to product development looking to apply the right technology, to the right situation. In both cases HD have worked on both mechanical and digital diagnostic devices in the past and have in-house examples of using digital devices to provide useful, trustworthy insights to users, if you’d like to speak to us about building trust in your own diagnostic device project, we’d love to chat.
Design Development Engineer
Rob graduated from the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London in 2021 with a Master’s in Design Engineering. Prior to joining HD, he worked in the automotive sector using state of the art 3D scanning and 3D printing techniques. He has a keen interest in human centred, interaction and experience design and has expertise in additive manufacturing, CAD, IoT, UI and mechatronics.
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