User Experience design of the mobile ultrasound device that connects to a phone. The design is intuitive, featuring familiar functionality for doctors, along with a new information architecture and additional MVP features.
In the summer of 2022, I began my studies with Google’s UI/UX Design courses, and this project was part of my spadework.
Who will use this mobile ultrasound device?
The mobile ultrasound device has a wide range of applications, primarily targeting small clinics and ambulances. For instance, veterinary clinics often require a compact ultrasound device to perform scans on animals. Similarly, beauty salons may utilize such devices for administering beauty injections. While there is significant demand for ultrasound devices, their size and cost currently limit affordability.
Design process
At this link, you can see a clickable prototype in Figma Ultrasound of a pregnant woman
The following was my design process and contributions in different phases.
What is the project goal?
To design new information architecture, navigation structure, and intuitive interface for adding more features to this ultrasound device.
What is the project goal?
To design new information architecture, navigation structure, and intuitive interface for adding more features to this ultrasound device.
What is the problem?
1. An ultrasound device is expensive, making it affordable only for large clinics.
2. Ultrasound devices are very large and challenging to move.
3. Software ultrasound items tend to be expensive and update comes slowly.
What are key research question?
1. What are the usability issues with existing ultrasound device?
2. What are engagement features on other mobile ultrasound device?
3. How can we improve information architecture for mobile ultrasound device? 4. What are the usability issues?
What I did to answer these questions?
1. Studying “large” ultrasound devices to create the most convenient, relevant and standard design for medical devices.
2. Analysed competitors and user reviews.
3. Did analyses of best in class examples.
4. Moderated 5 in-person usability testing sessions with working prototype to identify usability and comprehension issues.
Analysed competitors
A detailed analysis of competitors was carried out on such items as location, price, dedicated mobile app experience, features, user flow, navigation etc.
Competitive Audit Report
1. Competitive audit goal?
Compare the experience of registering a new patient.
2. Who are your key competitors?
Our key competitors are Vscan Air General Electric company, an international company, Butterfly, an American company mainly focused on teaching young doctors how to do ultrasound, and the Chinese startup Youkeymedical, which does not have European medical certification. Vscan Air is a direct competitor to PU, Butterfly is an indirect competitor to PU, and Youkeymedical is indirect.
3. What are the type and quality of competitors’ products?
Vscan Air General Electric company has a well-designed app that communicates that it’s a global company, a chain that specializes in many types of medical equipment and pays close attention to detail. The app has excellent features, which remember users’ payment info, and is accessible to 18 languages. Wireless and stylish device, ultrasound probe. The application is developed for Android and iOS.
Butterfly app is also well-designed, but communicates a more modern, minimalist feel. The design looks impressive. The ultrasonic probe device has a stylish design. Lots of instructional videos. The application is developed for Android and iOS.
Youkeymedical company has an app for windows, android, and iOS for mobile devices, the app is poorly adapted, some icons are too big, the keyboard covers the input fields, doesn’t always host an intuitive user experience.
The app is accessible in English and Chinese. The wireless device is an ultrasound.
4. How do competitors position themselves in the market?
Vscan Air positions itself as a portable, high-performance ultrasound device Developed for clinical staff
Easy to use, intuitive to navigate, and optimized for mobile devices.
Butterfly markets itself to customers primarily for young doctors and students, also for low-income countries where it is not possible to purchase expensive ultrasound machines and for veterinary clinics.
Youkeymedical markets itself to customers primarily for clinics and emergency care.
5. How do competitors talk about themselves?
Vscan Air itself markets as developed for clinical staff.
Easy to use, intuitive to navigate, and optimized for mobile devices.
Pocket-sized devices
Supports in early detection and quick decision-making about the next treatment steps.
Butterfly markets itself as a zippy startup that provides modern solutions to modern problems, which is expanding access to ultrasound for people who cannot afford expensive equipment, such as in African countries.
Youkeymedical ultrasound equipment with leading technology for healthcare professionals in the world.
Youkeymedical wants to deliver ultrasound around the world.
6. Competitors’ strengths
Vscan Air’s strengths include:
- Design is clean and easy;
- Wireless device ultrasound probe;
- Using its visual design to communicate its company ethos;
- Offering full menus in 18 language;
- PIN can be set;
- To use, works with Wi-Fi
- 3 years of coverage.
Butterfly’s strengths include:
- Simple and clear app;
- Using its visual design to communicate its company ethos;
- Butterfly transforms complex processes into one connected POCUS system;
- Many instructional videos;
- Affordable price.
Youkeymedical’s strengths include:
- Wireless device ultrasound probe;
- To use, works with Wi-Fi;
- The app supports Chinese.
7. Competitors’ weaknesses
Vscan Air’s weaknesses include:
- No symmetry in icons;
- Font for patient data is a small/thin;
- No needle detection system.
Butterfly’s weaknesses include:
- Missing preview;
- No needle detection system.
Youkeymedical’s weaknesses include:
- Data is saved to the phone, there is no image protection system;
- The App is not adapted for the smartphone, the icons are stretched;
- Too many fields in patient info;
- The keyboard is not adapted, it does not work, it closes the input fields;
- No needle detection system.
8. Gaps
Some gaps we identified include:
- Butterfly needs to add a preview.
- Youkeymedical should adapt to a smartphone and work out a system of confidential patient data.
9. Opportunities
What to improve Youkeymedical:
- Translate into other languages;
- Make adaptation to the smartphone;
- Work out a system of confidential patient data.
What to improve Butterfly:
- Make a preview for a new user
Usability testing
Prototype in Figma Ultrasound of a pregnant woman
Moderated 5 in-person usability testing sessions with working prototype to identify usability and comprehension issues.
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