LifeSaver: Decentralizing Healthcare Everywhere

Healthcare today is centralized, costly, and often out of reach. From rural communities to space missions, patients need tools to access treatment anywhere.

How might we empower non-experts to deliver safe, effective care in remote or extreme environments?

Solution

LifeSaver is a portable ecosystem combining hardware and software to deliver decentralized healthcare:

• A medical pod with essential treatment equipment.
• AILA (AI Living Assistant): A mobile/AR companion that diagnoses, guides procedures, and monitors vitals in real time.

My Role

• Lead UI/UX Designer for AILA
• Created user flows, Figma wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes
• Designed AR workflows for safe, hands-free treatment guidance

Process

Research & Insights

Started in UCSD’s DSGN 160 course, we developed personas in urban, rural, and disaster settings, mapping workflows like emergencies, check-ups, and medication delivery. This clarified key needs: clarity under stress, portability, and offline resilience.

Designing for Samsung Flip 5

We leveraged the Flip 5’s foldable layout for flexible use:

• Closed: Compact square for quick actions & vitals on the go
• Open: Dual windows for procedures, navigation, and patient info

Wireframes → High-Fidelity Prototypes

Early wireframes tested our dual-screen flows; hi-fi prototypes refined layouts for real use in stressful conditions.

Key Flows

• Procedures: Step-by-step checklists w/ timers & visuals for non-experts
• Quick Access: Swipe-up sidebar for vitals, camera, map, timers
• Vitals: Real-time + trend view, color-coded risk alerts
• Camera: Auto-senses vitals + emotion detection for mental health
• Profiles: Personal records incl. history, prescriptions, labs

Testing & Iteration

Field-tested on Devon Island (Mars analog site) with Wizard-of-Oz simulations. Insights drove clearer instructions, AR guidance, and stress-resilient layouts.

At World Design Capital 2024, we showcased LifeSaver’s pod + AILA to global designers. I represented the design team, demoed workflows, and gathered live feedback from healthcare professionals.

Impact & Reflection

• Enabled non-experts to perform guided care in remote settings
• Showcased at WDC 2024, sparking dialogue on accessible healthcare
• Sharpened my skills designing AR workflows & stress-resilient UIs

Next Steps

Ongoing work: expanding treatment libraries, voice integration for accessibility, and further AR usability testing.