Exploring the Viability of a Handheld Blood Analysis Device

Alia, a blood analysis device, was originally designed as a desktop product. The company founder wanted to explore the possibility of creating a handheld version that could potentially make the product more accessible and portable. The challenge was to understand whether this transition would meet the needs of healthcare professionals, and if the handheld version would be viable in the market.

My task was to lead the planning and execution of user studies and workflow analysis to determine the feasibility of a handheld version of the device. I needed to gather user insights from real-world hospital and lab settings to understand how the product is currently used, identify pain points, and assess the potential demand and usability of a smaller, portable device.

I spearheaded the user research process, planning and executing user studies, workflow analysis, and in-depth interviews with staff at local hospitals and labs. This involved observing how the current desktop device was used, identifying key tasks, and speaking directly to users (medical professionals) to understand their pain points and needs.
We focused on several areas:
Portability: Would the users find a handheld device more practical for their day-to-day tasks?
Usability: How would the change in device form factor affect the current workflow?
Market demand: Would the new handheld option improve accessibility, and would it be well received in the market?

Result:
The user studies provided valuable insights that helped identify the key benefits and challenges of transitioning to a handheld device. Based on the data, we found that a portable version could significantly improve workflow efficiency and increase accessibility, especially in environments with limited space. The research confirmed that there was a clear market opportunity, and the insights were pivotal in helping the company decide to move forward with developing the handheld version.