Fuel MS
Designed an app to allow people with multiple sclerosis to track their energy levels
1 —
Problem Identification
We identified the problem of limited gym equipment in homes and the abundance of gym equipment in gyms and went through many stages of brainstorming to come up with a solution. We based our design on our own experiences due to a lack of ability and time to gather external user research and feedback.
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Product-Market Fit
During the design process, we ensured product-market fit by analyzing current pains and gains from the customer and gym staff's point of view as well as charting a competitive landscape of existing solutions.
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Implementation
We identified key metrics that could be used to track the success of the idea as well as a product road map for launching the design.
Problem
According to the MS Society, fatigue is a common symptom that affects over 90% of people with Multiple Sclerosis. The intensity of fatigue that an individual experiences is different across the board and its cause is not biologically understood but is due to a multitude of factors. Those who are recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis do not typically know the limit to how much energy they use throughout the day. Many people take years to understand their fatigue and how long they can exert themselves before symptoms arise. Detecting these symptoms of fatigue before it is too late is something that takes many years to master, or be mindful of, and might be hard to keep track of when first diagnosed.
Track Your Energy
The core of our proposed solution is an energy tracking app that features a calendar, journal, medication history, and hours of sleep. Similar to a phone’s battery percentage, there will be an MS fuel bar on the top right of the user’s phone to indicate his or her’s current energy levels. Morning check-in will be required to record energy levels based on sleep and how the individual feels. Feedback and data collection will be an integral part of our solution, especially in its beginning phases during the first week of using the app. Complementing a to-do-list, there is a built-in feature that measures the user’s energy levels from the following variables: stress, heart rate variability, sleep quality, and daily activity.
Build Healthy Habits
The app will also teach the individual to have healthy habits and will keep them safe by helping them to know when to stop the activity before excess levels of fatigue set in and symptoms arise.
Our ultimate goal is to help people become more independent in their daily lives and eventually not be dependent on the application. They can slowly develop healthy habits to conserve their energy throughout the day and understand themselves better.
Future developments could include extensions to connect the app to a fit-bit, period tracker, and other health and fitness apps. As new developments in medication and their efficacy increase, the library of information available will be updated and stay informative for users, as well as tips for sleeping well and staying healthy. This app could eventually be a one-stop-shop for people with MS where they can record their daily activities and how they felt after exerting themselves. This data could possibly help someone who may think they have MS diagnose themselves and allow them to find out what kinds of medications or treatments work best for them.