Designed as a product of an assignment on getting inspiration for new product ideas from direct observation, I decided to explore the problem areas that exist inside a hospital emergency room. I sat, watched and recorded a full days activity inside the ER of the Brooklyn, NY branch of the New York Methodist Hospital. Following I mapped out what problem points I had identified in my time there. This process brought new ideas and made me consider things in a different way than if I had simply tried to draw from my own memory of being in an ER. My resulting product idea was multipurpose device that provided both one pain management as well as an indication of a patient's wait time. The DOTS device has a built-in accelerometer that enables a responsive and engaging game experience while the integrated vibration feedback provides pain management. The ambient color change of the device's form as the patient moves forward in the waiting and admission process provides constant feedback of the remaining steps.
View the flash presentation at: www.activedesigns.org/flash/waiting.html
