Research – Design for Wellbeing

Investigation of the Product Design Process in Informal Microenterprises in Tanzania | 2021-2022

Tobias Larsson — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 07:44:40 +0000

The products that surround us (e.g. furniture, bicycles, etc.) are outcomes of design processes. Product design is a fundamental aspect of human intelligence and creativity, attracting not only experts but also workers and self- employed without any formal design training. Although numerous people in developing countries design and manufact simple products in metalworking informal microenterprises, there is very little systematic knowledge about their design process. This project aims to fill this fundamental gap in design knowledge. The overall goal of the project is to investigate the design process in metalworking informal microenterprises, using a scientific method of ‘think-aloud protocol analysis’.

This two-year project will be carried out by four researchers — two from Sweden, one from Tanzania and one from India. In 2021, we will collect data in metalworking informal microenterprises in Tanzania, using the technique of ‘think-aloud protoc analysis’. In 2022, we will finish qualitative data analysis, will present results in one conference and submit one journal artic and will submit a joint research application to VR/Development Projects Grant. We will distribute the results in metalworkin microenterprises and other relevant stakeholders through seminars in Tanzania and India.

The project will primarily provide fundamental knowledge for models and theories of design processes, and will also help to improve design practice in microenterprises.

TAGS: andreas larssonBase of the Pyramid BoP ie microenterprises Product design Product Development PSS santosh jagtap Swedish Research Council vetenskapsrådet VR

Health and Sports Technology Initiative

Tobias Larsson — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:52:05 +0000

In order to tackle the enormous public health challenge surrounding lifestyle diseases and an aging population, and at the same time creating the conditions for regional innovation and growth in health and sports technology, a regional long-term investment is started. The initiative will coordinate ideas, skills, and resources in a complete ecosystem. In addition, linked to collaborations within Sweden, the Nordic countries, Europe and also the rest of the world.

There is tremendous potential for innovation and growth in this area. Globally, health and sports technology is a large market with a great economic growth in Europe, and even higher in the rest of the world. In Europe, major financial investments are made for start-ups, and the sector is expected to turn over SEK 300 billion within five years. Sweden is significantly smaller in absolute terms, but due to high scientific knowledge and good spirit of innovation, it is still often top-5 in the European ranking.

TAGS: healthsports technology

SUCCCE – Smart use of communication in complex care environments

Tobias Larsson — Mon, 20 May 2019 09:13:26 +0000

The SUCCCE product is a handsfree, advanced decision support for alert management and consists of both hardware and software. SUCCCE provides medical doctors and other health care staff with direct alerts from medical devices and adequate medical information concerning their patients on a heads-up display in their eyes’ field of view. The advanced data filtering in SUCCCE makes sure that the alerts and information are recieved by staff with matching responsibilities.

TAGS: acceleratoraugmented reality BTH ehealth google glass Healthcare succce tobias larsson

Most Influential Qualities in Creating Satisfaction Among the Users of Health Information Systems: Study in Seven European Union Countries

Tobias Larsson — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 11:37:59 +0000

ABSTRACT

Background: Several models suggest how the qualities of a product or service influence user satisfaction. Models such as the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Delone and McLean Information Systems Success demonstrate those relations and have been used in the context of health information systems.

TAGS: applied health technologyBTH consumer behavior efficiency equation models evaluation studies as topic health care costs health information systems ontology engineering publication safety Shahryar Eivazzadeh telemedicine tobias larsson

Ny satsning på eHälsa – eHealth Innovation

Tobias Larsson — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 19:01:15 +0000

Blue Science Park har fått projektet eHealth Innovation beviljat. Projektets målsättning är att skapa tillväxt i företagen inom området eHälsa genom att öka de offentliga aktörernas innovationsförmåga i sju pilotprojekt.

Läs mer här: https://www.bluesciencepark.se/ehalsa/article/ny-satsning-pa-ehalsa-ehealth-innovation/

TAGS: blekinge institute of technologyblue science park BTH ehälsa ehealth innovation

User involvement in pharmaceutical packaging design -A case study

Tobias Larsson — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:54:34 +0000

ABSTRACT

Different levels of user involvement in product design range from understanding user needs to codesigning with users. Previous research shows older patients face difficulties to handle the medication packaging. Yet the participation of older patients in pharmaceutical packaging design is underexplored. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of older patients in the design and development of pharmaceutical packaging. Two empirical examples of one drug manufacturer and one pharmaceutical packaging supplier build one case study. The findings reveal new pharmaceutical packaging development starts with market research about patients’ populations. The packaging development is then led internally or with external partners. Later, patients test the packages concepts developed. These findings go in line with previous research about the involvement of users in industries with a high technology orientation. This study is aligned with the about limited resources in healthcare and contributes with a conceptual framework of user involvement, a useful tool for managers and developers to benchmark their design process.

TAGS: andreas larssonBTH case-study Design process ie md3s Older patients Participatory design publication

Test-arena Blekinge – Behandling på distans

Tobias Larsson — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 19:04:06 +0000

Syfte
Hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar är den vanligaste dödsorsaken i Sverige, både hos kvinnor och hos män. Ungefär hälften av västvärldens befolkning insjuknar och dör i någon av dessa sjukdomar. I Sverige har 12 procent av befolkningen någon hjärt- eller kärlsjukdom.

Projektmål

Att genom forskning och produktutveckling ta fram tekniska lösningar riktat till personer med kronisk hjärtsvikt genom vilka patienten, anhöriga och sjukvårdspersonal kan övervaka och följa upp vitala parametrar relaterade till diagnosen, och med hjälp av AI prediktera försämringar i sjukdomsförloppet och på så sätt reducera antalet sjukbesök samt att öka tryggheten och patientens kunskap om sin diagnos.
Utveckla en testbädd i vilken tekniska lösningar ska kunna testas och valideras. Projektet är ett av sex delprojekt i Test-arena Blekinge och genomförs i samverkan med forskare på Blekinge Tekniska Högskola och näringslivet i Blekinge.

Läs mer: https://www.bluesciencepark.se/ehalsa/article/test-arena-blekinge-behandling-pa-distans/

TAGS: applied health technologyblekinge institute of technology blue science park BTH ehälsa ehealth

Healthcare Innovation Day

Tobias Larsson — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:41:56 +0000

Together with EVRY we arranged a workshop day to explore the future of healthcare. Tobias Larsson & Mikael Johnsson of BTH and Helena Blackbright (Automation Region) was the organisers and the place was EVRY Strategic Design Lab in Stockholm.

TAGS: Automation RegionBTH EVRY helena blackbright Landstinget Blekinge mikael johnsson Strategic Design Lab tobias larsson

Unlocking the secrets of the human body with Hololens at SICAHT/Blue Science Park

Tobias Larsson — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 12:06:52 +0000

Together with Bengt-Åke Claesson of CGI (Karlskrona Office), Ryan Ruvald (research assistant at PDRL/BTH) took part in the SICAHT/Blue Science Park breakfast meeting. The team presented possibilities with Augmented Reality in the healthcare sector using Microsoft Hololens as demonstrator platform.

TAGS: blue science parkBTH cgi hololens microsoft Ryan Ruvald tobias larsson

Radical Innovation Workshop; Applied healthcare and wearables

Tobias Larsson — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:45:22 +0000

Globally, healthcare is under great pressure as the population increases; we live longer. In 2020 there will be more than 7.6 billion people. If the trend continues, a large percentage have problems with health. More than 30 percent of the world population are exercising too little, 20 percent are overweight and 13 percent are 60 years or older.

TAGS: applied healthcareBTH Landstinget Blekinge massimo panarotto radical innovation riw tobias larsson