WAVE Systems App Design - User Research

Updated: Jul 8, 2020

WAVE Drowning Detection System is designed to provide a more reliable and safe swimming experience.

It is an innovative real-time tracking system that uses lightweight wearables to determine if any swimmer is at risk of drowning. It immediately alerts your guards so they can investigate and intervene if necessary.

Go to https://www.wavedds.com/ for more details.

User Research

Market research, user persona, and use cases analyze

Through work, we were lucky to talk to experienced pool managers and swimmers. Interesting swimming stories and unique perspective helped a lot

A photo with Olympic swimmer 🏊 Steve Lundquist, Clayton County and Max Coria, the facility’s Aquatic Director!

Instead of working on the app only use case, I did a more comprehensive use case analysis started receiving the package. This helped to add missing pieces such as first installation, user manual, daily maintenance, and help or support to the picture.

Question: Are we targeting the indoor swimming pools?

After my research and on and off discussions with my team. I realized the answer is no. We are doing more than that.

If you searching for detection, Computer Vision is a 'hot' and 'cool' technique. I saw many companies and teams using CV for various purposes and designs. It looks great and intelligent. But is it a perfect solution for drowning detection? Apparently not. At least not for open water or poor people like me. Why it is not gonna work in the open water? It requires cameras or devices that provide the 'Vision' they need. Can you imagine where should they put the camera in a lake?

With this in mind, the product is facing indoor/outdoor swimming pools, open water, even the Inflatable swimming pool in your backyard.

Questions: Are we designing for adults only?

Wrote down the question reminds me of a sad story I heard about a child drowning accident. During my product meetings, one thing I can know without asking is, we are trying to reduce risk and increase safety for all swimmers. That includes young swimmers, older swimmers, and swimmers who have disabilities

Despite a diligent and caring staff, drownings continue to occur at commercial aquatic facilities at an alarming rate. ''In 2014, among children 1 to 4 years old who died from an unintentional injury, one-third died from drowning.''

For more research and fact, please check out WAVEDDS.COM

Our wearables are feather-weight, comfortable, and can be worn with or without goggles or swim caps. It is designed for all swimmers.