SMARTCLOTH Prototype for Dietary Management in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: Tutorial on Human-Centered Design...

Developing user-centered digital health hardware requires systematic design methods applicable across clinical contexts. As diabetes mellitus continues to rise globally and contributes to morbidity, mortality, and costs, effective nutritional management remains essential-yet adherence is often poor. Digital health interventions grounded in human-centered design may enhance adherence by better aligning solutions with patients' real needs.

This tutorial aims to provide replicable guidance on applying the design thinking approach to health care hardware development, illustrated through the design, development, and preliminary usability evaluation of SMARTCLOTH (GA-16: Lifestyles, Innovation, and Health), a smart tablecloth prototype intended to facilitate dietary management and support adherence to nutritional recommendations among individuals with diabetes.

We demonstrate a systematic design thinking approach adaptable to other hardware contexts, using the Double Diamond model. In mapping, we performed a structured preassessment to define project scope and feasible functionalities. To characterize end user needs, we conducted 6 in-depth interviews with health care professionals and applied persona, empathy map, and customer journey map tools. In exploring, 5 focus groups (patients and diabetes educators) identified barriers, facilitators, and desired functionalities for dietary self-management. In building, we created low- and high-fidelity wireframes and interactive web prototypes using Phaser 3 (HTML5/JS) to simulate a kitchen workspace for meal assembly. In testing, 7 patients with different diabetes profiles participated in 3 iterative usability sessions. Using think-aloud, video analysis, and structured tasks, we documented completion times, errors, and the level of required assistance, enabling refinements. Development progressed through 15 internal versions and 3 user-tested prototypes with real-time adjustments when feasible.

Interviews and focus groups yielded three user profiles guiding design: (1) adolescents with type 1 diabetes navigating social and dietary challenges, (2) working-age adults with type 2 diabetes who were motivated but inconsistent, and (3) older adults with type 2 diabetes showing low adherence due to entrenched habits. Iterative usability testing indicated that the system was intuitive, with improvements in layout, labeling, and navigation. Quantitative metrics showed refinement, with simple tasks being completed in under 1 minute in later iterations, while complex meal simulations took longer. Error rates and required guidance decreased as prototypes evolved. Qualitative feedback highlighted clarity, motivational value, and educational potential, while older participants requested larger text and simplified controls. Despite usability gains, motivational barriers persisted among low-adherence older adults.

This tutorial demonstrates that systematic human-centered design can yield feasible and well-accepted digital health hardware. SMARTCLOTH emerged as a promising tool for dietary management in diabetes, though effectiveness and clinical outcomes were not evaluated. The methodology can be adapted by teams developing hardware for chronic disease management.