Step 1/6 - Literary Research
Literary research was an initial step of the reseach process, but continued throughout the development of project. Academic journals, databases and publications were searched regarding newborn feeding patterns, feeding methods, parent psychology and pediatic medical advice. Many articles were recommended by medical experts who were interviewed.

Step 2/6 - Online Survey
An online survey on parent use of feeding records and adjustment to newborns was distributed to facebook parent groups. Most parents found the adjustment difficult and experienced sleep deprivation. Only half used records or were interested in learning from feed data, indicating that the feed record in its current form does not provide enough value. To see the summary of the responses, click on these links: Parent Survey 1, Parent Survey 2

Step 3/6 - Parent Interviews
Interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of parents needs when caring for newborns. Parents with babies were politely approached at Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, and interviewed on their thoughts about the feeding record and difficulties they faced. Interviews lasted an average of 30 minutes, revealing the significance of sleep deprivation, and difficulties in the learning infant care.

Step 4/6 - Expert Interviews
It was also important to interview medical experts who have an expertise in the care of newborns. Professionals from the fields of nutrition, child development, occupational therapy and pediatrics were interviewed. It was emphasized that small fluctuations in feeding data are natural, changes over periods of 3-5 days best reflect changes in health, a vital insight to our data visualization direction.

Step 5/6 - Analysis of Written Feed Record
The parent survey revealed that the written record was the dominant form of tracking infant feedings. Reviewing the feeding record from my daughter, it was clear that while all the feed data was recorded, it was difficult to learn from due to the visual consistancy of form. This presents an opportunity to amplify input through data visualization, providing more value for parents.

Step 6/6 - Analysis of Feeding Apps
It was also important to analyze popular feeding apps that are already available on the market. Screenshots were taken of each step in the input process to reveal an average of 6-7 steps per input, as well visual inconsistancies and crowded interfaces. It revealed opportunites to provide a better user experience that would be more efficient and intuitive for a sleep deprived parent.

Step 1/4 - Selecting Our Dataset
Using the baby feeding record I kept from my daughter, a period of nine days of data was chosen to be analyzed to find health trends through feeding behavior. The nine day period began with my daughter healthy, and ended with her becoming ill and taken to the emergency room in her first month of life.

Step 2/4 - Digitizing Our Data
The 9 day period produced a large amount of data, which included feeding start and finish times, feed amounts and types, and diaper times and types. However, this data in its original form lacks meaning, and is too overwhelming to read.

Step 3/4 - Daily Overviews
Using basic arithmetic, we are able to convert the raw data to be more meaningful and efficient, creating daily overviews of the baby's activity. Instead of looking at raw data, we are able to see average feedings counts, amounts, times, rates and frequencies, and average diaper counts, types and frequencies.

Step 4/4 - Data Visualization
By converting daily overview data into graphs, significant changes are seen over the 3-4 day period when my child was sick, establishing a hypothesis that feeding trends correlate with infant health. This amplification of data and trend mapping is the key to providing parents with the insight, advice and support they need to better understand their baby's needs.

Step 1/5 - Input Step Reduction
To increase efficiency it was important to reduce steps required per input. Visually mapping input variations reveled the complexity of feeding and diaper data, while also revealing opportunites to group variables and reduce input steps. This visual mapping reduced input steps to 3-4 steps per input, compared to 6-7 steps found in existing feeding apps.

Step 2/5 - Type and Color Explorations
Variations in color and typography were explored to communicate a calm, safe and trustworthy mood. The typeface chosen was Brandon Grotesque, for its modern friendly sans-serif forms, with safe rounded edges and clear legibility. Colors for the app are soft pastel blues and pinks, accompanied by a strong red, green and yellow to indicate health status to parents.

Step 3/5 - Data Visualization Explorations
Using the daily overview data from our data analysis, different ways to visualize the same data were explored to find the most effective method of communicating feeding patterns and trends. It was important that there is visual consistancy between daily overviews and 3 days trends, so there is as little cognitive difficulty as possible when switching between screens for parents who are already sleep deprived.

Step 4/5 - User Interface Explorations
User interface explorations were made with a very specific user experience in mind, where only one hand and thumb was neccessary to navigate the app, since newborn parents are often holding a baby and only have one hand available. The visualization of data as a circular bar chart is integrated with the interface, since it is an interactive element for both daily overview screens and trend screens.

Step 5/5 - Wireframes & Userflow
With a basic idea of the user interface, wireframes were created to work out the user flow and functionality of the app at different screens and stages of the user expereince. It was important to maintain a sense of interface consistancy between screens, and the ability to use the app with just one hand and one thumb.

Final On Stage Presentation
After an eight-week period of collaborating to develop our products during the school semester, all teams were invited to Intel's headquarters in Santa Clara, California, to present our minimum viable products to a panel of professional judges and fellow students.

Final In Person Presentation (setup)
Following our stage presentations, we were given spaces to set up product booths that judges would visit, where we could engage in an open question and answer session. Here my team mates Yu Yu Chen and Kenneth Chiu are setting up our prototype for a demonstration.

Intel's Edison Module
The Edison module is one of Intel's new products that was developed to enable rapid prototyping so products could get to market faster. With high performance dual core processor the size of a stamp, combined with the edison ardunio kit it allows for many possibilities to add peripherals and create solutions.

Final In Person Presentation - Q & A
With the professional judges at our product space, we were able to give a live presentation of our smart scale weight a baby bottle, and the transfer of data to our smart phone app. While what we produced was a minimum viable product, we were able to discuss its possibilities with futher development.

1st Runner Up Announcement
We were incredibly fortunate to recieve first runner up prize, since all groups who took part in the competition created some amazing products. Here we are with Carlos Montesinos from Intel, who created this competition in collaboration with San Jose State University.

Device and App Renderings
This rendering gives a very basic user flow of both the physical weighing scale and the app screens. Renderings were very simple, where icons were used to clearly communicate the basic concepts, while allowing for time efficiency when creating this minimum viable product.

Electrical Engineering System Diagram
As part of our presentation, the engineers created this system diagram. Working with the engineers opened my eyes to the challenges they face. Communication was extremely important in our collaborations, allowing us to trust each other to do our work and meet deadlines.