ABSTRACT
This project presents the optimal design of a health monitoring device worn during exercise--the
body heart rate monitor. The product provides the time and duration of exercise session, heart
rate of user, and calories burned during the session. The primary target market includes fitness
enthusiasts, professional and armature runners and cyclists, and heart patients.
The objective from an engineering viewpoint was to minimize overall size and weight, resulting
in an optimal size being 21 cm3 and weight being 143 g. The objective from a microeconomics
viewpoint was profit maximization, which yielded a maximum profit of $35,180,681.91 at a
demand of 100,000 units sold. In the marketing model, survey results were used to determine
user preference for product shape, size, orientation, and price. Using profit maximization, the
results indicated that the preferred product has a rectangle shape, horizontal orientation, screen
size of 4 cm by 6 cm, and the lowest possible price. The optimization results yielded a rectangle,
horizontally oriented, 4 x 6 size, and a price of $214. The optimal solution provided a profit of
$50,723,546 with a demand of 270,766 units sold.
The final aesthetic study revealed that the industrial design decisions made, according to
“familiarity”, “cohesiveness”, and “complexity,” corresponded to the users’ preferences. The
people surveyed preferred the most familiar, cohesive, and simple design. According to the
marketing survey, the golden ratio for product dimensions was preferred, which affected
engineering results by making the product larger.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The product design problem
The product that will be optimized in this project is a body monitor, used during exercise or
training, that enables wireless, free-living data collection of body vital signs. The design of the
product will include sensors that gather information about the body’s heart rate, heat flow, and
skin temperature. The product will be attached to the user’s upper arm via an adjustable strap.
The body of the product will have an output interface for the user interaction. There will also be
a power button on the product. The product will get power from batteries that are charged with a
power supply.
The overall design challenge will be to minimize the size and weight of the product. In addition,
the product must be comfortable for the user and easy to understand. For user comfort reasons, a
small size and weight will be less obtrusive to everyday, all day usage. A lower weight may
limit breakage. In doing so, several tradeoffs will be made. When the size is minimized,
functionality in the computerized element will be limited. In addition, small size will demand a
smaller battery life. Small size also limits the screen size, which should be maximized for easy
visibility. Demanding a small weight requires careful material selection and product design
packaging.
Heart Rate Monitor Definition
The Heart Rate Monitor is like a coach that guides you through each workout. For endurance
workouts, it paces you so you don't overdo it. For tempo runs, it keeps you on track. And for
interval workouts, it makes sure you go hard enough and you recover when it's time. It can show
you when you are dehydrating, or running out of nutrition, or not recovered from a previous
day's workout. It allows you to analyze workouts and races so you can identify your weaknesses
and turn them into strengths.
Figure 1.1 Conceptual drawing of a heart rate monitor
The current on-market heart rate monitors
It consists of a watch worn on your wrist, and a transmitter that you comfortably wear against
your skin and around your chest. The transmitter picks up the signals of your heart, and sends
them wirelessly to the watch you wear on your wrist. No wires, no taking your pulse and doing a
multiplication equation.


DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT
http://designscience.umich.edu/pdf%20fil...003-08.pdf