“Universal Ear” – Hearing Aids for Underserved Communities

Experience: Outside the Familiar

“Universal Ear” – Hearing Aids for Underserved Communities | IDEO for Conversion Sound | 2007

The Need: Define A New Service Model

Conversion Sound developed a way to tune hearing aids without an audiologist. They planned to launch in India, and asked us to design a service and product system that enabled minimally trained technicians to distribute the aids in remote villages.

The Design: Enable Minimally Literate Technicians

We traveled to India multiple times to understand the context in which the system would be used and to test our early prototypes. We mapped out the service model, detailed the tuning protocol, and created reference designs for all product elements.

We designed the service around key product elements. The tuning protocol required a handheld mobile device, and we detailed a user interface for the protocol that required minimal literacy skills. We built a comprehensive kit that could be carried by technicians riding a motorbike and included all necessary tools for running their independent distribution businesses. Additionally, we delivered a training program for the technicians.

My Role: Project Lead

I was responsible for driving our process, ensuring all designers on the team were aligned, and liaising with the client for effective delivery.

Hearing tests typically require expensive settings and personnel

We evolved the user interface, which required minimal literacy skills, via multiple rounds of in-field testing

We designed a comprehensive kit to build a “business in a box,” and delivered a training program to help technicians learn how to use the tools