This bracelet turns a prosthesis into an intuitive computer control.

Client: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA

Year: 2018

Sector: Medical technology

Service: User research, Design Analysis, UI & UX Design, Product Design

Hand amputees are hindered in their use of digital hardware: mouse, keyboard and touchscreen require fine movements, which current prostheses do not deliver. This became very clear when we accompanied amputees in their everyday lives. The leading paradigm in the prosthetics industry is to mimic organic hands. But technology is far from fulfilling that. Our outsider perspective allowed us to think outside the box and develop a new paradigm.

Based on the findings of the user research, we designed a wearable add-on that digitally connects to myoelectric prostheses and enables intuitive interaction with computers.

Currently, a command has to travel a long way: From muscle signal to motors to keys to computer. Shortcut bypasses all of that: It directly connects prosthesis and computer and triggers digital outputs in an instant.

The wearable translates muscle signals into clicks, scrolls and other controls. Arm movements are translated into cursor motion. The similarity to mouse principles minimises learning effort.

We designed an extended gesture catalogue, working towards the vision of ‹reaching into the computer›. The industry is going to implement products with more muscle sensors shortly, which will allow Shortcut to reach its full potential of comprehensive controls.

Shortcut’s look and feel consciously breaks with conventional medical aesthetics, as we found that users often find these particularly stigmatising. A new design language promises increased rates of usage.

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