Sehat Sathi
A life-saving medical device that doesn't feel like one, created to bridge the critical gap in rural healthcare with empathy and cultural resonance.
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Role
End-to-End Designer
Timeline
12 Weeks
Focus
Hardware + UX
Outcomes
4 prototypes
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THE WHY
The 70-Minute Gap Between a Life and a Lifeline.
In the vibrant Kutch region of Gujarat, a harsh reality exists. The nearest hospital is often a 70-minute journey away. For someone experiencing a cardiac event, this gap is the difference between treatable and terminal.
The challenge was not just to create a remote monitoring device, but to design a solution that could bridge this gap with dignity, overcoming the cultural stigma of clinical technology and becoming a trusted part of daily life.
Process that Honors People.
From field immersion in Kutch to iterative prototyping, every decision was driven by empathy, feasibility, and cultural fit.
Field Research
10+ interviews with local women, ASHA workers, and clinicians. Mapped daily routines, stigma triggers, and tech access.
Synthesis
Affinity mapping surfaced three design principles: dignity-first, whisper-not-shout, and shareable core.
Prototyping
Four rounds from functional rig to culturally resonant artifact. Each iteration simplified interaction and form.
Key Insights.
What changed the trajectory—from a device to a companion.
INSIGHT 1
Visibility equals stigma
Clinical cues on the body lead to social discomfort. Abstraction via light and form reduces stigma.
INSIGHT 2
Data ≠ reassurance
Numbers increase anxiety. Gentle feedback patterns build trust without cognitive load.
INSIGHT 3
Shareable core matters
A detachable module enables sharing and keeps garments wash-friendly, raising adoption.
Technology that Whispers.
Sehat Sathi is a health companion that integrates seamlessly into the user's world. It's a fusion of three core principles, designed to empower, not intimidate.
1. On-Device Intelligence
Real-time ECG analysis happens directly on the device, ensuring privacy and reliability without needing connectivity. Alerts are delivered via gentle, private vibrations.
Real-time ECG analysis happens directly on the device, ensuring privacy and reliability without needing connectivity. Alerts are delivered via gentle, private vibrations.
The form echoes Kutch embroidery motifs. Light communicates through familiar patterns, transforming a medical tool into a piece of wearable art that belongs.
A detachable magnetic core promotes a circular economy. It can be shared, easily removed for washing garments, and replaced without discarding the entire product.
Real-time ECG analysis happens directly on the device, ensuring privacy and reliability without needing connectivity. Alerts are delivered via gentle, private vibrations.
V1: The Functional Core
The beginning. A 3D-printed shell housing the raw technology. It worked, but it was just an object, cold and clinical.
V2: The Emotional Interface
Size was reduced. An e-ink screen was added, not for data, but for emotion—a friendly face to build a connection.
V3: The Cultural Pivot
A breakthrough. The screen was removed in favor of light and vibration. This abstraction opened the door to a more poetic, less literal form of communication—one that could be woven into culture.
V4: The Artifact
The final form. Ergonomic, soft, and adorned with the visual language of its intended user. Technology finally disappeared, leaving only the companion.
Usability Learnings.
What we changed after testing with real users and interviewing community health workers.
From screen to light
E-ink UI replaced by light/vibration patterns understood without literacy or numeracy barriers.
Magnetic interchange
Magnetized core makes washing seamless and enables shared ownership in families.
Touch to touch language
Alert vocabulary redesigned to feel private and respectful, minimizing social exposure.
Soft geometry
Edges softened to avoid fabric snag and to harmonize with traditional attire silhouettes.
From Tangible Touch to Digital Reach.
Building on the foundation of a dignified, culturally-rooted physical device, Sehat Sathi extends its impact through a thoughtfully crafted digital companion app, bridging the gap between the hands-on realities of rural care and the power of smart, accessible technology. This synergy ensures that every heartbeat, no matter how remote, can be seen, understood, and protected.
Primary User
Community health workers
Healthcare practitioners like Dr. Meena who travel between villages and operate the Sehat Sathi application system.
Key Needs:
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Efficient data management
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Remote consultation capabilities
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Portable, reliable tools
Secondary User
Villagers
Rural residents in Kutch who need accessible heart health monitoring without traveling 70+ minutes to hospitals.
Key Needs:
• Accessible healthcare monitoring
• Early cardiovascular detection
• Culturally appropriate solutions
🖥️
Dashboard
KPIs, Alert overview, Recent activities
😷
Patients
Searchable patient registry with filters
‼️
Alerts
Critical and warning-level notifications and alerts
📋
Record ECG
Device connection and data capture
The Digital Companion.
A mobile application designed for community health workers like Dr. Meena, enabling efficient patient management and remote ECG analysis in challenging field conditions.
Culturally-Resonant ECG Wearable
A discreet, shareable medical companion featuring Kutch-inspired motifs—optimized for dignity, daily comfort, and cultural acceptance in rural communities.
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High-Precision ECG Monitoring
A step-by-step workflow enables health workers to capture, analyze, and store ECG readings with clarity and confidence—even in field conditions.
Instant Health Insights
The dashboard provides real-time monitoring, priority alerts, and quick access to key patient data for streamlined, proactive care.
Smart Actions & Case Management
Action shortcuts empower health workers to record new ECGs, register patients, and manage follow-up tasks directly from a user-friendly command center.
Interact with App here!
Take over demo any time!
