[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ background_enable_color=”off” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_enable_image=”off” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” top_divider_color=”#ea7c00″ top_divider_height=”90px” top_divider_arrangement=”above_content” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”A Pulse Oximeter in a Name Badge? The Badge Challenge: Part One” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Continue with Part Two here!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Picture this: a sleek, futuristic name badge that has a pulse oximeter, displays dynamic data, and connects you to your peers. That\u2019s not science fiction \u2013 it\u2019s the brainchild of Root3 Labs\u2019 engineering team, and it came to life in just one month!<\/p>\n Our mission was to showcase Root3 Labs\u2019 diverse engineering capabilities at the MEDICA Trade Fair, just four weeks away.<\/a> While photo and video are always excellent avenues to show off our work, we wanted something people could hold in their hands. Something that would really help to spark curiosity and conversation.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.root3labs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Badge-Final-jpg.webp” title_text=”Badge Final” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Enter the \u201cSmart Badge”! LEDs, interactive screens, pulse oximeter, sleep monitoring, Bluetooth capability\u2026the brainstorming session exploded with big ideas. But with the deadline looming, we knew we would have to prioritize. We took everything we\u2019d come up with and pared it down to our Minimum Viable Product (MVP)<\/a>: a fully finished name badge with an interactive screen, and the potential to evolve.<\/strong><\/p>\n Our \u2018nice-to-have\u2019 features consisted of a functioning pulse oximeter. And lastly, we did have a \u2018stretch\u2019 goal of including Bluetooth connectivity. There was an idea to use one of our older projects (the Brainchild Smart Pacifier)<\/a> that had app integration and connect its output to the Badge as a bonus feature. This would be very impressive, and of course, very time-consuming to pull off. Which is why it ended up in the stretch goal category!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Post Body” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ max_width=”1080px” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”30px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|13px||12px|false|false” border_radii=”on|4px|4px|4px|4px” border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#ea7c00″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb use_icon=”on” image_icon_background_color_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”77px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n You may think going from design to finished product in less than four weeks sounds daunting, but Christina Krueger, PE<\/a> disagreed. \u201cNo, not daunting \u2013 at least, not for me. Ask Christopher, though. They actually knew how much electrical and software work it would be. They really knew how daunting it was!\u201d<\/em> She said she was more excited to have the opportunity to work with total creative freedom, letting her get to focus on what she loves \u2013 the engineering.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.root3labs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Christina_BioPhoto_tight_crop-800×800-1.png” title_text=”Christina_BioPhoto_tight_crop-800×800″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” top_divider_color=”#ea7c00″ top_divider_flip=”vertical|horizontal” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-21px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Design Considerations” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_font_size=”25px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Because we had so much freedom with how to design the Badge, we needed to keep our considerations and limitations top of mind to keep us on track. The four-week time constraint was the biggest factor to consider, and actually led to some of our other self-imposed restrictions. We would aim to minimize any \u2018off-the-shelf\u2019 components<\/a> and source or fabricate as much as we possibly could in-house. This would eliminate lead times for ordered parts or outsourced work and keep us quick and agile throughout development.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Close collaboration was key for this project. The electrical and mechanical team were able to work in tandem to come up with our final design, with the form factor of the Badge having been built up around the requirements of the screen display and the critical thumb contact points.<\/p>\n The thumb contact points would be used for the pulse oximeter feature, so it was critical that the sensor had a flush connection with the electronics within. Using a marker board, we were able to mess around with various thumb placements and layouts for the design to see what would feel comfortable in the hand. The Badge ended up similar in size and shape to a modern smartphone \u2013 essentially, a large rectangle shape.<\/p>\n