2,000,000 people visit Machu Picchu each year.
Hundreds of thousands of these visitors are inexperienced at high altitude and therefore at greater risk of developing altitude related health problems that can potentially be fatal.
This is happening at high altitude destinations all over the globe.
ASCEND
ASCEND allows inexperienced hikers to monitor their physical and mental condition in relation to their altitude and gives personalised feedback and advice on how to advance up the mountain more safely. The device uses pulse oximetry to monitor oxygen saturation and provides personalised feedback to the user throughout their time at altitude; allowing inexperienced hikers to acclimatise more quickly and ascend more safely by informing them of when to advance up the trail.
Both physical prototypes and remotely accessed interactive prototypes were used to evaluate the product and provide ideas for further improvement. Adobe XD was used to prototype screen layouts and user interaction, with simplicity and ease of use being prioritised to make the device suitable for extreme conditions. 3D prints, cardboard models and other physical prototypes were used to test ergonomics, interaction and general feasibility of the device.
