Problem Visualizations
Oral diseases affect a significant global population, with prevalence rates reflecting a steady upward trajectory.
Despite this, a majority of individuals remain indifferent to their oral hygiene until they experience acute discomfort. This negligence often stems from a lack of engagement with daily brushing routines and a fundamental misunderstanding of effective oral care techniques.
User Painpoints
After tracking the daily habits of multiple participants, I synthesized my findings into two representative personas. A key insight from this research is that most users remain reactive rather than proactive, ignoring early warning signs like redness and swelling. They only seek solutions when their condition severely impacts their quality of life. Deep-dive interviews highlighted two critical pain points: the 'boredom factor' of repetitive brushing and a fundamental lack of understanding of effective, scientific oral care methods.
Design Strategies
By synthesizing user research with an evaluation of market leaders' strengths and weaknesses, I defined a dual-track design goal: integrating professional authority with interactive appeal. The brainstorming process explores the intersection of these two pillars, illustrating how the product can provide effective, expert-level care without sacrificing the user’s enjoyment or habit consistency.
Speculation and Strategy
Following an in-depth literature review, I adopted the Bass Method—the clinical gold standard for plaque removal—as the foundational logic for the product's brushing guidelines.
To address the 'boredom' barrier, I integrated a multisensory feedback system using real-time audio. After testing several engagement models, I selected a dynamic interaction plan that maps brushing performance to musical output.
Specifically, frequency and intensity dictate volume, while coverage area triggers instrumental layers, creating a rewarding, generative audio experience that incentivizes thorough cleaning.
Prototype
The main features are an interactive teeth brushing experience, data analysis, and data records.
Game Design
I partitioned the dental arch into discrete zones, integrating them into a spatial-audio game mechanic. Each anatomical region is mapped to a specific instrument—such as piano, guitar, bass, or drums. This zone-based orchestration provides the user with intuitive, non-visual feedback: as they move through different areas of the mouth, they actively 'compose' a multi-layered track, ensuring comprehensive coverage through musical progression.
Implementation
Implementation was executed across three primary workstreams: design prototyping, iOS development, and digital music processing. We maintained a continuous feedback loop by conducting usability testing concurrently with development.
Feedbacks
The evolution of TuneBrush was deeply influenced by rigorous testing and critique from engineers and designers at Apple and Alibaba. Each feedback session catalyzed a more refined, polished version of the tool. Beyond the technical improvements, this collaborative process has matured my product sense, allowing me to balance complex users' needs with technical feasibility and market standards.
Iterations and reflections
After presenting TuneBrush at the Apple Developer Conference, my focus has shifted to the long-term scalability of the platform. I am currently iterating on the core technology to unlock even more advanced features, driven by a clear vision of how TuneBrush can revolutionize the intersection of music, hardware product interaction, and digital health.
