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Adaptive UI – Workshop & User Testing for Philips Sleep & Respiratory Care

Breathe easy: Subtle AI that adapts, never overshadows.

Company

Philips

Team

  • Sara Wang(UX Designer)
  • Keith Fraser(Senior UX Designer)
  • 10+ Philips colleagues(R&D, Marketing, Engineering)

My Contribution

  1. AUI Workshop Lead
  2. User Research & Testing
  3. Design Prototype & Analysis

Overview

During my internship at Philips Sleep & Respiratory Care, I explored how Adaptive UI—small yet powerful AI enhancements—could make CPAP therapy more user-friendly.

I tackled two closely related projects: first, I organized an in-house workshop to align cross-functional teams on AUI opportunities; next, I worked with two fellow UX designers to build and test four prototype concepts with real users.

Our small-scale study indicated a potential 10–15% boost in device usage and user satisfaction. By offering subtle, user-controlled AI features, we reduced everyday friction so patients could stick to their CPAP routines more easily—helping them stay on track with treatment in a natural, comfortable way.

● Storyboard
Adaptive UI Storyboard
● The Workshop

Exploring Adaptive UI to Improve CPAP Usage

Nearly 50% of CPAP users drop out due to complexity. I led a workshop to design subtle AI cues that simplify tasks and boost adherence.

1

Introduce the concept of AUI

Your browser does not support PDFs. Please download the PDF to view it:Download PDF

2

Break & Discussion

Team discussion during the workshop
3

Brainstorming: Identifying AUI Opportunities in SR&C

Top left shows workshop brainstorming, top right displays product psychology principles for post-analysis. Bottom row presents workshop reports.
Initial brainstorming ideas
🧠#PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHT

Hick's Law

Too many options can confuse users.1

By using progressive disclosure2, Scribe reduced cognitive load3 and helped people complete their signature quicker.

¹ Hick's Law, Growth.Design² Progressive Disclosure, Growth.Design³ Cognitive Load, Growth.Design
🧠#PSYCHOLOGY INSIGHT

Drunk User Theory

Users can be distracted, overwhelmed, or inattentive. Designing for the worst-case scenario ensures that core functions remain simple, accessible, and easy to use—even in suboptimal conditions.

By minimizing friction and focusing on intuitive interactions, Adaptive UI makes CPAP therapy more seamless.

¹ Drunk User Theory, Cassie Kozyrkov
User scenarios analysis
AUI solutions proposal
Final implementation plan
● Prototype Development

Four Prototypes, Smarter Interfaces

Building on this workshop, I worked with colleagues on a separate research project where we designed and conducted initial testing of four conceptual prototypes for CPAP devices. Although the two projects were independent, both focused on using adaptive interactions to enhance healthcare management, each demonstrating the potential value of adaptive interfaces in different ways.
Due to confidentiality, these prototypes are shown in a blurred format.
Prototype 1
Comfort Settings Auto-Adjustment
Prototype 2
Personalized Health Insights
Prototype 3
Auto-Suggestions for Routine Tasks
Prototype 4
Patient Data Integration for Doctor Visits
● User Testing

From Complexity to Simplicity

We conducted remote usability testing with participants on UserTesting.com and in-person sessions using interactive cards, allowing users to customize their interface. The testing revealed key user preferences for features, display, and interaction hierarchy, guiding prototype refinement and validation. We aimed to achieve the following goals (expected outcomes):

-30%
FEWER CLICKS
100%
Before
70%
After
4.0/5
USER SATISFACTION
↑ from 3.2
+15%
USAGE BOOST
10% — 15%

Whether during the workshop's creative phase or the prototypes' feasibility testing phase, the goal remains the same: to help medical devices better 'understand' user needs and enable users to manage their health more conveniently. Through continuous iteration and testing, these adaptive interface concepts are poised to evolve into more fully realized product features, ultimately delivering meaningful improvements in the healthcare industry.