Hypertension affects 1.4 billion adults worldwide, but only 25% have the condition under control. For Indigenous communities, the crisis is even more acute, with prevalence rates 10-20% higher than non-Indigenous groups.
This disparity isn't just a medical failure; it's a technological one. Standard healthcare tools often fail to account for cultural nuances, leading to a "digital divide" where medical interventions feel foreign and clinical barriers prevent life-saving care.
Primary clinical hypertension tracking apps are often:
When medical models are forced onto Indigenous contexts without adaptation, the result is low engagement and a profound lack of trust. This technology should act as a bridge to better health, not a barrier.
In partnership with Dr. Jared Duval and the Playful Health Technology (PHT) Lab, we are developing CardioCare Quest. This mobile health gaming environment is designed specifically for the Navajo community, aiming to transform standard health trackers into a platform for engaging users in a culturally grounded play via storytelling.
Our role in this project is split into two core technical and creative responsibilities:
By integrating these features, CardioCare Quest hopes to build a strong base for the future of medical data collection whilst also having broader implications in the world of culturally responsive digital health innovations.
Our team will utilize a phase-based development approach. This begins with requirements acquisition via meetings with Dr. Jared Duval as well as team leads for the CardioCare Quest and NetGauge projects.
The first phase of our process will be focused on design and testing, where we will iteratively refine Figma designs and further discuss our progress in meetings with the lab to ensure a proper foundation for our Twine games and app shell.
The second phase will shift our focus into development and testing, where we will begin implementation details for our Twine games. Additionally, we will employ the "Next 5" planning approach to foster weekly prototyping and progress meetings. Throughout this process, we will still continuously be discussing and receiving feedback from the lab regarding development.
Coming Soon