www.delve.com Open in urlscan Pro
76.76.21.98  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Services
Industries
Our Work
Insights
About Us
Contact Us




BIGGEST INNOVATIONS IN 2022 THAT INFLUENCED PRODUCT DESIGN

A coffee pod system without a plastic pod. Headphones that read your mind. A
touch-sensitive prosthetic hand. Check out the biggest innovations to influence
product design in 2022.

Design
Industrial Design
Interaction Design
Engineering
Electrical & Software Engineering
Mechanical Engineering


BIGGEST INNOVATIONS IN 2022 THAT INFLUENCED PRODUCT DESIGN



Delve designers, engineers, and strategists live and breathe product innovation
year-round.

At year-end, we nominate the innovations, from any sector, with the greatest
potential to transform that industry and the lives of people who use them. Here
are our picks for 2022.






1. AI AND MACHINE LEARNING WENT MAINSTREAM


No fewer than six Delve team members named advances in AI image and text
generation among the biggest innovations in 2022 to influence product design.

Machine-generated text and art are now everywhere, thanks to new
consumer-friendly tools like Dall-E 2, an AI system that creates realistic
images and art based on a description in natural language, and ChatGPT, an AI
chatbot that answers questions and writes essays.

“We’re seeing the next AI spring,” says Jon Butzine, Delve’s Senior Director of
Electrical Engineering.

“I’m excited to see how this new creative fuel can accelerate and take our work
to the next level,” says Justen England, Managing Director of Delve’s Boston
Studio.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT 

“With widespread adoption comes important conversations about how to use these
tools and their ethical implications,” says Pradyuman Kodavatiganti, Delve
Senior Interaction Designer.

For example, in September, video game designer Jason Allen entered AI-generated
artwork into a fine arts competition—and won, sparking heated debate about the
role of AI in art.

“If a computer makes art, is it art? Maybe, but this is definitely going to
impact artists financially,” says Matt Black, Senior Director of Project
Management at Delve.

“These tools show tremendous value for releasing humans from certain types of
work, but what does this mean for creativity, for ensuring non-discrimination,
and for how we interact as humans? We will need to address these questions,”
says Amy Lee, Delve’s Vice President of Strategy.






2. LAB-ON-A-CHIP DEVICES ENTERED THE MARKETPLACE

The home-based diagnostics trend continued in 2022. In particular, lab-on-a-chip
devices, which employ microfluidics technology to scale down the capabilities of
a large biochemistry lab onto a single microchip, reached the marketplace and
began to have a real impact.

One example is a device from Baebies that makes infant blood screening cheaper,
faster, and more convenient, allowing for early detection and treatment of
potentially fatal disorders. “Just collect the blood, put it in the cartridge,
and hit go,” says Ronald Warren, program officer the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

“Look for microfluidics, in combination with other technologies, to continue to
revolutionize the way medical diagnostics and research are performed,” says
Butzine. One example: researchers at Indiana University are developing a
platform that combines lab-on-a-chip technology with machine learning to improve
cancer immunotherapy screening.







3. ONE PROSTHETIC HAND THAT’S TOUCH-SENSITIVE. ONE THAT GETS SMARTER OVER TIME.

The engineering firm Esper Bionics developed a bionic self-learning hand
prosthesis that could be a game changer for approximately ten million people
worldwide who have had an arm amputation.

The Esper Hand is lightweight and has up to 24 wearable sensors that detect and
process muscle activity and brain impulses. Over time, machine learning enables
the Esper Hand to accurately detect muscle activity, and recognize and respond
to context, including predicting the appropriate grip for a particular
situation.

At the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs, researchers are adding touch sensitivity
to prosthetics by linking artificial limbs to the user’s own nervous system.
Researchers use a device that was originally intended to ease chronic pain by
delivering electrical impulses into the spinal cord. Now, the device stimulates
nerve fibers that were once connected to an amputated limb.

An early study suggests that the approach works. "I know there's no hand there,
but I can feel it," said one study participant. “They can make the palm of my
hand feel like it's the palm of my hand.”


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

“The most important technology developed in the next 30 years will be
electronics inside the human body,” predicts Esper Bionics CEO and co-founder
Dima Gazda, a medical doctor and engineer.

Will a patient have to worry that their new bionic hand could be infiltrated by
hackers?

“AI and machine learning associated with robotics and other medical devices are
a force for good in the world,” says Mathieu Turpault, Delve’s Vice President of
Design. “At the same time, designers, engineers, and regulators will need to
work together to address valid concerns around ethics, security, and privacy to
ensure that patients receive the full benefits of these advances, with minimal
risk.”







4. HEADPHONES THAT READ YOUR MIND AND KEEP YOU PRODUCTIVE

Available now: Devices and platforms that interact with the human brain in real
time.

A few years ago, Neurable invented a virtual reality game in which players drove
a remote-control car with their minds. Now Neurable has released the Enten
Headphones, which track a user’s brain activity, then intelligently implement
controls to help maximize the user’s mental focus and productivity.



WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

We are just starting to glimpse the disruptive potential of brain-computer
interfaces. New research from UCSF and Meta hints at brain-computer interfaces’
potential for restoring speech communication. Neuralink is developing devices to
help people with paralysis, memory loss, hearing loss, and blindness.

“In the 1980s, the computer mouse changed the way we interacted with our
computers. In the 2000s, the touchscreen did the same for smartphones. A similar
but even bigger disruption is coming with brain-computer interfaces,” says Aaron
Pavkov, Delve’s Senior Director of Mechanical Engineering.






5. GAMIFICATION MADE MRI SCANS FUN (YES, FUN) FOR CHILD PATIENTS

An MRI scan can be an intimidating experience for patients of any age, but
particularly for kids. Philips’ solution: a pediatric MRI coaching program that
turns the stressful medical procedure into a playful experience.

“I have been following the Philips MRI project for years,” says Jean Cannella,
Senior Principal Interaction Designer at Delve. “It is an excellent example of
how experience design can be used beyond the device itself to improve the
experience for the patient. Each encounter becomes part of a journey that works
to put the patient at ease.”

Beginning at home, the child prepares for the MRI procedure by playing Scan
Buddy, an interactive game that involves helping Ollie the elephant to undergo
an MRI scan.

Then, upon arrival at the hospital, the child explores the Philips toy “Kitten
Scanner” to learn more, via digital animation, about how a real MRI device
works.



WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

“Look for more gamification in healthcare as the industry seeks compelling ways
to engage patients, drive compliance, and motivate healthy habits," says
Cannella.







6. A STARTUP PARTNERED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO GIVE NEW LIFE TO LEFTOVER PAINT

Over 850 million gallons of paint are produced each year. About 10% of that is
wasted and ends up in landfills or improperly dumped.

Working with consumers and the nonprofit PaintCare, the startup Up Paint diverts
old, leftover paint from landfills. Then, Up Paint processes and refines the old
paint to bring it back up to retail standard. Up Paint currently offers 18
colors of “upcycled” paint for sale, with more colors set to be released in
2023.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Look for risk-taking startups to continue to break new ground in sustainable
design.

“Startups are inherently innovative, and they also tend to be deeply connected
to what customers want,” says England. “This connection helps to build the
partnerships between producers and consumers that sustainable practices need to
be successful.”







7. A LONG-AWAITED BREAKTHROUGH IN NUCLEAR FUSION

For decades, scientists have believed nuclear fusion could one day provide
clean, safe energy without greenhouse gas emissions. But for years, they
struggled to meet their goal of producing a fusion reaction that generated more
energy than it consumed.

In December of 2022, scientists at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory in California finally made this breakthrough.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT



To avoid the worst effects of climate change, most scientists believe we must
cut our global carbon output in half by 2030. The long-term potential of nuclear
fusion is huge, but the reality of a functional nuclear fusion power plant is
probably still decades away.

“Optimists among us hope the recent NIF breakthrough will ignite broader
interest in nuclear fusion, spur additional breakthroughs, and bring a
nuclear-fusion-powered energy-making system into being sooner rather than
later,” says Kodavatiganti.







8. A COFFEE POD SYSTEM WITHOUT THE PLASTIC POD

The runaway success of the hyper-convenient pod-based single-brew coffee brewing
system has had disastrous environmental implications. With almost 25% of U.S.
homes now owning a single-serve coffee brewing system, tens of billions of
non-reusable, non-recyclable plastic pods have ended up in landfills.

According to the Story of Stuff Project, that’s enough to wrap around the planet
ten times.

Swiss company Migros spent five years developing a solution. In September 2022,
Migros launched CoffeeB: a pod-based coffee brewing system without a pod.
Instead of relying on non-recyclable plastic pods, CoffeeB brews coffee that is
encased in a thin, protective film made entirely of natural seaweed materials, a
100% compostable coffee ball.

CoffeeB's solution to the plastic coffee pod problem is brilliant because it
addresses environmental concerns while also accounting for consumers’ desire for
convenience.

“By eliminating the packaging pod, Coffee B is not only helping the environment
but also building for adoption by simplifying ease of use,” says Chris Murray,
Delve’s Senior Director of Industrial Design.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Innovators in sustainable design will continue to rethink popular but
problematic consumer products. Designs that do not force a choice between
sustainability and convenience will have an edge in marketplace adoption.







9. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE HOME ARE MATURING

Bringing renewable energy into the home got simpler in 2022.

The new Timberline Solar roofing system from GAF Energy generates clean
electricity and pays for itself over time, but unlike typical solar panels
installations, it can be installed as quickly and easily as a standard shingle
roof—with just a nail gun and basic roofing know-how.

This simplicity makes the transition to solar energy more accessible for
homeowners who need a new roof.

Also newly launched is the BlockEnergy Smart Platform from Emera Technologies.
BlockEnergy is a simple kit of parts, installed, operated, and maintained by the
local utility, that works seamlessly with the local grid to put rooftop solar,
energy storage, and smart controls on a power microgrid of new-build homes.

BlockEnergy enables developers of new homes to offer homeowners cleaner,
affordable energy, along with the assurance that the homeowners will always have
a reliable source of energy when they need it most.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Sustainable features in homes are no longer luxuries, but necessities.

“Expect the development of turnkey microgrid solutions to accelerate the
decentralization of energy, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and aging
power infrastructure,” says Murray.






10. NEW LAWS TO TIGHTEN MEDICAL DEVICE CYBERSECURITY

“If a person's bank account is hacked, they lose some money. If their medical
device is hacked, their health is on the line,” says Jonathan Gaspredes,
Principal Systems Engineer at Delve. “A patient’s medical record is 10 to 40
times more valuable than a credit card number on the dark web. It should be at
least as secure, perhaps much more so.”

In 2022, the U.S. federal government considered several proposals to regulate
medical device cybersecurity and address potential vulnerabilities in medical
devices, mobile apps, and record-keeping systems that could put patient privacy
and safety at risk.

 * The FDA’s third draft guidance on medical device security was shared for
   public comment. It offers a glimpse of what the FDA will be looking for in
   future submissions related to cybersecurity device design, labeling, and
   documentation.
   
 * The Protecting and Transforming Cyber Health Care (PATCH) Act was introduced
   in the Senate. It would require manufacturers to disclose information about a
   connected medical device’s security before it goes to market, including how
   security updates would be handled throughout the device’s lifecycle.
   
 * Also introduced in the Senate was the Strengthening Cybersecurity for Medical
   Devices Act. It would require the FDA to regularly update its cybersecurity
   guidelines, including how to address vulnerabilities in older devices.
   
 * The U.S. House of Representatives considered the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act
   of 2022. The bill would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
   Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate to
   protect Americans’ healthcare data from cyberattacks.
   
 * In June, the House passed the Food and Drug Amendments of 2022. This version
   of the bill required manufacturers to assess cybersecurity at the premarket
   stage and monitor and address post-market vulnerabilities. It also required
   manufacturers to label devices with a software bill of materials and ensure
   that devices could receive patches.
   
 * However, in September, the version of the FDA appropriations bill that passed
   in the Senate did not include the medical device cybersecurity provisions
   that had received overwhelming support from the House in June.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Despite the setback in September, the FDA and legislators will continue to push
to strengthen medical device cybersecurity via the PATCH Act and other bills.

More healthcare systems will take proactive steps to secure medical devices in
their current inventory and prepare for compliance with future legislation.

For developers of medical devices, cybersecurity will continue to be a vital
design consideration. “The problem of developing secure medical devices, that
are still user-friendly, is a great place to be innovative,” says Gaspredes,
“even if it is ‘behind the scenes.’”







11. EDGE AI CHIPS BUILT A MORE POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT IOT


Edge AI chips are smaller, less expensive, consume less power, and produce less
heat. Best of all, they can work even when a device is not connected to the
cloud, significantly improving the performance and security of IoT devices.

This made edge AI one of the hottest trends in chip technology in 2022. Edge AI
chips are now found in many smartphones, tablets, wearables, and smart home
devices such as doorbells.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Right now, the consumer device market represents more than 90% of the edge AI
chip market, but the enterprise market for edge AI chips will grow quickly.

“Expect to see Edge AI chips in more enterprise applications, not just consumer
products,” says Butzine. “Their ability to manage huge floods of dense data will
be invaluable in commercial and industrial sensors, cameras, and robots.”






12. ANDROID BECAME ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE OF ALL PHYSICAL ABILITIES

If you are an Android user, you can now control your phone with your face.

The updated Android Accessibility Suite app, part of the Android 12 operating
system, allows users to set certain gestures to trigger their phone to perform
specific functions. Raise your eyebrows to open the notifications panel. Smile
at the camera to order Chinese takeout. Open your mouth to text a friend. You
get the idea.

Google’s multidisciplinary Creative Lab designed the accessibility feature to
enable users of all physical abilities to communicate via a digital interface.

“It caught my attention because I’ve been doing a lot of work at Delve around
accessibility,” says Cannella. “This is a great example of how technology can
enable accessibility, allowing people to do things that otherwise would not have
been possible for them.”


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

“Diverse perspectives within a design team result in better, more accessible
products and services,” says Cannella. As we continue to try to get
accessibility and inclusivity right, look for more companies to intentionally
build multidisciplinary design teams.”






13. PATAGONIA REIMAGINED CAPITALISM IN SERVICE OF CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY

Privately owned outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia has always been known for
its values: using only environmentally friendly materials in its product line
and donating 1% of its sales every year to the preservation and restoration of
the natural environment.

In September of 2022, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard took this commitment one
giant step further. Chouinard donated the entire company, valued at around $3
billion, to support the effort to fight climate change.

“Innovation is about courage and choosing a path few have taken to show us all a
better way forward,” says Eric Mackey, Director of Industrial Design at Delve.
“By firmly staking Patagonia’s mission to save the Earth, Yvon Chouinard and his
family have challenged us to rethink what business should be and the importance
of committing to your values. “

“There were no good options available, so we created our own.”

“Truth be told, there were no good options available. So, we created our own,”
Chouinard wrote in his letter announcing the decision.

Instead of going public or selling the company and donating the proceeds—paths
which Chouinard feared would create short-term environmental gains, at the
expense of long-term risks to the company’s mission—Chouinard forged a new path.




> “Innovation is about courage and choosing a path few have taken to show us all
> a better way forward. In 2022, Patagonia challenged us to rethink what
> business should be and the importance of committing to your values."

— Eric Mackey, Director of Industrial Design


Patagonia effectively now has a single shareholder, Planet Earth, with a new
mission statement: “We’re in business to save our home planet.” All profits
beyond what must be reinvested in the business are being donated to climate
sustainability efforts. The company is expected to donate about $100 million
annually.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Look for other purpose-driven businesses to follow Patagonia’s lead by exploring
innovative ways to put values and mission, instead of profit, at the center of
their business models.

"Patagonia shows what's possible when everyone in an organization shares deeply
aligned values in addition to a well-defined purpose,” says Taylor Cone, Delve’s
Director of Innovation Enablement. “When you have that level of clarity and
commitment, continuous innovation in service to that shared objective is almost
a given.”

Members of the Delve Team have been watching and cheering innovations in product
design for a decade. Go back in time by exploring the  Biggest Innovations To
Influence Product Design archive.


RELATED INSIGHTS

See all Insights
See all Insights

Get Inspired
What Mini Electronics Are Inside Tiny Wearables?
Learn the Not-So-Basics
Product Design Best Practices to Follow
What is product design? Do you really know what it means?
Read more

Get Inspired
15 Biggest Innovations of 2021 to Influence Product Design
We asked our staff to nominate the biggest innovations of the past 12 months
that will have an influence on product design.
Read more

Get Inspired
13 Biggest Innovations of 2019 To Influence Product Design
Robots unleashed; the emergence of hearables; sustainable plastics and processes
— we weigh in the biggest innovations of 2019 to influence product design.
Read more

Protect the Planet
Innovative Technology To Combat Climate Change: Our 7 Favorite Solutions
A list of emerging, innovative technology being developed to reduce carbon,
geoengineer the environment, and improve battery efficiency and cooling tech.
Read more

Get Inspired
Our DIY Split-Flap Display: An Adventure in Inefficient Nostalgia
We weren't setting out to invent something radically different, but we wanted to
prove to ourselves that we could make our own split-flap display.
Read more

Unlocking the power of product innovation

What We Do
ServicesIndustriesOur WorkInsights
Who We Are
About UsOur PeopleWork at DelveNewsroom
Our Studios
BostonMadisonPhiladelphiaSan Francisco
Contact
Contact Us
© Delve 2023
 * Privacy Policy
 * FCOI Policy