Product Design and System Development of Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Device: A User-Centric Review

The unfortunate reality is that many innovative devices developed within research laboratories fail to achieve meaningful commercial success. This phenomenon can often be attributed to researchers not adequately considering the wants and values of prospective customers during the design process. The present project aims to create an affordable surface device through a user-centric design approach.A comprehensive literature review was conducted, uncovering twenty-six relevant research articles warranting further examination and evaluation. These insights have guided the design of two sEMG device prototypes called MAMS and MACARONS. The hardware components have been carefully selected to optimally balance utility, ease of use, and user comfort; which are the crucial factors in meeting customer expectations and minimizing barriers to adoption. The overarching goal is to optimize the product's capacity to meet customer needs, while also ensuring manufacturability at scale. This would enable the device to meaningfully contribute to muscle rehabilitation and development efforts within both laboratory and real-world settings. This technically sound, usercentric approach provides a compelling model for successfully transitioning innovative technologies from the research sphere into viable commercial products. By maintaining a steadfast focus on understanding and addressing the needs of the end-user, this project demonstrates the potential for laboratory breakthroughs to achieve meaningful real-world impact.