MasimoStork
Baby monitoring system
Introduction
This case study explores the creation of an audio suite for Masimo's Stork baby monitor devices and app, a solution designed to offer real-time audio monitoring of a baby’s activities and vitals. With over 30 years of experience, Masimo is renowned for developing technologies that improve patient outcomes and healthcare. Trusted by doctors and hospitals worldwide, Masimo's devices, sensors, and connectivity solutions have expanded beyond hospitals to improve everyday lives. The study highlights the challenges faced in designing bespoke notifications, alarms, and audio modifiers for the Stork's camera, home hub, and app to ensure clear communication with users.
Process
Our team collaborated closely with Masimo to creatively translate their science into functional audio for the Stork baby monitor. Through brainstorming and a back-and-forth exchange of ideas, we developed a robust plan targeting all key audio needs. This early phase of the project allowed us to refine our skills and adapt to the unique demands of Masimo’s requirements. We view each new client as an opportunity for growth and thrive on the challenge of approaching projects with fresh perspectives.
To reflect the delicate nature of the application, we used soft, warm timbres like marimba and pianos while ensuring the alarms remained clear and recognisable. Each alarm played Masimo's brand notes with variations in pace and tone to distinguish different alert categories. We balanced the design between melodic and more traditional alarms, achieving a sound that was both comforting and compliant with the IEC 60601-1-8 medical standards, particularly in terms of timing and frequency.
Challenges
During the project, we faced several key challenges, starting with the creation of a cohesive audio suite for the Stork baby monitor devices and app. This suite needed to be both audibly pleasing and effective at communicating important messages derived from a child’s vital signs, all while cutting through common household noise like TV, open windows, and appliances. Ensuring the sounds could effectively communicate in such varied environments was a primary concern.
We also had to optimise and test the sounds across three different speaker configurations—each with distinct frequency and loudness profiles—used by the camera, hub, and app. Despite the limitations of these different hardware setups, it was essential that the sounds maintained a consistent sonic aesthetic across all devices, creating a seamless and uniform audio experience for users.
Another challenge was aligning the alarms and notifications with the global audio standard IEC 60601-1-8, as outlined by Professor Judy Reed Edworthy in her research. This standard is designed to improve the recognizability and localizability of auditory alarms, reducing ‘alarm fatigue’ and improving the overall user experience. However, adhering to these strict standards posed a unique constraint on our creative process, particularly regarding the length and timing of the alarms, which had to meet specific parameters for medical device safety.
Challenges
Creating a homogenous audio suite for the Stork devices and their companion app which is not only audibly pleasing but also effective at communicating the messages and parameters that are derived from Stork’s monitoring of a child’s vitals. These sounds also have to penetrate the broad spectrum of noise pollution common to a typical home environment (tv, open window noise, home appliances).
Optimising and testing the sounds for three different speaker configurations with discreet frequency and loudness profiles. The camera, hub and app sounds need to maintain a shared sonic aesthetic and sound homogenous despite the different limitations of their respective hardware.
Designing an intuitive audio landscape that allows parents to easily navigate the devices and app maintaining continuity throughout the app and devices whether user interface sounds, alarms or notifications.
Aligning the alarms, notifications and modifiers with a global audio standard known as IEC 60601-1-8 developed by Professor Judy Reed Edworthy in her paper “The Recognizability and Localizability of Auditory Alarms: Setting Global Medical Device Standards” among others. The aim of adhering to this standard is to develop more effective and meaningful auditory alarms for a global medical device safety standard which would alleviate ‘alarm fatigue’ and improve the overall experience relating to sounds for medical devices.
Adhering to the afore-mentioned standards comes with a specific challenge related to the sonic space we were confined to when creating the alarms. Our process was limited by these constraints to a relatively unique set of parameters regarding length and timings as can be read about further in Judy’s writings.
Process
Our team collaborated with Masimo to translate their science in a creative way into functional audio for Stork. Brainstorming with them we formulated a robust plan that targets all key areas of their audio needs. After an initial back and forth of ideas and producing a treatment of our preliminary plan we begin iterating on sonic ideas to send to the client for review. This initial process is extra valuable to us with regards to allowing us to learn and growing our skills through interacting with the different needs and demands of our client’s projects. We view every project and new client as a new challenge for us to adapt and we thrive when invited into different approaches and ways of working.
We utilised a number of soft, warm timbres such as marimba and pianos to reflect the delicate nature of the application while still retaining a recognisable and suitably alerting sound. In order for the home-user to gain familiarity with the devices and the highest factor of recognisability of the sound source, all alarms would be playing the Masimo brand notes; with different pace and sounds pertaining to the different categories, to differentiate them from each other.
We iterated from more melodic and tuneful alarms and notifications to more static, traditional ones and landed somewhere in-between, retaining a warm and comforting timbre while adhering to IEC 60601-1-8 standards with regards to timings and frequencies. Again more specifics about the standards can be read about more in Judy’s work.
"Makewaves tech is part of Makewaves audio. We specialise in conceptualising, developing and meticulously crafting audio and haptics for a diverse range of applications and functionalities that elevate user interaction and experience an
With a team of experienced sound designers, composers and audio technicians, we strive to enhance the user experience across a vast array of devices, tools and media providing reassuring, and engaging auditory feedback."
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Magnus Arwenhed, Creative Lead & Partner
The constraints imposed by the standards pushed us to become more creative, as working within a limited framework often leads to more conceptual solutions. In adhering to the guidelines, we developed new techniques for digitally manipulating organic recordings to resemble artificial sounds while retaining their unique timbres. For the modifier auditory icons, which alert parents to deviations from optimal levels, we crafted abstract yet recognizable sounds. These sonic analogies were designed to represent key parameters such as heart rate, breathing, temperature, and oxygen levels, allowing for quick and intuitive recognition.
Paradoxically, the more constraints that were applied to us by the standards the more creative we became. When working within a limited framework the result is often more creative and conceptual. In the process of investigating the possibilities of working to the standards we discovered new techniques for manipulating organic recordings digitally to more resemble artificially generated sounds while maintaining the unique timbres bespoke to our recordings.
In between the notifications of the subtle and more urgent alarms the modifier auditory icons needed play in order for the parent to quickly gain an understanding of what the deviation from the optimal levels the modifier alert is related to. We decided the sounds had to be be of an abstract character but still close enough, sonically, to what they represent and distinct enough to, illustrate which of the parameters they relate to. So for these we created sonic analogies of the main aspects of the sounds we associate with the heart, breathing, temperature and oxygen levels.
For the power-on sound, we based it on Masimo’s existing audio ident, using classic instruments like strings and piano to align with the brand’s clean and sophisticated image. The sound was designed to be positive and uplifting, reflecting the safety and reliability of Masimo’s devices. For the UI sounds, we created subtle, organic wooden knocking tones that provide warm, reassuring feedback during button presses in the app, enhancing usability without being intrusive. Paired with haptic feedback, these sounds make the app’s interface intuitive and user-friendly.
After gaining client approval for the aesthetic design, we rigorously tested the sounds across Stork devices and mobile apps, simulating various home environments. These tests informed our mastering process, where we fine-tuned the sounds for optimal performance. In the final stage, all audio elements were mastered in our post-production studio to ensure they met industry standards for loudness and frequency response, delivering the highest fidelity and clarity across all devices.
“What sets Makewaves tech apart is their innovative approach to audio. They leveraged advanced technologies and research driven principles to create sounds that not only met our expectations but exceeded them. The result was a collection of sounds that not only captured the essence of Trek Bicycle but also had the power to excite and delight our customers. Makewaves tech's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in audio is evident in every aspect of their work.”
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Bob Najduk, Director of Hardware, Trek Bicycle
"Working with Makewaves tech has been a revelation. As a Bio-inspired consultant, I've seen the power of sound, but the team at Makewaves tech takes it to new heights. They are a passionate collective redefining bespoke audio. Their adventurous approach turns each project into a journey of creative exploration. In a world where audio hold so much weight, Makewaves tech are a beacon of excellence."
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Prof. Franco Lodato
“What sets Makewaves tech apart is their innovative approach to audio. They leveraged advanced technologies and research driven principles to create sounds that not only met our expectations but exceeded them. The result was a collection of sounds that not only captured the essence of Trek Bicycle but also had the power to excite and delight our customers. Makewaves tech's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in audio is evident in every aspect of their work.”
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Bob Najduk, Director of Hardware, Trek Bicycle
"Working with Makewaves tech has been a revelation. As a Bio-inspired consultant, I've seen the power of sound, but the team at Makewaves tech takes it to new heights. They are a passionate collective redefining bespoke audio. Their adventurous approach turns each project into a journey of creative exploration. In a world where audio hold so much weight, Makewaves tech are a beacon of excellence."
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Prof. Franco Lodato
“What sets Makewaves tech apart is their innovative approach to audio. They leveraged advanced technologies and research driven principles to create sounds that not only met our expectations but exceeded them. The result was a collection of sounds that not only captured the essence of Trek Bicycle but also had the power to excite and delight our customers. Makewaves tech's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in audio is evident in every aspect of their work.”
-
Bob Najduk, Director of Hardware, Trek Bicycle
"Working with Makewaves tech has been a revelation. As a Bio-inspired consultant, I've seen the power of sound, but the team at Makewaves tech takes it to new heights. They are a passionate collective redefining bespoke audio. Their adventurous approach turns each project into a journey of creative exploration. In a world where audio hold so much weight, Makewaves tech are a beacon of excellence."
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Prof. Franco Lodato
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Conclusion
The challenge of creating suite of sounds for Stork was one of functionality blended with aesthetics as our work often tends to be. Through experimentation, testing and iteration we provided a modern but friendly and audibly legible set of sonic alarms, pointers and UI sounds to accompany and complement not only the functionality of the devices and app but also Masimo’s key brand values and identity.
As always, our grew through the process and gained key insights into how to best represent a brand while adhering to essential standards and also providing our expertise while consulting with the client. We were inspired to rise to the challenge and the resulting audio suite reflects our commitment to the project and the rewarding process we were thrilled to undertake.
Conclusion
The challenge of creating suite of sounds for Stork was one of functionality blended with aesthetics as our work often tends to be.
Through experimentation, testing and iteration we provided a modern but friendly and audibly legible set of sonic alarms, pointers and UI sounds to accompany and complement not only the functionality of the devices and app but also Masimo’s key brand values and identity.
As always, our grew through the process and gained key insights into how to best represent a brand while adhering to essential standards and also providing our expertise while consulting with the client.
We were inspired to rise to the challenge and the resulting audio suite reflects our commitment to the project and the rewarding process we were thrilled to undertake.
Conclusion
The challenge of creating a suite of sounds for Stork was one of functionality blended with aesthetics as our work often tends to be.
Through experimentation, testing and iteration we provided a modern but friendly and audibly legible set of sonic alarms, pointers and UI sounds to accompany and complement not only the functionality of the devices and app but also Masimo’s key brand values and identity.
As always, our knowledge grew throughout the process and gained key insights into how to best represent a brand while adhering to essential standards and also providing our expertise while consulting with the client.
We were inspired to rise to the challenge and the resulting audio suite reflects our commitment to the project and the rewarding process we were thrilled to undertake.