ResMed Wins 2010 Red Dot Design Award for Its S9 Series

[Slinky]

From SleepReview e-magazine:

ResMed Wins 2010 Red Dot Design Award for Its S9 Series

In a competition against designers and companies from 57 countries with a total of 4,252 products, ResMed was awarded the "red dot award: product design 2010" for its S9 Series in the category where the company competed.

ResMed's CPAP/APAP device, the S9 Series, is expected to help more sleep apnea patients adhere to the treatment and ultimately help them to experience a restful night's sleep without apneas.

"Great design in medical devices should combine good looks, innovation and user-friendliness, as well as address an unmet medical need. We listened to our customers and patients in the development of the S9 Series: our design goal was to create the most comfortable sleep therapy system in the global marketplace that is "at home" in the bedroom environment,” said Michael Farrell, senior vice president, Global Sleep Strategic Business Unit, ResMed. “We are flattered to be recognized along-side companies with a legacy of engineering and design, such as BMW. Winning the red dot award is solid third-party validation that the S9 Series is a revolution in sleep apnea therapy with its unique blend of technological progress and modern design."

If, as I am assuming, the award is for the visual design of the S9s ..... whoopee. Who gives a rat's rear? It doesn't look all that much different from the PR SystemOne. "I" am interested in the therapy it can provide and the data about my therapy that it can provide. Frankly, I didn't think the S8s were unattractive. What the hay. It sets in my bedroom, on my nightstand, waiting to provide therapy at night. I sleep in the dark, I don't sleep w/the lights on. The S8 wasn't ugly, it wasn't repulsive looking. So what is the big hairy ape deal about the S9's "appearance"??? Yeah, its attractive. But as I said, whoopee doo. What it can DO is what is important and what information it provides about what it is doing is what is important. They could have put THOSE TYPE of improvements in the S8 body and I'd have been happy.

It scares me that Resmed might really think we users are such airheads that we're going to be swayed by looks and smiley faces instead of effective, comfortable therapy AND data and data access which they have excelled in for so long.

Resmed, Resmed, whatfor are you up to?? Maybe you need to ditch the guys at the top and refocus on what's important???

[q149]

....If, as I am assuming, the award is for the visual design of the S9s ..... whoopee. Who gives a rat's rear? It doesn't look all that much different from the PR SystemOne. "I" am interested in the therapy it can provide and the data about my therapy that it can provide. Frankly, I didn't think the S8s were unattractive. What the hay. It sets in my bedroom, on my nightstand, waiting to provide therapy at night. I sleep in the dark, I don't sleep w/the lights on. The S8 wasn't ugly, it wasn't repulsive looking. So what is the big hairy ape deal about the S9's "appearance"??? Yeah, its attractive. But as I said, whoopee doo. What it can DO is what is important and what information it provides about what it is doing is what is important. They could have put THOSE TYPE of improvements in the S8 body and I'd have been happy.

It scares me that Resmed might really think we users are such airheads that we're going to be swayed by looks and smiley faces instead of effective, comfortable therapy AND data and data access which they have excelled in for so long.

Resmed, Resmed, whatfor are you up to?? Maybe you need to ditch the guys at the top and refocus on what's important???

I completely disagree with you.

The design effects the usability of the device. The S9 is as simple a cpap to use as there could ever be. It is the iPhone of cpaps. CPAP users represent are a cross section of society and many of the general population are baffled by devices that have poor design. How many VCR's in the old day blinked 12:00 because many could figure out how to set the clock? For therapy to work you need to use your CPAP. The S9 has a clear easy to use screen and simple controls.

You are correct in stating that a machine must provide effective therapy as well. But that is a given. And frankly, the S9 is widely recognized as one of the best machines on the market and I think it looks great too.

[Bob3000]

It scares me that Resmed might really think we users are such airheads that we're going to be swayed by looks and smiley faces instead of effective, comfortable therapy AND data and data access which they have excelled in for so long.

Resmed, Resmed, whatfor are you up to?? Maybe you need to ditch the guys at the top and refocus on what's important???

How did you come to the conclusion that the S9 could only have either a cosmetic overhaul or an internal, therapy-driven overhaul? Might Resmed have had two design teams, one for improving the device's aesthetics, and one for improving its ability to deliver effective therapy?

This is not the first thread bashing the S9 for its superficial improvements. Unless you can provide evidence that its therapeutic effectiveness was neglected or worsened in order to improve outward appearance, it seem you really have nothing to complain about. What am I missing?

[Slinky]

Resmed is not bragging about its improved therapy. To my knowledge Resmed has not been awarded any recognition for any new therapy abilities - their "brag" video that I saw was all about its appearance. The award seems to be for its appearance.

Look, I am a Resmed fan. I just question the direction of their touting of the S9. I think they are barking up the wrong tree and touting the wrong features. Appearance is so incidental. WHY aren't they bragging up their REAL advantages?

[Uncle_Bob]

How many VCR's in the old day blinked 12:00 because many could figure out how to set the clock? For therapy to work you need to use your CPAP. The S9 has a clear easy to use screen and simple controls.

Changing the time on the S9 is more complicated than any VCR i've ever owned. Before you can even change the time in one menu section you must erase the compliance data under the configuration menu first.

[Roman Hokie]

Slinky, I see your point. I'm an Engineer by trade. So, when I see something, I want function over form. How can we improve on it? How can we make it go faster? Better quality? Safer?

True story. I was researching some simulation software about... wow... 10 years ago and had my selection for my employer to purchase down to two competing developers. It was off-the-shelf software but worked in completely different ways.

Anyway, I had a preference of one application and a colleague liked their competition. I asked him for a demo product of the application. He gave me a CD with, yes, a video of the output of the software. Not what I asked for. I wanted to be able to test drive the application to see HOW it worked as I'd be the one programming it. Basically, I got an online video (in 21st century tech) Eventually we purchased that software, but only after I got to test drive it for a week and make my own simulation model of boxes on a conveyor.

My point. For me? Show me how this one is better. And telling me that it's got a better design doesn't cut it. Telling me it's lighter or offers more bells and whistles or data reporting capabilities... yeah, that's what I'm talkin' bout.

Another true story. I had the opportunity several years back to ship a car from Texas to Colorado for work. One of the execs was relocating. Anyway, if you asked one of my office mates what kind of car it was she'd say White. My response would have been a white 1997 Chevy Camaro 5 speed without the convertible option.

And yes, from the Wikipedia entry for Red Dot Design Award, it seems to be based highly (not completely) on aesthetics.

[Wulfman]

What am I missing?

Just about everything......

Resmed is not bragging about its improved therapy. To my knowledge Resmed has not been awarded any recognition for any new therapy abilities - their "brag" video that I saw was all about its appearance. The award seems to be for its appearance.

Look, I am a Resmed fan. I just question the direction of their touting of the S9. I think they are barking up the wrong tree and touting the wrong features. Appearance is so incidental. WHY aren't they bragging up their REAL advantages?

I'm with you, Slinky!!!.....(And, I'm NOT a ResMed fan......except for my UMFF )

It's interesting to look back at so many of the "hardware" designs by all of these companies over the years. It always seemed that they've put appearance over substance. In recent years, they've all gotten paranoid that these things LOOK like a "medical device"......now ResMed's S9 looks like a clock radio.......ain't that GREAT!

You go girl!!!

Den

[rosacer]

I'm with you Slinky! I'm a very practical person, appearance doesn't mean a lot to me. The S8 was not a monster! Wait and let see if now the price is not going up again because it's a Red Dot Design Awarded product.

Give me a product with an improved therapy and competitive price and I'm your customer. All those advertisements..., I don't buy all that bla bla bla, sorry. I bought 2 APAPs 2 moths ago: System One auto and a S8 Elite II AutoSet, sorry .

[carbonman]

I'm with you, Slinky!!!.....(And, I'm NOT a ResMed fan......except for my UMFF )

It's interesting to look back at so many of the "hardware" designs by all of these companies over the years. It always seemed that they've put appearance over substance. In recent years, they've all gotten paranoid that these things LOOK like a "medical device"......now ResMed's S9 looks like a clock radio.......ain't that GREAT!

You go girl!!!

Den

Ditto!.... and I am a converted Resmed fan.....thanks to Slinky.
The "new" and more "safer" look of the S9 makes the functional
ergonomics of it bass-ackwards....compared to the S8.

I fear no cpap machine.

[Bob3000]

What am I missing?

Just about everything......

Resmed is not bragging about its improved therapy. To my knowledge Resmed has not been awarded any recognition for any new therapy abilities - their "brag" video that I saw was all about its appearance. The award seems to be for its appearance.

Look, I am a Resmed fan. I just question the direction of their touting of the S9. I think they are barking up the wrong tree and touting the wrong features. Appearance is so incidental. WHY aren't they bragging up their REAL advantages?

I'm with you, Slinky!!!.....(And, I'm NOT a ResMed fan......except for my UMFF )

It's interesting to look back at so many of the "hardware" designs by all of these companies over the years. It always seemed that they've put appearance over substance. In recent years, they've all gotten paranoid that these things LOOK like a "medical device"......now ResMed's S9 looks like a clock radio.......ain't that GREAT!

You go girl!!!

Den

Jump on that bandwagon, then. I'll stay here and wait until there's ANY evidence that the therapeutic side of the S9 was neglected before condemning their effort to sex-up xPAP treatment.

[Slinky]

q149, have you ever used a Resmed S8? Plenty simple to use. I really doubt that the S9 could be any more easier to use than the S8.

I'm NOT saying that the therapy and the data from the S9 isn't an improvement for crying out loud. I haven't had the opportunity to use one yet. They still haven't come out w/a bi-level auto. What I am saying is that they are making a big to-do about nothing - the visual appearance of the S9s. I could care less about what it looks like. I wanna know about its therapy and its data and the ease of access to that data via the LED screen and ..... do you get the drift of what I'm getting at?

Resmed has excelled and led the field, bar none, when it comes to the ease of access to and amount of data available via the LED screen. THAT is a great selling point. The patient can be included in monitoring their therapy and know when to contact their RRT or doctor for help. The Resmeds have been sturdy, easy to travel w/devices. They've been EASY to assemble and set up or to disassemble and take down for traveling. They've provided excellent therapy.

[DreamStalker]

I wanna jump on the wagon with Slinky and Den and everyone else too ... yippeeee!

Not actually a fan of ResMed though it was my first machine and it was a nice machine but I still ended up being more pleased with Respironics machines.

[Wulfman]

Jump on that bandwagon, then. I'll stay here and wait until there's ANY evidence that the therapeutic side of the S9 was neglected before condemning their effort to sex-up xPAP treatment.

You're still not getting the point.
The last two generations of ResMeds were virtually indistinguishable......the S7 and S8. Why not just use the same case and put the "new and improved" functions in it? It all amounts to "programming".

Respironics did the same thing. They used the Legacy case (pictured in my profile) for many years in everything from CPAPs to specialized Bi-PAPs......until they came up with the "abortion" they called the "M Series". Now, I think the PR System One they just came out with is downright U-G-L-Y.

The only complaint I've ever had with the Legacy models is the fact that the internal clock loses time and there's no simple way of changing the time (without a special cable and software) or replacing the battery when it eventually fails. (but, I've got that issue covered now.)


Den

[Bob3000]

Jump on that bandwagon, then. I'll stay here and wait until there's ANY evidence that the therapeutic side of the S9 was neglected before condemning their effort to sex-up xPAP treatment.

You're still not getting the point.
The last two generations of ResMeds were virtually indistinguishable......the S7 and S8. Why not just use the same case and put the "new and improved" functions in it? It all amounts to "programming".

You're still not getting the point. Resmed released the S9 as a sexed-up version of their previous xPAP offerings. They may or may not have modified the underlying machine and improved the device's therapeutic effectiveness, yet people are inferring from the ad campaign which emphasizes the updated aesthetics that the underlying machine has been neglected. That doesn't follow. In fact, Resmed may very well have improved the underlying machine or at least kept pace with its competitors, and has simply chosen to focus the advertising campaign on the outward appearance to drive up sales.

If all of the mainstream, modern xPAP devices are delivering comparably effective therapy, the main ways to distinguish a new product are usability (which they've done with the immediate access to AHI and other data), aesthetics (which they've obviously done) and/or cost (which I hear they haven't done so well with their new internet pricing rules, though I haven't bought a Resmed so am not sure). Their advertising campaign reflects this.

[Slinky]

Yup, Wulfman, and not only the S7s and S8s but also the S8 IIs in the same body.