AvantGuard

avant

+guard

pocket your health. shield your body.

The team

Our multidisciplinary knowledge base.

Chrisoula Kapelonis

Architecture Harvard GSD ‘16

Hope Ndhlovu

Electrical Engineering ‘16

Kristen Faulkner

Computer Science ‘16

Melissa Chang

Molecular + Cellular Biology ‘15

Jana Masset

Architecture Harvard GSD ‘16

Kuriakin Zeng

Computer Science ‘15

The problem Infectious diseases, illnesses caused by external and preventable forces, kill over 17 million people annually; more than any other cause of death worldwide.

what’s wrong?

Existing methods addressing the problem.

Cure, not prevention.

Lag in drug design.

Doctor dependency.

WHere is the problem?

The world of pathogens.

IN OUR BODIES

ON OUR BODIES

ON OBJECTS AROUND US

Nose, mouth, infection.

Clothes, skin, hands.

Surfaces

our solution We propose that we proactively shield the body from harmful pathogens to augment the body’s immune system such that (1) we do not get sick, and (2) we do not get others sick.

We are utilizing the pocket as a surface of impact.

OUR APPROACH How we will address the problem

Fortify existing system.

Preventative approach.

Invisibility.

why it matters

Prevention of infectious disease is more important than cure. In protecting yourself, you are protecting the source of infection; person to person transfer.

PORTALS OF ENTRY In identifying the body’s weakest points of defense and preventing the invasion of the pathogen, we’ve found three major portals of entry by pathogens.

THE BODY AND ITS SEAL The vulnerability of the body.

NOSE

MOUTH

BREAK IN SKIN

Respiratory tract mucous membranes:

Gastrointestinal tract mucous membranes

Parenteral route

Current solutions The current landscape of infection prevention.

MEDICINE + VACCINES

MASKS

SANITIZERS

Lag in development time, and obsolete for mutation

Social stigma associated with wearability.

Can build up pathogen resistance to poisons in product.

POSSIBLE ITERATIONS

MATERIAL INNOVATION Designing interfaces between machine and body requires a deep understanding of surfaces, as the body interacts with surfaces on a regular basis, and the body itself is a surface.

ANTIMICROBIAL SURFACES Examples of innovation addressing the problem.

METALLIC IONS

MECHANICAL DISRUPTION

SUPERHYDROPHOBICITY

Prevent growth and kill pathogens on contact.

Rip outer membrane of pathogens when they attach

Don’t allow pathogens to stick to surface.

OLIGODYNAMIC EFFECT How ions kill the pathogen.

1. Silver ions break through the cell wall.

2. Silver ions disrupt respiration.

3. Silver ions attach to the DNA of the microbe and stop cell replication.

MATERIAL PERFORMANCE How it affects the pathogen.

Nose STERILIZATION

Mouth SUFFOCATION

Break in Skin

STARVATION

Prevents cell reproduction.

Inhibits membrane transport.

Interrupts cell metabolism.

EXISTING PRODUCTS Current innovations utilizing technology.

COLLOIDAL SILVER

FOSSHIELD

MICROBAN

Wound dressings, creams, and antibiotic coating.

Silver and copper ions woven in fabric.

Used on toilet handles.

WEARABLES Designing interfaces between machine and body requires a deep understanding of surfaces, as the body interacts with surfaces on a regular basis, and the body itself is a surface.

HANDS AND THE SEAL How hands transfer pathogens.

SURFACE CONTACT

OTHER PEOPLE

NOSE/MOUTH

Hands touch surfaces that pathogens stick to.

Hand contact transfers pathogens between people

Pathogens leave the nose and mouth onto the hand.

the users

An array of possible user types.

designer

builder

pharma

airline

edu

tech

medical

business

police

childcare

food

bar

cleaning

fashion

POCKETS AND THEIR CONTACT What pockets come into contact with.

ENTIRE HAND

ELECTRONICS

LOOSE ITEMS

COMMON WEARABLES What we’re comfortable with.

scarf

gloves

Cold weather

coat

hat

shirt

pants

All weather

shoes

pocket sites Where pockets exist.

formal everyday

sweater

sweatshirt

professional

blazer

coat

suit scrubs

t-shirt

button down

backpack

dress

shorts

sweatpants

pants

skirt

briefcase

pocket iterations Multi-usage capabilities

pocket

handkerchief

mask

towel

pocket square

hair tie

LOOKING AHEAD In order to pursue our questions, we need to seek out strategies for pushing the process in a direction of impact. These are our short term goals.

SUMMER IDEATION Our short term plans.

NETWORKING

FABRICATION + PROTOTYPES

USER TESTING

NETWORKING

We are going to consult and network with medical professionals and fashion representatives such as Hermes, Estee Lauder, etc.

PROTOTYPING

Rapid iterating of pocket types to understand formal expression, and interaction with current wearables and clothing.

USER TESTING

We will test the comfortablility of material, formal and behavioral characteristics, as well as how people feel using this in public.

SHIELD YOURSELF +guard avant TIME TO BE