05. Bold Band for people in Autism Spectrum Ongoing
design proposal Bold Band for people suffering from Autism to help them deal with Meltdowns Muskan Gupta muskanguptamay@gmail.com Priyal Shrivastava priyalshri1@gmail.com
problem addressed
Meltdowns are experienced by those in the Autism Spectrum: high-functioning and low-functioning alike, irrespective of where they lie in the spectrum. Even people with high-functioning Autism fail to feel independent because of the sheer unpredictability of meltdowns and subsequent assistance required. Existing solutions promote general comfort and force the person to a be particular state for prolonged periods. There is a lack of need and situation specific intervention that may not be required to be used at all times.
design process
Contextual Inquiry
Literature Review
Interviews
Concept Generation
Concept Detailing
user research Contextual Enquiry We visited ‘Mahila Bal Vikas Bal Graha’, a government boarding school for orphans and day care for children who need special care. We spoke to all the teachers and caretakers and met the children as well. During one such class visit a young girl started screaming. She lost control and started crying. The teacher took her to a side and started calming her down.
This was an episode of meltdown that young girl with autism went through. We saw this as an opportunity and tried to research deeper into this problem and its effects.
Interviews Parents - Caretakers Teachers Doctors Psychologists Seperate research questionnaires were prepared covering effects and changes in their social, emotional and physical environment from a very broad and a specific to autism perspective.
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ent people have different coping nisms but tactile seems to work st.” achi Aggarwal, Psychologist
heavy medication, these kids lot of latent energy. If not lized properly, this energy eased in unhealthy forms.” havna Kotwal, uns an Educational Centre
en gets overwhelmed in new ons and needs one of us s) to calm him down.” ea Mathur, Parent
Literature Review
In individuals with autism, extreme (hyper) or low (hypo) sensory overload issues is one of the most common problems. Their senses seem to be acutely working or not working at all.
Overstimulation of senses results in a meltdown.
2,160,000 that is 0.20% of the population, approximately 1 in every 500 falls in the Autism Spectrum.
A meltdown is ‘an intense response to overwhelming situations’ characterized by temporary loss of behavioural control expressed verbally (eg shouting, screaming, crying), physically (eg kicking, lashing out, biting) or in both ways. Meltdowns pose a risk to both the individual and those around them.
Not limited to young children They can also happen in tweens, teens, and even adults Surprisingly, they may occur even among individuals with high functioning forms of autism.
Consistent, predictable routines and structure are very important for autistic people and a change to routine can be very distressing.
market research Gaia Wearables Smart shirt that predicts meltdowns for individuals with Autism. Tjacket A wearable touch technology vest that provides deep touch pressure to wearers. Theora Connect Caregiving and monitoring Technology for Autistic Children & Adults. Reveal Band Understanding anxiety using wearables for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
insights • Children lack a healthy social life and independence due to dependence on caretakers. • Increased sensitivity to stimuli makes them location bound. • Unpredictability of meltdowns compromises their independence. • Caretakers find it hard to let go of control and worry even when the child grows up. • Familiarity is seeked out during a meltdown for easy recovery.
opportunity area
A comfort and a monitoring aid that gives independence and is only triggered at times of meltdowns. Need to reduce recovery time.
approach We took a sense-based approach and analyzed each sense individually. Initially, we did a lateral ideatiation session targeting different and combination of senses. Tactile Vibration Pressure Grip
Visual Colour Intensity Interval
Auditory Loudness Pitch Interval
Olfactory Type of Smell Intensity
Based on feedback and further research, we narrowed down to the pair, tactile and olfactory. It was recognized that touch, particularly deep touch, is the most effective for calming people down and olfactory sense is the most powerful in triggering association.
After discussion and consultation with an expert, we finalized a concept and further detailed it out. Below are the form explorations of the chosen concept.
concept solution Our solution, Bold Band is a long-term aimed comforting and monitoring aid that helps high functioning people with autism achieve a level of independence as they grow older while also keeping the caretakers informed.
Instills Independence and Confidence
Long Term Orientation
Unnoticable
Self-Initiating before meltdowns
Wristband: • Flexible to fit different sizes of wrists • Adaptable long term solution that allows parents to change size of bands as their children grow older • Non-obtrusive and Unnoticable • Sweat Proof and Water Proof • Non-Gender Inclined
12 Important Design Factors of WT for ASD
Comforting Aid:
Monitoring Aid with App:
• Introduced at a young age to help child associate the stimuli to relaxation and safety, conditions the child • Self-initiating when it predicts meltdown about to happen • Provides deep pressure therapy • App allows caretakers to customize the stimuli according to the child’s preferences
• Sensors present in the band track heartbeat, sweat levels and body temperature • Meltdowns predicted based on physiological changes in the body • App lets caretakers track the frequency of meltdowns and the location where it happened • Location data stored only in case of meltdowns • Notification sent to caretakers when a meltdown happens/ about to happen or when a series of meltdowns happen in a row.
Helen Koo, Sumin & Gaul, Kim & Rivera, Susan & Pan, Tingrui & Fong, Daniel. (2018). Wearable Technology Design for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Archives of Design Research. 31. 37-55. 10.15187/adr.2018.02.31.1.37.
how does it work?
! !
BOLD BAND
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Caretakers will introduce the device at a young age. Intensity of the stimuli can be set according to the preference.
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Wearable keeps a check on the physiological state and warns when a meltdown is about to happen.
The child starts associating the stimuli with relaxation and safety.
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At times of meltdown, the band will start ontracting which will provide deep pressure therapy and release a fragrance.
Providing the conditioned stimulus at times of meltdown will make recovery time quicker.
Various body sensors embedded in the band
Magnetic Shape-Memory Alloy Wire sewn with the fabric
Optical Heart-Rate Monitors Heart-Rate measured through a optical sensor by translating fluctuations in light level to heart rate. Thermometers Measure skin temperature Galvanic Skin Response Sensor Measure electrical connectivity of the skin which becomes a better conductor of electricity, when aroused, in any way. Or Bioimpedance Sensors A single bioimpedence sensor to measure heart rate, respiration rate and galvanic skin response. It does this by using four electrodes that drive a tiny bit of electrical energy to each other, and then measuring the impedance changes
Magnetic Shape-Memory Alloy Shape memory alloy which produce forces and deformations in response to a magnetic field. [2]
Oval Shaped and Stretchable for a snug fit on wrist Controlled Release of Fragrance of choice Thermo-responsive Textile Thermo-responsive textile is a kind of smart material which can respond to the change of the environmental temperature. Promising applications of the thermo-responsive textile includes fabrics for perfume control release.[1]
Soft, Comfortable Fabric. Non-Itching. Durable for long term and daily wear [1] Wang J., Zhong Q., Wu J., Chen T. (2015) Thermo-responsive Textiles. In: Tao X. (eds) Handbook of Smart Textiles. Springer, Singapore [2] https://www.azom.com/article. aspx?ArticleID=10525
interaction flow new user 1. Downloads the App Splashscreen and Onboarding Cards show to the user.
2.1 Sign Up User (Caretaker) is asked to input email id and create a username and password.
2.2.1 Logs In User (New Caretaker) to an existing account logs in.
3. Information of the User User (Caretaker) inputs their name and phone number.
2.2.2 Information of the User New User inputs their name and phone number. They are notificed of being added as one of the caretakers.
4. Information of the Bold Band Wearer User inputs name and phone number of the wearer.
5. One-Tim Connect o Band to th Account User input band’s uni identificat
me of the he
ts the ique tion code.
7.1 Status Status presented in a calm fashion to avoid creating panic in stressful conditions.
6. Set Up Stimuli Settings User sets up stimuli settings to the wearer’s preferences 7. Dashboard User is introduced to the features.
7.2 Call User can contact the wearer. 7.3 Customize Stimuli Settings User can customize the stimuli settings.
7.1.1 Meltdown History (Only for a new user of an existing account) User is shown details of past meltdowns. This includes graph of physiological changes, location and time.
interaction flow returning user 1. Opens the App Returning user opens the app. Based on phone number linked, it detects the user’s name.
2. Dashboard All essential information available at a glance
2.1 Status Status presented in a calm fashion to avoid creating panic in stressful conditions.
2.2 Call User can contact the wearer. 2.3 Customize Stimuli Settings User can customize the stimuli settings.
2.1.1 Meltdown History User is shown details of past meltdowns. This includes graph of physiological changes, location and time.
what makes this different than existing products? • customizable
stimuli • self-initiating • non-bulky • uses olfactory
as trigger
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This is an Ongoing Project. Further work includes refining the technology through consultation with experts and testing the product. We aim to make this product more sustainable and devise a complete service around it from manufacturing to disposal.