A Haptic Sleeve to Improve Mental Health
A Haptic Sleeve to Improve Mental Health
Social Touch:
Can you feel me now?
Social Touch:
Can you feel me now?
CLIENT
CLIENT
Self Initiated
Self Initiated
DISCIPLINE.
DISCIPLINE
Product Design
Product Design
PLATFORM
PLATFORM
Wearable Sleeve / Mobile App
Wearable Sleeve / Mobile App
DURATION
DURATION
6 weeks
6 weeks
Bringing improved touch experience to the digital world
Bringing improved touch experience to the digital world
Social distancing is the “new normal,” and it has unknowingly washed off the affection of touch. Digital well-being apps and health wearables have made us hold on to health, sanity, and productivity, but we’ve missed physically comforting each other in times of crisis.
Social distancing is the “new normal,” and it has unknowingly washed off the affection of touch. Digital well-being apps and health wearables have made us hold on to health, sanity, and productivity, but we’ve missed physically comforting each other in times of crisis.
My Contribution
My Contribution
Ideation, Research, Interaction design, UI/UX design
Ideation, Research, Interaction design, UI/UX design
Team Structure
Team Structure
3 UX Designers
3 UX Designers
Tools Used
Tools Used
Figma, Miro, Slack, Adobe Creative Suite
Figma, Miro, Slack, Adobe Creative Suite
Problem :
Problem :
In the era of social distancing, the absence of physical touch has led to emotional and mental well-being challenges.
In the era of social distancing, the absence of physical touch has led to emotional and mental well-being challenges.
Outcome :
Outcome :
The Haptic Sleeve aims to reduce emotional disconnection by 50% and decrease stress and anxiety by 40% through simulated tactile sensations, enhancing overall mental well-being.
The Haptic Sleeve aims to reduce emotional disconnection by 50% and decrease stress and anxiety by 40% through simulated tactile sensations, enhancing overall mental well-being.
”How might we help humans express their emotions through tactile experiences so that they can feel loved and cared for, wherever they go?”
”How might we help humans express their emotions through tactile experiences so that they can feel loved and cared for, wherever they go?”
Human touch is at risk in the digital world. Of disappearing. Neglected touch. Low touch. No touch. Not enough touch. Touch hunger. Skin starvation. Touch deprivation. Remote. Distant. Missing.
Human touch is at risk in the digital world. Of disappearing. Neglected touch. Low touch. No touch. Not enough touch. Touch hunger. Skin starvation. Touch deprivation. Remote. Distant. Missing.
User Testing
User Testing
To test the validity of the Touch, we studied how people expressed their empathy when someone conveyed their misfortune.
To test the validity of the Touch, we studied how people expressed their empathy when someone conveyed their misfortune.
We tested out our theory where we noticed that people expressed their sympathy through hand gestures and actions. We saw how they comforted our teammates through actions like the clasping of hands, pats on the back, backhand rubs and simply holding hands.
We tested out our theory where we noticed that people expressed their sympathy through hand gestures and actions. We saw how they comforted our teammates through actions like the clasping of hands, pats on the back, backhand rubs and simply holding hands.
The Solution
The Solution
Introducing social touch to the digital world through tactile mediums to support humans with their emotional/ mental well-being.
Introducing social touch to the digital world through tactile mediums to support humans with their emotional/ mental well-being.
The Haptic Sleeve
The Haptic Sleeve
The Haptic Sleeve is a wearable device that simulates tactile sensations by sending haptic messages and touch to the user through hand gestures.
The Haptic Sleeve is a wearable device that simulates tactile sensations by sending haptic messages and touch to the user through hand gestures.
The Ties App
The Ties App
The Haptic Sleeve is a wearable device that simulates tactile sensations by sending haptic messages and touch to the user through hand gestures.
The Haptic Sleeve is a wearable device that simulates tactile sensations by sending haptic messages and touch to the user through hand gestures.
Use Cases
Use Cases
Touch helps people connect using haptics
Touch helps people connect using haptics
Sharing experiences with friends & family
Sharing experiences with friends & family
Sending messages through hand gestures
Sending messages through hand gestures
Thermal control and pressure control
Thermal control and pressure control
The storyboard helped us to visualize how the haptic sleeve would be used by various users in different situations.
The storyboard helped us to visualize how the haptic sleeve would be used by various users in different situations.
The storyboard helped us to visualize how the haptic sleeve would be used by various users in different situations.
For stress relief
For stress relief
Touch trains your nervous system to bounce back from stress more quickly, making it easier to go from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest.”
Touch trains your nervous system to bounce back from stress more quickly, making it easier to go from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest.”
Embedded vibration
Embedded vibration
Touch works by engaging with touch, delivering silent, soothing vibrations that help you feel safe and in control.
Touch works by engaging with touch, delivering silent, soothing vibrations that help you feel safe and in control.
Connect with gesture
Connect with gesture
Connect with your loved one to let them know how you feeling with one simple hand movement
Connect with your loved one to let them know how you feeling with one simple hand movement
Feel the touch of your loved ones
from miles away.
Feel the touch of your loved ones
from miles away.
Bringing the Idea to Life - Brainstorming concepts
Bringing the Idea to Life - Brainstorming concepts
Different interactions performed with the wearable hand sleeve with input transmitting the haptics and output delivering the haptics to other is shown.
Different interactions performed with the wearable hand sleeve with input transmitting the haptics and output delivering the haptics to other is shown.
How it works
How it works
How it works
This is a front and Back view of the prototype. Capacitive conducting sheets are placed in the palm, thumb, index, and middle fingers to sense the touch points. On the backside, the Arduino with thermal sensor and vibration motors is present.
This is a front and Back view of the prototype. Capacitive conducting sheets are placed in the palm, thumb, index, and middle fingers to sense the touch points. On the backside, the Arduino with thermal sensor and vibration motors is present.
Components Used
Components Used
Arduino Nano 33
Vibrating motors
Thermocouple sensor
Thin, cotton gloves
Mini USB Power bank
simple, small breadboard
Bluetooth module
Arduino Nano 33
Vibrating motors
Thermocouple sensor
Thin, cotton gloves
Mini USB Power bank
simple, small breadboard
Bluetooth module
Haptic feedback is given with a small LRA motor installed on the fingertips.
Touch feedback is received with a Thermo conducting sheet coupled to a thermal Sensor. The battery is installed on the back of the wrist.
Sensors are on the sleeves' thumb and index part to take the touch input and deliver it to the app.
Haptic feedback is given with a small LRA motor installed on the fingertips.
Touch feedback is received with a Thermo conducting sheet coupled to a thermal Sensor. The battery is installed on the back of the wrist.
Sensors are on the sleeves' thumb and index part to take the touch input and deliver it to the app.
Reflection
Reflection
Key usability issues discovered from the usability evaluation:
Key usability issues discovered from the usability evaluation:
The wearable sleeve prototype may be too bulky or awkward to wear comfortably for extended periods.
The prototype's controls may be confusing or difficult to use, particularly for non-tech-savvy users.
The range of tactile sensations the prototype provides may be limited or unsuitable for all users.
The companion app may be difficult to navigate or understand.
Potential ethical concerns with the prototype or app, such as discomfort or privacy issues, may exist. This reinforces the importance of thorough user research in specialized domains.
The wearable sleeve prototype may be too bulky or awkward to wear comfortably for extended periods.
The prototype's controls may be confusing or difficult to use, particularly for non-tech-savvy users.
The range of tactile sensations the prototype provides may be limited or unsuitable for all users.
The companion app may be difficult to navigate or understand.
Potential ethical concerns with the prototype or app, such as discomfort or privacy issues, may exist. This reinforces the importance of thorough user research in specialized domains.
These design and usability issues had a significant impact on the effectiveness and user-friendliness of the wearable sleeve and application. By identifying and addressing these issues through user testing and design iteration, we were able to create a more effective and user-friendly product that helps people feel supported and connected, even when they are socially distant from others.
These design and usability issues had a significant impact on the effectiveness and user-friendliness of the wearable sleeve and application. By identifying and addressing these issues through user testing and design iteration, we were able to create a more effective and user-friendly product that helps people feel supported and connected, even when they are socially distant from others.
Next steps
Next steps
Record and share touch/ tap motions
Record and share touch/ tap motions
Customising touch motions and gestures and then recording them will help users on the other end to calm down to touch motions that they are familiar with.
Customising touch motions and gestures and then recording them will help users on the other end to calm down to touch motions that they are familiar with.
Interactions beyond the coping up panic attacks
Interactions beyond the coping up panic attacks
Digital social touch opens up a new way to reduce stress and anxiety not only during panic attacks but also can help people to engage with new people.
The interactions we primarily dealt with were tackling panic and anxiety attacks, apart from them, we strive to further develop our product to achieve an overall mental well-being aid.
Digital social touch opens up a new way to reduce stress and anxiety not only during panic attacks but also can help people to engage with new people.
The interactions we primarily dealt with were tackling panic and anxiety attacks, apart from them, we strive to further develop our product to achieve an overall mental well-being aid.
Integrating with everyday wear- As a fashion statement
Integrating with everyday wear- As a fashion statement
Customizable sleeve options and hidden wiring would be the next step to help people wear this every day without standing out in a very awkward way.
Customizable sleeve options and hidden wiring would be the next step to help people wear this every day without standing out in a very awkward way.
