How Can We Help Neurodivergent
Children Manage their Emotions?
4 Weeks | 150 Hours | 2023
Skills | User Research, User Experience, Iteration, Ergonomics
Software | Solidworks, Keyshot, Adobe Suite
Emotions can overwhelm.
Neurodivergent children often face many obstacles that make learning emotional regulation challenging.
Executive Function Deficits
Executive Function Deficits
Impaired cognitive management. Manifests as difficulty with working memory, impulse control, emotional regulation, task initiation, and shifting attention between activities.
Interoceptive Hyposensitivity
Interoceptive Hyposensitivity
Reduced awareness of internal bodily sensations. Manifests as failing to recognize hunger, pain, or emotional escalation until physiological signals become extreme.
Delayed Processing Speed
Delayed Processing Speed
Slower intake, comprehension, and response to information. A neurological bottleneck in executing tasks or reacting to stimuli
Emotions can overwhelm.
Neurodivergent children often face many obstacles that make learning emotional regulation challenging.
Executive Function Deficits
Executive Function Deficits
Impaired cognitive management. Manifests as difficulty with working memory, impulse control, emotional regulation, task initiation, and shifting attention between activities.
Interoceptive Hyposensitivity
Interoceptive Hyposensitivity
Reduced awareness of internal bodily sensations. Manifests as failing to recognize hunger, pain, or emotional escalation until physiological signals become extreme.
Delayed Processing Speed
Delayed Processing Speed
Slower intake, comprehension, and response to information. A neurological bottleneck in executing tasks or reacting to stimuli
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Synthesizing Academic Journals + SME Interviews = Insights
Synthesizing Academic Journals + SME Interviews = Insights
Synthesis of medical literature and Subject Matter Expert (SME) interviews established the design foundation. Input from neurodivergent development clinics informed functional requirements.
Synthesis of medical literature and Subject Matter Expert (SME) interviews established the design foundation. Input from neurodivergent development clinics informed functional requirements.
Design Criteria
Design Criteria
Anticipate
Anticipate
Utilize and externalize psychological warning signs
Utilize and externalize psychological warning signs
Redirect
Redirect
Guide children through regulation exercises and skills
Guide children through regulation exercises and skills
Connect
Connect
Provide a patient and safe space for children and parents
Provide a patient and safe space for children and parents
Concept Generation Focusing on Sensory Input
Concept Generation Focusing on Sensory Input
Ideation explored sensory inputs to interrupt emotional momentum. A sort of cognitive brake for regulation.
Ideation explored sensory inputs to interrupt emotional momentum. A sort of cognitive brake for regulation.
Neurodivergent Children Respond Well to “Characters’
Neurodivergent Children Respond Well to “Characters’
Pulsing vibrations guided breathing to provide private, accessible emotional regulation. A dog form factor converted the functional tool into a friendly companion.
Pulsing vibrations guided breathing to provide private, accessible emotional regulation. A dog form factor converted the functional tool into a friendly companion.
Focusing Form Direction Through User Testing
Focusing Form Direction Through User Testing
Testing confirmed a preference for smooth pebble forms. Instinctive rubbing of the device face signaled a need for tactile variety. These insights informed final iterations.
Testing confirmed a preference for smooth pebble forms. Instinctive rubbing of the device face signaled a need for tactile variety. These insights informed final iterations.
User Feedback to Final Form Iteration
User Feedback to Final Form Iteration
Testing confirmed a preference for smooth pebble forms. Instinctive rubbing of the device face signaled a need for tactile variety. These insights informed final iterations.
Testing confirmed a preference for smooth pebble forms. Instinctive rubbing of the device face signaled a need for tactile variety. These insights informed final iterations.
Concave Surface Encourages Self-Soothing.
Concave Surface Encourages Self-Soothing.
Users instinctively rubbed their thumbs across the pebble form. WUF’s concave face accommodates and accentuates this subconscious action.
Users instinctively rubbed their thumbs across the pebble form. WUF’s concave face accommodates and accentuates this subconscious action.
Sharp ears contrast with the broader form language. Silicone construction and stippled textures provide varied tactile feedback.
Sharp ears contrast with the broader form language. Silicone construction and stippled textures provide varied tactile feedback.
Technical Architecture and Sensory Integration
Technical Architecture and Sensory Integration
MEMS microphones and motion sensors detect audio cues and movement patterns. An aluminum heat sink manages thermal output while establishing a premium weight and presence.
MEMS microphones and motion sensors detect audio cues and movement patterns. An aluminum heat sink manages thermal output while establishing a premium weight and presence.
Edge AI + Data Ethics
Edge AI + Data Ethics
Ethically sourced AI models detect dysregulation using audio and motion data. Lightweight AI architecture ensures entirely offline operation.
Check out the link below for an example of how audio and speech data sets can be utilized to understand emotion and psychology.
Speech Data - Hume AI | Hume AI
Ethically sourced AI models detect dysregulation using audio and motion data. Lightweight AI architecture ensures entirely offline operation.
Check out the link below for an example of how audio and speech data sets can be utilized to understand emotion and psychology.
Speech Data - Hume AI | Hume AI
Functional Prototyping to Validate Interaction Concept
Functional Prototyping to Validate Interaction Concept
Functional prototyping was utilized to validate the technical concept beyond surface aesthetics. Electrical engineering and coding were learned to develop functional tech demos using vibration motors and LCD screens to validate sensory interactions.
Functional prototyping was utilized to validate the technical concept beyond surface aesthetics. Electrical engineering and coding were learned to develop functional tech demos using vibration motors and LCD screens to validate sensory interactions.
How It Works
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1. Dysregulation
Emotional disregulation triggers crying, screaming, or heavy breathing. Neurodivergent users use motor stimming (repetitive physical movements) and vocal stimming (repetitive sounds or phrases) during these episodes.
Emotional disregulation triggers crying, screaming, or heavy breathing. Neurodivergent users use motor stimming (repetitive physical movements) and vocal stimming (repetitive sounds or phrases) during these episodes.
2. Activation
WUF detects disregulation through auditory and motion inputs, initiating automatic activation.
WUF detects disregulation through auditory and motion inputs, initiating automatic activation.
3. Distraction
Vibrations attract the child and guide them to the device. A barking animation on the face encourages interaction.
Vibrations attract the child and guide them to the device. A barking animation on the face encourages interaction.
4. Engagement
Physical contact or consistent pressure triggers therapeutic vibration patterns. The animated face cycles through breathing visuals to guide inhalation and exhalation.Combined haptic, visual, and tactile stimuli synchronize user breathing and redirect cognitive focus.
Physical contact or consistent pressure triggers therapeutic vibration patterns. The animated face cycles through breathing visuals to guide inhalation and exhalation.Combined haptic, visual, and tactile stimuli synchronize user breathing and redirect cognitive focus.
5. Regulation
Stability detection triggers automatic deactivation. The system enters standby, ready for the next activation.
Stability detection triggers automatic deactivation. The system enters standby, ready for the next activation.
6. Connection
Parents receive a notification of when their child has experienced disregulation. This prompts an open communication between child and caregiver.
Parents receive a notification of when their child has experienced disregulation. This prompts an open communication between child and caregiver.
Data Privacy + Customization through WUF App
Data Privacy + Customization through WUF App
The app centralizes data control. An automated calendar logs usage to track dysregulation events. Parents manage AI training data and privacy settings. The interface allows review of interaction logs and haptic customization.
The app centralizes data control. An automated calendar logs usage to track dysregulation events. Parents manage AI training data and privacy settings. The interface allows review of interaction logs and haptic customization.
Narrative Continuity in Peripherals
Narrative Continuity in Peripherals
A wireless charging base mimics a dog bed. The charging base maintains the smooth pebble form language. Fabric surrounds the silicone charging points to create a cozy, home-like feel.
A wireless charging base mimics a dog bed. The charging base maintains the smooth pebble form language. Fabric surrounds the silicone charging points to create a cozy, home-like feel.
