Finn Rose

Spektrum

A deep pressure vest is a tight item of clothing worn by people with SPD (sensory processing disorder), something that is extremely common among people with autism. The feeling of wearing one is likened to being hugged or swaddled, which is considered comforting and stress relieving. Studies have shown that children wearing pressure vests experience an 18 - 25% rise in on-task completion of fine motor activities.

However, through primary research, I discovered that the existing products on the market had the following problems.

pressure vests are uncomfortable, and di¤cult to put on.
Once on, the child cannot adjust to the pressure, especially if they wear them under clothes.
Occupational therapists have conflicting opinions about when and how long vests should be worn for.
Children can become dependent on pressure vests for comfort and can solely rely on them.
The vests don’t look good. They are an essential tool for many children on the spectrum and they should be proud to wear them.

To try and alleviate many of these problems I designed Spektrum

Accessible smart clothing

Spektrum is modelled on a current deep pressure vest, but that’s where the similarities end. It is a highly adaptable piece of smart clothing that tightens and loosens automatically based on vital signs. So wherever they are, the user can precisely control the deep pressure from underneath their clothing by simply pressing their chest.

The forward-facing zip and auto loosening feature make the vest easy to put on for people with limited motor activity.
The non-scratch materials, tags and zip prevent as much discomfort as possible By simply pressing and holding the plus and minus buttons, the child can loosen or tighten the vest as is comfortable. Spektrum can be operated and adjusted from both on top or underneath clothes. So whether they want to be a superhero, or stick to their secret identity, the choice is theirs.

Always connected

The Spektrum app allows parents to keep a distant but watchful eye on their children. This has many safety benefits including vital sign monitoring, smart alerts and location tracking if required.
However, the primary benefit of the app is to encourage children in special education to be enrolled in the mainstream system. This was a “want” identified during an interview with a special needs carer who outlined the importance of keeping children in mainstream education wherever possible. It’s one of the first steps to allowing them to lead a normal life and build essential skills for their future.

Bridge

As flexible work environments are becoming ever more prominent in offices, video calls have become second nature to the majority of us. Despite the widespread popularity of video conferencing, many people find video calls intrusive especially when your home office is your kitchen or bedroom. Bridge is a dedicated video calling hub that focuses on connectivity while improving privacy.

Avatars

Bridge projects live motion-tracked avatars of your co-workers onto your desktop. The camera array accurately captures their emotions and channels them through their avatars, meaning every expression and point is conveyed exactly as they do it. Reimagining video calling in this way maintains communication and encourages casual chats while restoring privacy to your home.