top of page
Synaesthesia
Recovering Dexterity
How easy is it to make a cup of tea, if you can't feel ?
Recovering the feel of touch involves very complex and expensive technology and is usually only available at a research level for amputees. However, with the constantly growing elderly population - recovering dexterity is gonna be a problem of the future. But what could potential solutions be?
2x
as many people suffer from neuropathy as amputations
10%
30%
of people over the age of 55 suffer from peripheral neuropathy.
of the British population is over 55; by 2050 37% will be.
Ideation
How do you feel, when you've lost the feel of touch?
Through extensive research we realised the type of complications that comes with loss of dexterity as well as the size of those complications. Our ideation phase was focused on identifying key complications as well as how we could go about solving them. If you've lost one of your senses - can you then learn how to make up for that sense through one of the five others?
Proposed solution: Sensory Mapping
There is loads of complicated technology out there - but it is not readily available for the people who need it the most.
Through our design we want to find a way to remap lost tactile senses such as pain, proprioception and pressure to the available senses.
Tactile Mapping
Mapping pressure using vibro-tactile feedback
Visual Mapping
Mapping position & orientation using AR models and visual cues
Auditory Mapping
Mapping using 3D audio to give alerts relating to hazards.
We are planning on sensing input data by using embedded bio-powered sensors. This will allow us to collect data regarding the person's interaction with the environment.
Despite the method being invasive, we predict it would be preferred by the user due to its convenience and hygiene.
Difficulty grasping the concept?
Let's explain it in terms of tea.
bottom of page