how might we encourage children to take on positive habits in order to prevent future health problems?
A screen-time tracker for children reminds the user to take breaks once a while to take stress off posture and vision. This concept may be integrated into the devices’ operating system, or it can be a standalone app running in the background. Ultimate aim is to create awareness and build encouragement to take on healthy habits.
Many of the common non-communicable health problems individuals face in 21st century is due to our lifestyle. People visit care centres to get their sickness treated. Where health is distributed top to bottom, a solution is not provided to address the source of the problem. The industry needs to rethink how health services are delivered.
In order to provide longer term health benefits for the general population, we have to understand the impact of “modifiable risk factors” Data provided by the World Health Organization underlines that unhealthy diet and insufficient activity have lifestyle implications that cause poverty and hinder economic development.
We need to encourage self-control. Especially for how much time to spend in front of a screen. As research demonstrates, it is easier to build habits starting from a young age. Children born into the current hybrid environment present the ideal target demographic, as they are living with constant exposure to digital technology.
Achieving successful transformation of the delivery method for non-communicable health practice will require innovation in multiple avenues.
empowering the individual
- tips to establish a sustainable way of living and tools to improve health
- Supplying learning resources to inform people.
- monitoring and feedback loop
digital integration
- decentralised patient records form the basis of online patient care services
- tier system to prioritise needs can increase efficiency and patient satisfaction
- a virtual centre for preliminary diagnosis has the potential to prevent bottlenecks in treatment
- one stop place for dietary recommendations, physical exercise plans, support for physical and mental queries can generate a new revenue stream
distributing processes
- network of data and health advisors will constitute horizontal expansion of service community
- introduction of preliminary services will lighten the workload specialists have to deal with
We aimed to design systems that improve an aspect of healthcare. The feeling of doing good - something beneficial for the general public - is very humbling and I believe it also brings a seriousness to the task at hand.
Digital journey is modified for implementation on two competency levels. A straightforward journey is initiated with a one step set-up and then periodically sends push notifications to establish the screen-off habit. The more complex version utilises AI to understand how the person reacts to reminders and adjusts reminder frequency and strength for better reaction. It needs a detailed set-up which offer more control over the varying forms of notification (reminder, alarm, sms).
School is responsible for creating awareness and distributing the program. Parents act as a reinforcer, able to track their child’s development. It is possible check up on how their child responds to break reminders and accordingly reward positive behaviour to encourage the formation of this habit. Children are empowered to start making their own decisions, organise their time and learn about balancing digital exposure. Analysing the results, it's observed that the child is more likely accept a break when losing focus on task, which is approximately every 30-40 minutes.
YEAR
2019-2020
CONTEXT
Academic project undertaken during the second year of BA (Hons) Product Design course at Central Saint Martins
SCOPE
User experience, user journey, systems thinking, product design, social innovation
BRIEF
There still remains limited awareness of how prevention can be a better alternative. The idea of health and wellness has shifted over the years, encompassing more than just the physical or mental state. What might holistic wellness look like in the future?
CHALLENGE
Using established design processes to investigate future scenarios. Creating a well resolved design response that sits within the future context. Consideration of user journey scenarios, CMF qualities, sustainable values, visual communication methods.
OUTCOME
Proposal of a physical product that prevents anxiety build up. Integration of sustainable values through material choices and supply chain considerations. Efficient use of materials and energy, decreased environmental and financial costs throughout product life cycle.
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