Healing Wheels
A spatial media and interactive installation made with Processing and Arduino.
This installation aims to help kids with ASD to communicate with others in a more natural and easier way.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.
FACTS ABOUT ASD
Stimming
Self-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming and self-stimulation, is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or words, or the repetitive movement of objects.
FEATURES
Measured Intelligence
Measured Intelligence
Disability
Gifted
Motor
Measured Intelligence
Uncoordinated
Coordinated
Communication
Using Words Correctly to Communicate.
Nonverbal
Verbal
Repetitive Behaviors
Measured Intelligence
Intense
Mild
Sensory
Response to Touch, Smell, Sound, Taste, and Feel.
Not Very Sensitive
Sensitive
Social Interaction
Making Eye Contact, Enjoying Interaction, Etc.
No Interest in Others
A Variety of Friendships
from www.cdc.gov
Why Do They Do Stimming?
People with autism stim to help themselves to manage anxiety, fear, anger, excitement, anticipation, and other strong emotions. They also do stimming to help themselves handle overwhelming sensory input (too much noise, light, heat, etc.).
What’s Wrong with Stimming?
Some stims can be quite extreme and are legitimately upsetting or even frightening to typical people. For example, some autistic people stim by making loud noises that can sound threatening or scary.
Should ASD Kids Stop Stimming?
They need to stop dangerous stimming, but under most circumstances, they just need to manage them when they stay with normal people. However, it is benefitial to do safe stimming when they are alone.
Is there a situation where stimming can be a natural behavior?
How about getting the healthy kids engaged, too?
REFERENCE DESIGN
Popular Toys with ASD Kids
These toys popular with ASD kids all have repetitive units or parts. Some have spinning parts that ASD kids could control or observe. Besides, they all have colorful finishing.
Rain, Sound & Illuminant
When you tap any water drop, it changes color and spreads over others. When two people sit down on the bench in the middle of the exhibition hall, both putting one hand on the metal at the two ends of the bench and touching each other. There will be a sound like playing the piano, and the color of the raindrops on the bench and the sky will change with the sound.
DESIGN CONCEPT
SCENE SETTING
01 Concept Model
When participators jump onto the cushion, the FSR-402 sensor will capture the pressure and send to to both the Arduino Uno and the computer. Uno manipulate the pinwheels and the computer manipulates the animation.
02 Circuitry&Electronics
3 FSR 402 sensors are involved to capture the jumps of kids. 3 Unoes are used to operate 6 motors in total.The projector is used to project the animation made with Processing onto the wall, improving the visual stims for autistic kids.
03 Programming
Codes installed in Arduino Uno control the speed of pinwheels and transport the data captured by the FSR 402 sensor to the computer. While codes with Processing operate the animation based on the data conveyed from the Arduino serial.
04 Hand Making
Cushions are made from foam in order to protect participators’ feet and Pinwheels are fixed to PMMA trestles. Handmade axels link the motors and pinwheels. The projector is connected to the computer, projecting animation launched by Processing program.
05 Test&Adjustment
Three users were invited to test the system.
FINAL DESIGN
A single kid is not able to activates all the pinwheels and animations. When they explore this device, they need to communicate with people around, verbally or non-verbally.
PRESENTATION
The installation was finished on 30/09/2018 and four kisd was invited to interact with this device. The process helped one kid with ASD to communicate with others.
Duo 7
Duo has been diagnosed autism since the age of 3. She is under treatment and is able to communicate if others are patient to wait.
Tao 4
Mei 7
Ruo 8
01 Resistence
At the beginning, Duo was unwilling to follow others, so the pinwheels were hardly activated. The device demands effort of all three participates.
02 Communication
The other two girls tried to call Duo’s name, hoping she could respond. Though Duo didn’t say anything, her expression went moderate.
03 Play Together
Finally, Duo started to jump with others together. When the pinwheel along with the animation began to spin, she gave out a smile.