00Polipo_logo

The interactive light & sound companion

Polipo a project by Domus Students - Megha Damani, Alice Ridolfi & Olivia Lucas
Team
Alice Ridolfi, Experience Designer
Megha Damani, Interaction Designer
Olivia Lucas, Interaction Designer
ADVISORS
Michele Aquila, Domus Academy
Alessandro Masserdotti, Open Dot
Daniele Ciminieri, Open Dot
Jordi Garreta, Open Dot
Client
TOG - Together to go
MUBA - MUSEO DEI BAMBINI MILAN
Collaboration
Domus Academy
Open dot, Dot Dot Dot
Brief

Design an interactive game dedicated to the rehabilitation through interactive motion games based on visual and audio feedbacks.

objective

Design and create a music therapy device leveraging new technologies that may support the long and complex Rehabilitation Programs of the children with specific motive, cognitive, behavioral or communication deficits.

MY ROLE:
  • Research and Product UX
  • Physical prototyping with creative coding
  • Wireframes, UI design and digital prototyping

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Background

TOG (Together to go) is a non-profit organisation has established a ‘Center for Excellence for the Rehabilitation of Children’ who are affected by complex neurological disorders. Music, is one such therapy TOG focuses on for children with immense physical pain to help them relax.With TOG's assistance we created Polipo as an interactive music therapy device.

01-C-TOG

Research

KEY FINDINGS

OBSTACLES TOG FACES DURING THERAPY

  • We Need a Reliable equipment

  • Equipment to be more appealing to a child and look less “medical”

  • Musical tools that will motivate & engage child’s movements

  • Give importance to child’s light gestures

CHALLENGES

DIFFICULTIES KIDS FACE

  • Helping the child controlling movements on their own

  • The kids generally have Minimal movement

  • They are also easily overstimulated with multiple feedbacks

  • They have a limited color recognition range

PROCESS

We researched the current market focused around devices and toys used during music therapy sessions.We then brainstormed ideas on interactive motion games that would encourage and motivate a child to interactive, play and move more. We decided to design a product leveraging sensors and technology to assist in the development of the kids during their therapy and also at home.We ideated to design a toy that could be replicated by parents anywhere, as a DIY solution to help their own kids.

Concept

MEET POLIPO

Polipo, meaning Octopus in Italian. He engages the tactile, kinesthetic, auditory and visual systems.

He could be used for entertainment and/or as a medium for relaxation - a “companion“ throughout the child’s day and night.

His simple design helps, not only to distract the child while being cute and playful but also to help motivate and intrigue them to make movements and gestures during therapies.

MID_PolipoTheMusicRoom_technical-features
Polipo-User-Flow-&-Feedback
Polipo's user & feedback flow
Polipo-Materials
Materials to build Polipo

Prototype

BRINGING POLIPO TO LIFE

Polipo was prototyped and created by using an Arduino board and coding through its open source software. The technical side was finalised after many trials, tweaking and assistance by our advisors from Open Dot. By using a led strip, a small speaker, sensors and many cables and transistors Polipo came to life with its special flexible 3D printed shell and its touch sensitive fabric ears!

PROTOTYPE-Polipo-in-making
07-Prototype-Fritzing_Polipo
FRITZING Drawing
07-Prototype-hardware
Hardware used for prototype
Showcasing Polipo to TOG & MUBA team

Future Scope

GETTING TO KNOW HIM BETTER

We prototyped a future development for Polipo to be more integrated and accessible by an application. Where a parent or therapist could potentially control and customise Polipo’s lights and sounds according to a specific child's need.

Some of the basic functionalities were to choose between the two modes, select the colors that appeal to the child; play personal messages, recordings and custom sounds as a response to the child’s movements to motivate them to more and interact further

02-Polipo Image
08-APP