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Parents and caretakers of non-speaking children often grapple with the challenge of deciphering their child's, emotions and important messages may go unnoticed or misinterpreted.
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Embrace is a smart toy ecosystem designed to help non-speaking and non-verbal children communicate with their caregivers in a natural and joyful way—through play!
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To create an effective product for children on the spectrum, our team followed a research-driven process to ensure every decision was intentional. Embrace was an idea I dreamed up, and I co-led the project, focusing on research, defining the problem, and user testing.
Secondary Research
Our secondary research explored many interesting topics such as the physiology of emotions, affective computing, and inclusive design principles.
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Non speaking autism is a subtype within the autism spectrum. Individuals who are non-speaking are unable to use typical spoken language to communicate. This difficulty with verbal expression leads them to alternative communication forms like gestures and assistive devices.
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Key Insights:
Assistive Technology – Studies show that assistive technologies can significantly enhance communication skills in individuals with autism, creating new opportunities for connection.
Sensory Stimulation – Tactile and haptic interactions support children's developmental progress, emphasizing their role in therapeutic tools.
Affective Computing – Affective computing offers a unique opportunity to detect emotions unobtrusively through physiological and behavioral cues, providing insights into emotional states.
Primary Research
Our primary research began by developing a stakeholder map to identify potential interview candidates. Our objective was to interview individuals from each category to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem from multiple perspectives. We successfully achieved this goal and spoke with a pediatric developmental neuropsychiatrist, an occupational therapist, a psychology professor, and a father of a child with non-speaking autism.