Manhattan, 2009, Photo by Diana Mott
Sophie's Pet, 2009
Sophie Pet's was developed specifically for children with autism who demonstrate poor posture at a desk or table. Individuals with autism often have reduced postural control (Molloy, Dietriech, & Bhattacharya, 2003; Minshew, KiBum, Jones, & Furman, 2009). This project combines feedback stimulus indicating improper posture with sensory stimulation to facilitate muscle contraction through the back, while simultaneously organizing the sensory system. The goal of the project is, first, to increase the ability of the student to correct her posture independent of external cues from individuals in her environment, such as the teacher or teacher's aide. Second, the goal is to reduce the frequency of improper sitting posture.
The design of Sophie's Pet is as follows: two sensors are used to detect postural deviation. One sensor is placed at the base of the spine, near the sacrum, and the other sensor is at the upper thoracic level, between the shoulder blades. When the sensors recognize a deviation beyond a specified threshold it triggers vibration. Three vibrators are placed along the middle of the back at the upper thoracic level, the lower thoracic level, and the lower lumbar region. Different intensities of vibration and duration are used for the dual purpose of posture correction and sensory diet. Positional data and haptic output are recorded to monitor progress.
Manhattan, 2009, Photo by Diana Mott
