Architec Tradure

Author: Julie Knight

  • 21JulMachine Therapy

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    I have just chatted with Kelly Dobson today at the lab and we found out that we share a research goal: using machines for therapy.

    I will show her the last ptototypes on Haptic Psycho therapy that I made with Leo such as:

    Squeeze Me – A Vest that Simulates Therapeutic Holding

    Hurt Me – A Bracelet that Generates Controlled Pain for Psycho-Therapy

    Cool Me Down – An Electronic Cold Wrap for grounding

    Push My Buttons – A System and Method for the Remote Application of Touch Therapy

    I have always adored Kelly’s work. In particular, her ScreamBody.

    ScreamBody is the first of the series of Wearable Body Organs. ScreamBody is a portable space for screaming. When a user needs to scream but is in anynumber of situations where it is just not permitted, ScreamBody silences the user’s screams so they may feel free to vocalize without fear of environmental retaliation, and at the same time records the scream for later release where, when, and how the user chooses.

    One of her last piece is Blendie, a voice controller blender.

    The experience for the participant is to speak the language of the machine and thus to more deeply understand and connect with the machine.

    She is now finalising her PhD research on Machine Therapy

    It is a body-to-body affair. In this way the machines serve as a bridge to the person’s inner life

    In Haptic therapy


  • 21JulMachine Therapy

    If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed to receive the latest Architectradure’s articles in your reader or via email. Thanks for visiting!

    I have just chatted with Kelly Dobson today at the lab and we found out that we share a research goal: using machines for therapy.

    I will show her the last ptototypes on Haptic Psycho therapy that I made with Leo such as:

    Squeeze Me – A Vest that Simulates Therapeutic Holding

    Hurt Me – A Bracelet that Generates Controlled Pain for Psycho-Therapy

    Cool Me Down – An Electronic Cold Wrap for grounding

    Push My Buttons – A System and Method for the Remote Application of Touch Therapy

    I have always adored Kelly’s work. In particular, her ScreamBody.

    ScreamBody is the first of the series of Wearable Body Organs. ScreamBody is a portable space for screaming. When a user needs to scream but is in anynumber of situations where it is just not permitted, ScreamBody silences the user’s screams so they may feel free to vocalize without fear of environmental retaliation, and at the same time records the scream for later release where, when, and how the user chooses.

    One of her last piece is Blendie, a voice controller blender.

    The experience for the participant is to speak the language of the machine and thus to more deeply understand and connect with the machine.

    She is now finalising her PhD research on Machine Therapy

    It is a body-to-body affair. In this way the machines serve as a bridge to the person’s inner life

    In Haptic therapy


  • 21JulFramework for Haptic Psycho Therapy

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    Hurt Me prototype



    Cool Me Down prototype

    It is a pity that just the excellent personalities suffer most from the adverse effects of the atmosphere -Goethe

    Together with Leo we wrote a paper on a framework for Haptic Psycho Therapy. We presented our research at the Health Pervasive Systems Workshop of the IEEE International Conference of Pervasive Services 2006.

    Download the powerpoint slides of our presentation

    Abstract: A growing body of evidence supports touch-based therapy for assisting sensory issues stemming from common social and psychological problems. Simulating touch through haptic devices can complement existing treatments for mental illness by providing soothing sensations that help to ground the senses. We introduce the concept of using computerized touch stimulation as a means for psychological therapy, and present a haptic device that allows touch information to be captured, broadcast and replayed in a wearable garment. To be effective outside the home or care-giving facility, this new type of therapeutic wearable needs to be highly customizable, easily controlled by the user and discrete enough to be worn in public.

    We developped four prototypes that will be exhibited at the A + D Gallery in Chicago, September 7 – October 21, 2006

    The Touchcasting serie consists of:

    COOL ME DOWN – An Electronic Cold Wrap for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

    More info about Cool Me Down

    – Patent pending –

    HURT ME – A Bracelet that Generates Controlled Pain for Psycho-Therapy

    More info about Hurt Me

    – Patent pending –

    SQUEEZE ME – A Vest that Simulates Therapeutic Holding

    More info about Squeeze Me

    – Patent pending –

    TOUCH ME – A System and Method for the Remote Application of Touch Therapy

    More info about Push My Buttons

    – Patent pending –

    I now working independently on Seamless Sensory Interventions for the treatment of mental and neurological disorders.

    My current research proposes haptics as the key to bringing treatment into the social sphere through devices, and providing new ways to mediate between the patient and the therapist both in and outside of therapy. Self-mutilation is a perfect test-case, because of the definitive “physicality” of the symptoms. However, the broader solutions that I am proposing have implications for diseases as diverse as autism, depression, and schizophrenia.


  • 20JulFashion drawing

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    I found two informative books on fashion drawing that contain inspiring examples for explanatory design.

    The FASHION DRAWING BOOK – Il Figurino di Moda



    The PATTERN MAKING BOOK – Il Modellismo Sartoriale



    In fashion design


  • 20JulA placebo coupled with a non-invasive form of treatment

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    The benefit obtained by the patient is at least partially due to his or her sense of hope, positive expectation, and activation for self-healing processes Institute of Medicine

    I position therapy with haptic systems as part of the spectrum of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Now, how can we evaluate the efficiency of CAM? For invasive forms of treatment in conventional medicine, studies include a placebo. However, with most complementary and alternative medicines, the placebo effect becomes an inherent part of the treatment.

    If the outcome of a placebo can be equal to the one of an invasive treatment, I think there is a lot that can be designed around the placebo effect coupled with a non-invasive form of treatment

    A key reference

    Complementary And Alternative Medicine in the United States By Institute of Medicine, National Academies Press, 2005.

    In Haptic therapy


  • 19JulEveryday life on wow

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    I play World of Warcraft.
    So little is said about the social life and the partnership difficulties of one wanting to fight spiders while the other one wants to gather some herbs. This comic was sent to me by Adam (a powerful priest who collects herbs) … enjoy (wow humour only)

    My character is a warrior, profession engineer, level 28. I am in the peaceful Alliance maybe I’ll try the Horde.

    And later, I found a super wow fitness program on Nicolas’ blog that I will be sure to follow

    In favorite games

  • 18JulWhat is happiness?

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    The french artist Sbastien Schuller

    (from the Yvelines, Versailles or Trappes) has the best definition so far:

    ‘In the mildness of the spring

    You feel creepy like a worm

    In your lost enchanted brain

    You’re proud to go

    With the fairness of your skin

    You feel funny in this world

    In your lost enchanted dreams

    Weeping willow’

    From his album Happiness.

    Video-clip

    In French music as we like it


  • 13JulA haptic psycho therapeutic Barbie for violent kids?

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    Recently, Florence Gallez –Moscow correspondent for the Bureau of National Affairs– sent me two articles about the future of the Barbie dolls. Either to mention that it is time to kill her or that ‘Barbie’s new dad is searching for the doll’s missing wow‘ …

    Well, I remember a WOW and this by only switching voices between Barbie and GI Joe dolls. Maybe Mattel could receive some advice from Mike Bonanno (the Yes men) …In any case, I think it is time for us to make a Psycho-therapeutic Barbie that squeezes violent kids with her tiny little hands … Touchcasting is working on that new Barbie revival!



    Barbie as Cat Woman

    In psycho toys


  • 09JunHarvard University commencement 2006

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    ,

    The 2006 commencement ceremony at Harvard University

    Official news about the commencement …

    So, I did it! I decided to enjoy the experience of US commencement’s ceremony. My Bostonian family was here: Daisy & Adam. I did rent the academic dress and marched to Harvard Yard 🙂 and Daisy and Adam took pictures under the rain …

    Finally I received my degree at the Harvard Design school. A Master in Design specializing in product design and architecture …

    I received my grades. Among the grades I received a High Pass from Dr Antoine Picon and Distinctions from Marco Steinberg. What a nice ending for such a challenging degree!

    My ID, a last glance at it before starting the exciting journey of a MIT PhD at the Media Lab, in the Tangible Media group run by Prof. Hiroshi Ishii …

    In academic achievements


  • 09JunHarvard University commencement 2006

    If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed to receive the latest Architectradure’s articles in your reader or via email. Thanks for visiting!

    ,

    The 2006 commencement ceremony at Harvard University

    Official news about the commencement …

    So, I did it! I decided to enjoy the experience of US commencement’s ceremony. My Bostonian family was here: Daisy & Adam. I did rent the academic dress and marched to Harvard Yard 🙂 and Daisy and Adam took pictures under the rain …

    Finally I received my degree at the Harvard Design school. A Master in Design specializing in product design and architecture …

    I received my grades. Among the grades I received a High Pass from Dr Antoine Picon and Distinctions from Marco Steinberg. What a nice ending for such a challenging degree!

    My ID, a last glance at it before starting the exciting journey of a MIT PhD at the Media Lab, in the Tangible Media group run by Prof. Hiroshi Ishii …

    In academic achievements