Reimagining The Pediatric Waiting Areas
- Leveraging Augmented Reality for Enhanced Child Well-being in
Hospital Waiting Areas
MFA Thesis in Experience Design, Boston
Duration: 2023 - 2024
Published Here
Tools & Technologies:
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Unity, Oculus Quest
JavaScript, p5.js, C#
Problem
Waiting for medical appointments in hospitals can cause stress in children and negatively affect their medical outcomes.
Research - Literature Review
- Stress, anxiety, and negative emotions on children in hospital waiting rooms​
“Because of unfamiliar with the environment and medical procedures and unaware of the reasons, it can result in children’s anger, uncertainty, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness”. (Li et al. 2016)
- Different play interventions in enhancing the waiting room experience
“Distraction conditions was associated with higher calm behavior and less fine and gross movement, suggesting significant calming effects of the distraction conditions. In turn, this suggests that the use of positive distractions can affect the stress and anxiety associated with the waiting experience”. (Pati et al., 2011 )
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“All participants strongly agreed that interactive media would improve the healthcare waiting experience". (Biddiss et al., 2013)
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- Children’s views on what constitutes an ideal waiting room
“Most of the children demanded the presence of both their parents and the presence of their mother next to them”
The green space flowers and trees & game components have been mentioned a lot, children prefer to play outdoors than indoors in the hospital for an ideal waiting room. (Nasab et al. 2020)
- The influence of color theory on hospital environments
Jeddi et al. (2016) highlight the positive impact of vibrant and neutral colors in children's hospital environments, potentially enhancing treatment effectiveness by up to 10%.
They recommend using lively and nature-based colors like red, violet, yellow, and orange, avoiding dark, gloomy tones, to create a more inviting and comfortable space for young patients.
Research - Precedent
- Jimmy’s Junction, Dana-Farber Center Institue​
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A dynamic interactive installation, spanning from the waiting area to the chemotherapy treatment center, this installation offers engagement to patients throughout their visit.
- ScreenPlay, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital​
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Touch-free interactive media display designed for healthcare waiting spaces.
- Interactive Wall, Boston Children's Hospital​
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Interactive wall for the Boston Children's Hospital lobby made by UConn faculty and students
Question
How can we integrate
nature-based elements in the design of pediatric healthcare waiting areas to enhance the children’s well-being?
Methodology
Pre-Design - Expert Interview
Psychotherapist​
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Perception of time
Cognitive Responses to Stress
“When your brain is anxious to a certain extent, you start to prefer to perform the easier task, like the 'no brainer' we usually referred to.”
Pediatric Nursing Professional
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Perception of time & impact on children
The Role of Environmental Design and Distractions
Design Professional in Children Hospital​
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Positive Distractions Through Games
Interactive art and installation
“The interactive art and installations can be powerful and give children a sense of control in the hospital environment.”
Pre-Design - Exploratory Design
Based on the findings, the key principles and constraints should be:
- Simplicity and Intuitiveness
- Interactivity
- Constraint: No Touch
Journey Map
Exploratory Design Concept:
The core concept revolves around utilizing gesture recognition to create a responsive, interactive experience. As children move their hands in front of the screen, the system detects the motion and translates it into colorful particle effects on the display.
This playful interaction is designed to provide a delightful distraction for children, drawing their attention away from the stress of the hospital environment. In addition to distraction, the system empowers children to express themselves by drawing with their hands in the air. The hand-tracking enables them to create lines, shapes, and figures that float in the virtual space. This form of expression allows children to communicate emotions, ideas, or stories, providing a creative outlet that can be both comforting and empowering.
Exploratory Design Summary:
In conclusion, our exploration has laid the foundation for a system that offers a positive diversion for children in hospital settings. However, recognizing the potential for further enhancement, we've decided to delve deeper into developing more engaging and dynamic interactions. We aim to not only distract but to truly engage, ensuring that each child's hospital experience is as comforting and enjoyable as possible. And also try to take the hospital environment to a different level, making it easier for children to adapt.
Main Design - Ideation
- Nature Elements
Research highlights the importance of integrating nature elements into children's hospital environments to enhance well-being. Children expressed a desire for outdoor spaces with nature connections, such as flower pots and trees. Green spaces were frequently mentioned in their drawings . Additionally, the use of vibrant, nature-inspired colors like green, yellow, and red has been shown to positively impact individuals' perception and emotional response, improving environmental quality and patient recovery rates.
- The Use of the Artifact
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Field research in children's hospital waiting areas revealed that transparent dividers, while essential for disease prevention, can contribute to feelings of isolation and anxiety. These dividers, though functional, often feel impersonal and cold, highlighting the need for design innovations that foster connection and comfort. Emerging technologies, such as transparent TVs and laptops, offer inspiration for creating immersive, visually cohesive environments that blend with their surroundings. These innovations present opportunities for more engaging and comforting healthcare spaces, enhancing patient experiences through thoughtful design.
Main Design - Prototype
Objective:
Design an AR nature-scene experience for pediatric hospital waiting areas that are calming, engaging, and intuitive by using the artifact divider.
Visual Experience:
AR overlays of natural scenes with flowers, plants, and playful animals on transparent dividers provide a comforting contrast to the clinical environment.
Interaction and Gameplay:
Mechanism: Hand-tracking and gesture recognition allow children to interact with animals in the scene.
Gameplay: Simple hand movements, like touching thumb and index finger, trigger interactions. This approach balances engagement with patients' potential vulnerabilities, ensuring easy and accessible interaction.​
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Game Mechanism
Hand Tracking Diagram
Experience Prototyping
User Testing
Demographic & Time Duration:
Middle Childhood, 6-12 years old
Interview with 4 parents/guardians
Test the prototype with two children, aged 11 and 13, using an Oculus headset
Play duration: 5 -10 minutes
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Feedback:
- Dynamic environment integration
“I like these details. Flowers and trees moved with the fan”
“It is very calming, soothing. I often visit the hospital due to infections, and I think it can distract me to stop watching the infection”
- The pinch gesture is easy for children to perform and learn
“It is very straightforward and easy for me, I think I can play it for a while ”
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- Hope to have more variations and personalization​
"I like the bunny, but I also want to play with cats/puppies”
“I like the beach, maybe the desert, and the ocean, can also be options for me to choose”
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- Multiplayer setting, to play with parents
“It would be good if this could be multiplayer, my parents can control one animal, and I control one to play with them”​
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Future Direction
Transition from Virtual Reality Prototyping to Augmented Reality Implementation
Studies and user testing within actual clinical environments
Consider different groups of children
Conclusion
Adopting children's point of view in the design of pediatric healthcare environments.
Bring the dynamic interplay between - Technology, Experience Design, and Healthcare