Background of this project

This was a medical product designed to relieve symptoms of OCD patients while they are working/studying. There were a lot of OCD patients in China and the disorder severely impacted their lives. Because of this, they could not continue to work or study, which made their lives duller. I decided to design this because a couple of my friends were suffering from OCD and I wanted to help them get back to study or work by relieving their symptoms. 

Overview

I wanted to relieve the symptoms of patients by diverting their attention when the symptoms stroke. Because, according to Morita therapy, diverting people’s attention was an effective way to intervene in symptoms. However, the major problem was how to make patients able to realize that they were suffering from OCD rather than experiencing a life disaster. They needed a private instructor to remind them while they were being intruded into by symptoms and guided them to react to symptoms with proper treatment methods, which was an ideal process of intervening in OCD. Thus, I decided to design this intervention and treatment product to help patients be able to work or study like average people. 

Rationale – why this function works?

Well, the theory of the process of this product was that: 

Step 1: It detected the symptoms. When it detected symptoms, it stimulated the user’s skin by generating vibrations to remind him of the occurrence of OCD and intervene with the symptoms. 

Step 2: When the user realized, he/she could switch the device to the “relieving” mode. It discontinuously generated vibrations on the user’s skin. The frequency of vibration was synchronized with the user’s respiratory rate. (See the attached demonstration video for more details). Thus, the user would shift his/her attention to his/her own breathing, which stopped the user from obsessive and compulsive overthinking and gradually getting back to normal status. 

The main symptoms of OCD

My friend used to have a very bad case of OCD. It caused him a lot of pain. Here are the main pains that OCD caused him:

The lingering thoughts in his head make me unable to focus.

Repeatedly check if the door is locked.

What are the main ways in which OCD affects a patient?

The pain caused by OCD prevents a patient from carrying out his daily tasks

Scenario

When a patient is working, he is constantly interrupted by some “unwanted thoughts. “ And those thoughts are generally caused by trivial things like getting cut by a knife or doing something impolite to colleagues. That patient is constantly bothered by those unwanted thoughts, thinking those trivial things will cause disasters.

Existing methods and deficiencies in alleviating OCD symptoms.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Observing the subtle sensations on your skin in a particular area of your body. This includes perceiving and observing the thoughts in your mind. Practicing to accept any of those sensations.

Forcing the patient to face what they are afraid of

Forcing the patient to confront what they are afraid of (such as germs). And restrain themselves from reacting to it.

My target

Because my friend was hindered in his daily life, I wanted to help workers and students with OCD to work and study without being affected by OCD.

Research

Personas

Here are some people who have OCD. I want to find out the following:
• what symptoms affect them?
• what therapy do they use?
• what do they do every day to relieve symptoms?

“I wish I lived in an environment more suitable for OCD patients to survive.”

Study in the library every day.

Crowded and limited therapeutic practice.

Social pressure, easy to tension

“I have been suffering from OCD for many years and have been supported by Mindfulness and MBCT.”

Freelancer working at home

Journey map of an OCD patient

purpose

I want to find out:
• What does he do when he is most seriously affected by OCD?
• Why the current treatments are not effective in relieving symptoms at work?

journey map 1

journey map 2

Conclusion of user’s journey

Patients always have problems in public places (such as libraries) when using “therapeutic methods” for relief (like meditation and mindfulness).

Therefore, the commonly used treatments
(meditation, mindfulness) are not suitable for
relieving OCD symptoms in public places.

Reasons why treatment methods are not suitable in public places

Problems encountered when using meditation and Mindfulness outside:

        Due to the strain of work, the human brain becomes drowsy and cannot observe the sensations in the body.

        People feel dull because they have to sit for 30 minutes and get restless.

        Patients tend to be nervous in public because other people are around, so they feel embarrassed when practicing “Mindfulness.”

        What are the users’ needs for the existing treatment modalities?

        1. The treatment requires concentration, which the patient cannot do.
        2. The treatment usually takes more than 10-15 minutes to have an effect. The treatment effect is slow.
        3. Surrounding people are suspicious of the patient’s treatment behaviour.
        4. Treatment is difficult for novices to master.
        5. Treatment requires a quiet, relaxing environment, which is not available in public.

        Interview of an OCD patient

        “I’d walk down the hallway or corridor and say, “It is what it is.”

        The effect is okay but too tiring. As I keep saying, the mouth is very tired, the heart also gets anxious quickly.

        The effect is not always good, because sometimes there are too many people around, and it is not convenient to say: “It is so”.

        About 7-8 minutes, sometimes a little longer. Basically, you can regain mental peace.

        How do you generally do your mindfulness practice?

        How is the effect?

        How long does it take for the symptoms to fully resolve?

        Competitive product analysis

        At present, all the methods to relieve OCD symptoms at work are listed here.

        Conclusion of competitive product analysis

        All Current Solutions, And “Market Vacancies” That Have Not Been Solved Are Highlighted In Orange Colour Above

        To have a professional approach, but also to receive the symptoms effectively.

        Help patients eliminate symptoms in a short time.

        Also, it can help patients to relieve their symptoms anytime and anywhere

        Help patients to calm down and have a good state of mind for breathing exercises

        Product Development

        Ideation

        “Breathing exercises” is one of the therapies for OCD.

        other ideas

        problems

        People can’t shift their attention fast enough.

        Solutions

        Looking at other parts of the body can help people ignore symptoms immediately.

        One cannot concentrate on the breath.

        Touching something textured and stimulating to the skin can make people feel less anxious.

        I was embarrassed to be seen by others during the “breathing exercise”.

        To avoid embarrassment, the product should be concealed.

        One cannot do “breathing exercises” anywhere, anytime.

        Make the product portable so that people can use it anywhere, anytime.

        Sketches

        What I need to design is a small wearable device that can be used to stimulate and distract people’s attention on various occasions. A person can use it anywhere and anytime.

        Prototypes

        Prototypes – Problems with the preliminary model

        Among the models selected in the sketching stage, the main problems found were:
        1. Multiple products;
        2. The inconvenience of portability.

        My solution

        Merge the two products

        The solution to the disadvantages of the prototype

        Putting two products together is the best way.

        The final model

        other models

        Modified Final model

        How to use it?

        Use it when the patient is disturbed by OCD symptoms and can not concentrate on
        work.

        the first way to use this product

        1. Combination of detection products and vibration modules.
        2. Hang the product on your chest and focus on your breathing

        the second way to use this product

        3. Pull the bracelet out of the test product
        2. Fix the vibration module on the wrist with the bracelet
        3. Use the vibration module to stimulate the wrist, while the product on the chest detects the breathing rate of the person

        Final 3D model

        How to use the product

        Exploded-view of products

        Arduino function diagram

        Arduino function test – Mode 2

        1. Set the Arduino test prototype to mode 2
        2. The Arduino test prototype is debugging itself (the light is blinking). I wait for it to enter the working state
        3. After the Arduino enters the working state, I breathe in hard. The gyroscope detects that my abdomen is contracting inward, so the Arduino test prototype is at rest. The Arduino test prototype is in a static state.
        4. I exhale hard, and the gyroscope detects my abdomen protruding outward, so it triggers the
        vibration motor and stimulates my belly (while the indicator light flashes).
        5. When I felt that I had stimulated myself enough by using the Arduino test prototype, I pressed the “mode” button, and the Arduino entered the mode 1 state (with the light flashing). The Arduino will enter the mode 1 state (and the indicator will stop blinking).
        6. process ends

        Link to the video explanation of how to detect OCD symptoms using Arduino:

        Link to the video explanation of how to apply treatment to the patient:

        usage of product

        Process Of Using Products

        Use mode 1

        1. Open the cover of “the vibration module.
        2. Insert the “test product” into the “vibration module”.
        3. Close the cover of the “vibration
        module” and fix it
        4. Place the “vibration module” fixed on the testing product under the chest of the body.
        5. Snap the hook on the “testing product” to the collar.

        Use mode 2

        1. Separate the “wristband” that is stuck in the “test product”
        2. Insert the “bracelet” into the “vibration
        module” fixing slot, and fix the “bracelet”
        to the right position.
        3. Place the “vibration module” inserted
        into the “bracelet” on your wrist, and
        4. find the right position. Fix the “vibration module” on your wrist with the bracelet” and start using it.

        User Interface

        Homepage (Unactivated)

        1. After the user opens the corresponding app, the home screen is grayed out. Then you need to click
        “searching devices” to search for your device.

        Homepage (Unactivated)

        2. Once you have searched for a treatment facility, click on the treatment facility selection box.

        Homepage (Activated)

        After clicking on the treatment device selection box, you will enter the activated home screen, which shows the information about the device.

        Mode 1 information interface

        After clicking on the treatment device selection box, you will enter the activated home screen, which shows the information about the device.

        Homepage (Activated)

        3. You can adjust the user’s device usage mode by the device. Click on
        the “Mode 1” selection box to enter the “Mode 1” information screen.
        4. You can also click on the “Mode 1” selection box to enter the “Mode 2” information screen.

        Mode 1 information interface

        A. In the “Mode 1” information screen, if the user has severe symptoms, the user will be alerted in the mode 1 screen, and the user can click the “OCD symptom level” button to automatically adjust to mode 2, and enter the mode 2 information screen.

        Mode 1 information interface

        Mode 2 information interface

        You can adjust the user’s device usage mode by the device. Click on the “Mode 1” selection box to enter the “Mode 1” information screen

        Mode 2 information interface

        B. If you feel that your symptoms have become less severe, you can click on the “OCD Symptom Level” button to automatically adjust to mode 1 and enter the information screen for mode 1.