Celestial Snails| The Isolation Solution
Awards & Nominations
Celestial Snails has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!
The Isolation Solution
SNAIL SPACE
Summary
SNAIL SPACE (A wordplay for Snail's pace) is an app that provides comfort during times of social isolation by being a handy safe "space" for users. It encourages users to slow down in the midst of the fast paced world and be at their comfort (at a Snail's pace). Just like snails that bring their safe spaces with them, the app acts as a safe space that users can bring with them.Slow down, breathe, and bring your space with you (like a snail!), be it on earth or in outer space!
How We Addressed This Challenge
SNAIL SPACE Gives users (Both in planet earth vs. COVID-19 and astronauts in outer space) a series of modules aimed at combating the challenges brought upon by social isolation that could occur as a result of both scenarios.
SNAIL SPACE gives access to users by providing them with the following modules aimed at ensuring that proper mental care and stimulus:
- Social Connectivity for emergencies - Hotline tracker / Automatically dials the emergency hotline depending on User's Location
- Creativity and Productivity / Mental Stimulus - in-app Coloring Book and Journal
- Mental Well-Being - Panic Attack emergency exercises, Meditation
- Assurance against COVID-19 - A module reassuring steps for safety during COVID-19
How We Developed This Project
This project was developed as an Android app. We wanted to make sure that our solution would be something that the users would be able to bring with them wherever they go (in and out of Earth) that could act as a safe space, similar to how snails bring their safe spaces with them!
As being individuals who have experienced firsthand the challenges of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to develop an app that we could bring along with us and consider as a "safe space".
Upon further understanding that social isolation is actually a norm, not just during pandemics, but during NASA missions (undertaken by brave individuals) as per the articles and data released by NASA, we decided to make sure our solution is something that can contain modules that will be beneficial even to users who are outside the planet Earth.
Thus, Snail Space was born. This app is something that will ensure that users can remain in a good state and under their own control during social isolation instances brought upon by the pandemic (or space missions) in the form of mentally stimulating modules, emergency modules, COVID-19 assurance, and much more! All these modules were designed and selected meticulously with respect to the various research taken about mental health issues triggered by social isolation, studies by NASA, and other resources about social isolation.
Project Demo
Snail Space Features: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HsvlMMM84B04pEVobeSjab-f7SWWdwhmBi_xcLs7M9U/edit?usp=sharing
Feel free to download the .apk of Snail Space here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jX5bpTNLhaPP3Cs7VYhW79RWzv0sPA9g/view?fbclid=IwAR23EeuWdXCQAakd3J9y3LRSL4glGZ401Y2Ih8JsE3drI3MPe09yyCkWDuA
Data & Resources
Social Isolation (NASA Data)
[1] "Characterization of Psychological Risk, Overlap with Physical Health, and Associated Performance in Isolated, Confined, Extreme (ICE) Environments" https://taskbook.nasaprs.com/tbp/index.cfm?action=public_query_taskbook_content&TASKID=12495
[2] "Hazards of Human Spaceflight #2, Isolation & Confinement" (NASA Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPinASEKA_I&feature=youtu.be
[3] "Interview with Tom Williams, Ph.D." (NASA Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1FYk1lkdh4
[4] "Social Isolation in Context" https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/social-isolation/in-context
[5] Bower JL, Laughlin MS, Connaboy C, Simpson RJ, Alfano CA. "Factor structure and validation of the mental health checklist (MHCL) for use in isolated, confined and extreme environments." Acta Astronaut. 2019 Aug;161:405-14.
[6] "Conquering the Challenge of Isolation in Space: NASA’s Human Research Program Director Receives National Recognition" https://www.nasa.gov/feature/conquering-the-challenge-of-isolation-in-space-nasa-s-human-research-program-director
COVID-19 Resources and Social Isolation in Pandemics
[7] "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - How to Protect Yourself & Others" - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
[8] "The dangers of social isolation during a pandemic" https://epha.org/the-dangers-of-social-isolation-during-a-pandemic/
On Panic attacks brought upon by Mental Health
[9] "Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms" https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml
[10] "Breathing Problems During Anxiety, and How to Fix them" https://www.anxieties.com/57/panic-step4
Open Source Projects for development
[11] "Open Source Coloring Book Module" https://github.com/androidsoft-org/androidsoft
[12] "Open Source Meditation Module" https://github.com/happyruss/vipassana_android
(References about the suicide hotlines / emergency hotlines obtained can be found in the corresponding github URL provided).