The Isolation Solution

Social distancing policies enacted the world over during the COVID-19 pandemic have left many people socially isolated. Your challenge is to develop innovative solutions to combat social isolation.

Hugket

Summary

Our project is a jacket with motion, heat and pressure sensors that aims to reproduce the feeling of a hug. It makes it possible to help all people who suffer from during the period of social isolation, considering that they cannot see family and friends, feeling a sadness and profound lack of human interaction. Therefore, we will generate social impact and add a lot of value to the large-scale humanization process as a global solution, bringing prominence to human sentiment and the lightness of not needing to feel alone. Hugket A hug away, you closer to the person you love.

How We Addressed This Challenge

Our project is intrinsically interconnected in relation to the chosen challenge, considering that it proposes an innovative solution that aims to combat the negative impacts of social isolation. Therefore, our project is aimed at solving the absence and reduction of social contact of the people based on an alternative way of promoting contact in situations such as pandemics, space travel and social distance for the purpose of working in remote locations. With this, we will promote an experience of proximity to which the challenge promotes, reducing the risk of depression, behavior that reduces cognitive functioning.

How We Developed This Project

Our team's choice of this challenge came from our purpose, which aims to provide connection and integrate people to a unique experience during periods of social isolation. With this in mind, we decided to start a survey with countless people to be able to map their greatest difficulties and demands, we analyzed data provided by NASA, we conducted a brainstorming session, we defined the features of our system, which methodologies and technologies we would use. Thus, we assign tasks among members and start development activities. We used SketchUp software to model the jacket in three-dimensional format and with the support of V-Ray we rendered the prototype. In addition, the application prototype was fully developed using free code, using software such as Visual Studio Code and tools such as React, React native and Lottie to build a multiplatform application for both android and ios, aiming to reach a larger portion of the population . In addition, the Illustrator tool was used to design the prototype with the integrated sensors, and in relation to the use of hardware in the project, the use of a flexing sensor, accelerometer, fan, resistance, and an inflatable rubber bag was proposed.

Based on NASA data, we use it mostly to obtain information on how astronaut preparation and training strategies work to add value in life to people experiencing problems related to social isolation.

Regarding the problems faced by our team, we can highlight some unforeseen issues that arose despite the initial planning. We had to adjust some concepts of our idea and learn some tools to execute some goals. Regarding the team's achievements, we can highlight the execution of the determined activities, resilience based on demands in order to offer the best possible version of a product that aims to transform the world.

Data & Resources

The main resources we used to segment our project were the studies carried out by researcher Williams Thomas in the project “Characterization of Psychological Risk, Overlap with Physical Health, and Associated Performance in Isolated, Confined, Extreme (ICE) Environments” on the privatization of physical contact, we also look for references in the expeditionary behavior of astronauts in the article “An Astronaut's Tips For Living in Space - Or Anywhere” and about social isolation in the article "Social Isolation in Context" and how they deal positively with confinement if they know each other more and making it a positive experience. Both references were very important for the evolution of our project due to the fact that we idealized a solution in which people would use isolation time to be more patient, positive and show resilience in the face of difficulties.


https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

https://www.healthline.com/health/hugging-benefits#1

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/features/F_Hot_Shower_and_Hug.html

https://data.humdata.org/dataset/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-cases

https://canaltech.com.br/espaco/covid-19-astronautas-dao-dicas-para-voce-lidar-melhor-com-o-isolamento-social-162740/ 

Tags
#hardware #software #app #socialisolation #IsolationSolution #socialdistance
Global Judging
This project was submitted for consideration during the Space Apps Global Judging process.