The Argonauts - Space Apps Challenge

The Argonauts| The Isolation Solution

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.

COVID Companion

Summary

The two main consequences of the isolated environment created by social distancing in the wake of COVID 19 are sensory monotony and social isolation. Together, these problems result in a multitude of physiological, behavioral, and psychological problems. In the absence of social interaction, individuals lose motivation to structure their days, grow frustrated with their limited environments, and suffer from increased loneliness. By using a chatbot that communicates through the Alexa device, individuals can introduce routine, novelty, and conversation to their daily schedules, which is proven by research to be an effective strategy to mitigate the health consequences stemming from isolation.

How We Addressed This Challenge

A chatbot can address consequences stemming from isolation in three ways. First, multiple studies have shown that a virtual chatbot can decrease loneliness and is often an effective substitute for human interaction, as it pushes individuals to share emotions and converse on a daily basis. Second, a chatbot can counter monotony by pushing individuals to pursue activities such as cooking new recipes or spending time in nature that they wouldn’t be motivated to perform otherwise. Third, a chatbot can push individuals to follow a daily routine to add structure and purpose to their environment in the absence of social expectations.

How We Developed This Project

As many parallels can be drawn between the type of isolation experienced in a space shuttle and in the current pandemic, the NASA study conducted on a group of astronauts in social isolation can produce insights that are directly relevant to those who are currently practicing social distancing. We used the consequences outlined in this study to develop a problem statement, then researched solutions to these specific problems. After determining that a chatbot is an effective implementation to address many of the key consequences of social isolation, we developed a virtual companion specifically targeted at addressing isolation due to COVID.