Sidekick for children with asthma
For young children suffering from asthma it can be pretty difficult to deal with continually changing symptoms. They often do not notice the first signs of deterioration. Parents grope in the dark and doctors lack objective data to be able to evaluate the effect of treatment. App.Oe changes all this. App. Oe is a sidekick which helps these children to control their symptoms like real ninjas. App.Oe consists of a clever vest that registers tightness of the chest during sleep and translates these data into clear feedback in an attractive app. Nightly symptoms generally are pretty good predictors of an asthma attack, but are now often noticed when it is too late.
Empowerment for ninjas
Panton took up the challenge to help children with asthma in such a way that they are able to control the symptoms themselves. ‘Empowering people’ changed during this project into ‘empowering children with asthma to become ninjas mastering their own care’.
From interviews with children, parents and doctors it appeared that more insight into symptoms is sorely needed, so that they can react more quickly and adequately. Thus the idea arose to design a vest that registers symptoms during the night end and gives feedback in the daytime.
“ For me it is difficult to judge how my daughter breathes, she herself cannot explain it either”
Mother of a girl with asthma
Co-creation
An interesting design route followed, in which we – together with the children – looked for a comfortable design for a vest. Prototypes in all forms, sizes and materials were tested by the children. The children also thought along with the interactions with the app. Thus a cheerful ninja became the face of the app.
sEMG Technology
The vest uses sEMG technology by means of clever electrodes. An amplifier is wirelessly connected with the app. In cooperation with ItoM a first prototype was developed and at present further steps in development are being taken.
Luca Student Award
App.Oe started as a graduation project of Beatrijs van Hoof and was awarded a Luca Student Award. Meanwhile Beatrijs has started working as a designer for Panton. To help getting App.Oe on to the market we are looking for investors. Are you interested and would you like to get more information? Please have a glance at the project blog.
