The Empathy Illness Objects

I need your opinions:



Storyline:
A friend (Samantha) is struck with a chronic illness of some sort. They may or may not be bed-ridden but the illness is severe enough to disrupt their daily lives. Samantha's friend, Roberto, is unsure of what to do. As a non-sick person, he is not sure how to relate to Samantha's condition. Therefore, he goes online and orders a set of the "Empathy Illness Objects" for himself and Samantha. The set includes two objects - one for Roberto and one for Samantha. Roberto carries his around with him at all times - it serves as a reminder of Samantha. Samantha puts hers in a highly visible place where she will be able to see it repeatedly throughout the day.

Roberto's object requires his attention and care. It sporadically vibrates, beeps, or lights up to remind him of his friend and to simulate what having a chronic illness could be like. Chronic illness affects one of every five Americans. If we do not die an accidental tragic death, most likely we will experience a chronic illness sometime during our life. When Roberto responds to his object, it sends a signal to Samantha's object - reminding her of her community that cares for her.

This object set addresses three needs:
1 - It reminds Samantha of her friends and those who love her, therefore helping her endure whatever illness she is facing (in some subjective measure).
2 - It allows Roberto to stay connected to his friend and reminds him to think of her.
3 - It allows Roberto to undergo a small symbolic simulation of what a chronic illness could be like. A chronic illness acts up unexpectedly and requires your attention. Your response matters, for your own sense of health as well as for others involved.

I need your opinions:
1 - After reading through this scenario, what are your initial thoughts? Does it make sense? Would you be interested in using it?
2 - If you are Samantha, what kind of object would you prefer to have? Would it be a decorative object such as a photo frame that lights up, a functional object that you use for something else in addition to this? What type of object would be most helpful to you in this situation?
3 - If you are Roberto, what kind of object would you prefer to have? Would it be abstract and conceptual - something you add to the things you already carry around each day? Or would it be more functional - attaching to a beltloop or something so you wouldn't forget it?

Please feel free to comment. The project is an exercise... I value all honest feedback!!!!

The "Sick" and the "Not-Sick"

I had to submit a rough draft of my thesis abstract last week. This is what I have for now:

Paul Cowen, journalist and author, described his 1987 encounter with leukemia as, “being exiled to the land of the sick.” He had, as we all do, unconsciously drawn a line between the sick and the not-sick. All of us, if we are fortunate enough to escape an accidental death, will have to face a chronic illness such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes or Alzheimer’s. All of us, whether we accept or deny it, will have to cross the threshold between the sick and non-sick as Cowen once did.

For my thesis, I will design conceptual objects and experiences that expose the cultural tension between the “sick” and “not-sick”. Inspired by the Critical Design practiced by Dunne and Raby, I will design prototypes that challenge the social and psychological behavior around these issues. I believe that design can bring complex social issues, such as cultural attitudes towards pain and sickness, to our attention. I believe that designers can be facilitators of change by boldly exploring questions that are typically ignored or overlooked by the market place.

My final project will include a series of prototype objects as well as the interviews and observations of those who volunteer to seriously engage with them. The ultimate purpose of this project is to spark empathy and compassion in the not-sick, or rather the “not yet sick”.