STEP 1:
The kit comes with two bands - one for the person with chronic pain (the sufferer for lack of a better term) and the empathizer (the family member, friend, etc.) First, using the Wong Baker pain scale currently used by doctors and nurses, both people sit down together and create their own pain scale using terms they can both relate to and understand.
STEP 2:
This is how the Sufferer's (person with chronic pain) band works. It comes with six embedded sensors hidden behind fabric. The fabric has a cracked pattern on it - symbolically representing the different stages of pain. The person in pain presses the pattern that best represents their current pain level. The bluetooth device (wireless) sends this information to their friend's band.
STEP 3:
This is the family member's/friend's (empathizer's) band works. When it receives the signal from the other, an image appears that represents their friend's pain level. The band appears either more or less cracked depending on the pain level of their friend.
This is a quick mock-up of what it might look like in size.
Things I am now wondering about:
1: SIZE - is this the best size? It is large enough to be clearly seen and it's large size allows it to be used to increase public awareness through conversations, etc.
2: PATTERN - I chose a cracked pattern in an attempt to give an invisible experience a visual image. Does it have any negative connotations that I am not aware of?
3: USABILITY - What could be explained better? What could be easier to understand or use?
