Vibro-Tactile Textiles.

Textile cushion to calm and relax elderly people with cognitiva and mobility issues

THE CHALLENGE
To develop a product that supports the emotional well-being of those affected by mental and cognitive challenges in old age helping them to feel less anxious, supporting relationships with family and carers, minimise sufferers’ worries, provide them the opportunity to do something engaging and helping them to customise their immediate environment.

THE SOLUTION
A sensory and interactive textile cushion using digital touch therapy to calm and relax people with cognitive and mobility issues such as dementia and anxiety encouraging movement while delivering the added benefit of warmth across the knees.The textile design will be made with sensory effects of the soft aplique fabrics and decorative joyful patterns to be tested with consumers. The fabrics will also have embedded electronics and programming to extend the value of touch therapy through digital touch to create the interactive element of the product generating stimulating vibrations.

Bonnie Binary Ltd is specialised in designing simple and intuitive Interfaces for people with cognitive and mobility challenges, and sensory textile products.

Maureen is a graduate in Industrial design with experience in interactive design, physical computing and electronic development with a focus on digital interfaces. She has recently worked on several industry collaborations using textile sensors.

Anna Blumenkranz is a media artist, educator and author based in Munich, who works within the field of wearable technology and electronic textiles. She has been lecturing at the Ludwig- Maximilians-Universität München since 2011.