Industry
Medical
Work Type
Academic Project
Roles
Copy Editor Packaging Design Product Design
Duration
10 Weeks
Haalo
The Challenge
Haalo is a product designed for young adult users with irrevocable nerve damage from surgical or other trauma, causing fine motor difficulties such as buttoning shirts, zipping jackets, or tying shoes. These limitations make it a challenge to gain independence and lessen reliance on family members and friends. Current solutions aren’t built for people with nerve damage and are oftentimes very bulky, leaving little to no options for fine motor support.
When is support needed
We initially assumed that support would be needed throughout the entire day, however we learned that the biggest pain point for our users was with pinching movements.
This meant they didn't need to wear the glove all day, nor would they want to. It needed to be task oriented and couldn't be hassle to take on and off.
“There’s a lack of grip since my skin isn’t connecting to anything.”
Key Features
Task Recording
The primary feature of the companion app is task recording, which is done once when initiating a task with Haalo for the first time, then becoming a hands off automatically-initiated feature.
Physiotherapy
A secondary feature of the companion app is pain management by way of physiotherapy. Nerve damage is often associated with localized pain and tension, so the Haalo app comes with a guided physiotherapy library to help lessen some of pain and stiffness in the fingers.
Meet Haalo
There to lend a hand when you need it most.
What is Haalo
Haalo is an AI assisted glove which helps users with nerve damage by reading electrical signals sent through the muscles, to aid in the completion of fine motor movements. The companion app records movements completed by the paired glove, learning and adapting to the users’ unique manners of movement and improving synchronization.
Technology
IPMC Soft Actuators
A soft, flexible material that bends and moves in response to electric signals, mimicking muscle motion.
3DKnITS Smart Fabric
Developed by the MIT Media Lab, this breathable and flexible smart textile serves as the foundation of the glove which holds all components together and has electromyography (EMG) sensors built in.
Companion App
Once users have recorded a task on the companion app, the glove will recognize that task without users having to access the app. Haalo adapts to users movements to keep the learning curve minimal and its integration into daily life as seamless as possible.
Although Haalo is always available to assist, it never does all of the work for the user, it simply completes the movements the users engage, ensuring that the control is kept in the hands of the user and the glove never feels like it's going on autopilot.
Swipe Me!
The Outcome
Haalo uses soft robotics and adaptive AI to help young adults with nerve damage complete fine motor reliant tasks. This gives them freedom to step away from family members and friends for support with small daily activities, and puts independence in their hands. The transition into adult life is hard enough, Haalo makes it easier to worry about only the important things.