The following thesis explores the design process of an advanced technological solution in the field of healthcare and education. An intelligent wearable device was designed to support persons affected by autism spectrum disorders with challenges related to alexithymia and anxiety. The concept consists of smart glasses, which use artificial intelligence to recognize emotions of persons the user is interacting with. The results are communicated to the user by a smart watch application offering visual and haptic support. Anxiety is addressed by a support system based on heart rate variability monitoring, which guides users through breathing exercizes. Results of the process are concept smart-glasses and a prototype user interface for the smart-watch application.
The thesis was developed in close collaboration with ASPI (Association for helping adults with Asperger syndrome), their members and professional associates who were actively involved in ethnographic research and a participatory design process.
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