Interactive Garden
Physical Computing Experience
Design question.
​How might we ease the process of recovery for patients at physical therapy centers?
Motivation.
​Last year, a close family member had a stroke, which made him 70% parallelized. He is now at a therapy facility receiving treatment.
Target Audience.
​Patients, patients’ families, visitors, and staff.
The concept.
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Studies have shown that nature and gardens have a direct impact on patients' recovery journey, as greeneries help reduce stress levels and anxiety which results in better recovery outcomes. I will be creating an interactive experience that inspired by nature, to be placed inside a physical therapy facility.
Research.
"Rehabilitation is the process of returning to a healthy or good way of life".
- Cambridge dictionary
Types of Rehabilitation:​
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Neurological Rehabilitation
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Cardiac Rehabilitation
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Drug Rehabilitation
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Alcohol Rehabilitation
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Physical Rehabilitation
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Medical Rehabilitation
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Vocational Rehabilitation
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Vestibular Rehabilitation
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Stroke Rehabilitation
Physical Therapy.
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Physical therapy (PT) is the treatment of disease or injury with physical techniques such as exercise, cold and heat treatments, massage, and stretching. PT can be practiced in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, and even at home. It can help with conditions like arthritis, joint replacement, sports injury, knee pain, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Centers.
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When you’re under an inpatient rehab program, you’ll need to stay in inpatient rehabilitation centers for the duration of your rehabilitative care. Simply put, this means being admitted to the center and staying there – similar to a hospital stay – until you have completed the treatment.
Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers.
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Compared to inpatient rehabilitation centers, an outpatient rehab program doesn’t require you to stay in a facility. You can get your rehabilitative care and treatment through scheduled visits to a private physical therapy practice or clinic.
The effect of interior design on health.
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As general compass points for designers, scientific research suggests that healthcare environments will support coping with stress and promote wellness if they are designed to foster:
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1. Sense of control.
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2. Access to social support.
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3. Access to positive distractions, and lack of exposure to negative distractions; A growing amount of scientific evidence suggests that nature elements or views can be effective as stress-reducing, positive distractions that promote wellness in healthcare environments.
The effect of gardens on health.
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Several trials have revealed the beneficial effects on mood and mental health of simply observing nature, or even images of natural scenes.
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1. In a Japanese study, viewing plants altered EEG recordings and reduced stress, fear, anger, and sadness, as well as reducing blood pressure, pulse rate, and muscle tension.
2. In a pioneering randomized study by the environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich, views of plants and trees from post-operative wards improved the mood of patients, and reduced analgesic use, surgical complications, and length of stay.
3. Even randomly exposing post-operative patients to pictures of the countryside on the walls of their rooms can reduce pain and anxiety, while, perhaps not surprising to everyone, abstract images increased anxiety.
Interactive gardens Moodboard.
As I was looking for inspiration, I was mostly focused on space design, how chairs take ornamental natural shapes, how things give an “awe” moment.
Concept 1.
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An interactive wallpaper, that has a screen with flowers/ plants behind it. With a backlight that can show the silhouette of the flowers. As people move, the flowers move accordingly using motion sensors.
Concept 2.
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Using LED strip lights, I will be creating ocean waves on the wall, and I will be connecting a sound sensor that pickups the high notes of the ocean and lights up the strip accordingly.
Concept 3.
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To create a pendent piece of art that moves using motion sensors. The design is a group of butterflies moving when approached.
Concept development.
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I decided to go with concept 3, but change the design to a wall piece that scales up or down, and be easily approached by users.
User Journey map.
List of components.
Interactivity testing.
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In this step, I was experimenting with different motors, as well as playing around with metallic wires to test the movement of the butterfly wings.
Programing versions.
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This is the process of writing the code that connects a servo motor to an IR sensor, in a way that is smooth and fast enough to mimic the butterfly movement.
Final code.
Physical prototype.
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After creating the butterfly, I wrapped them with thin wire and placed them over the mesh. I placed the mesh in the middle of a frame to give it an elegant finish. I added I white border from the from and back, so I can hide the wiring. The wires of the buttery fly is connected to the servo motor.
Final Product.