Vibe-Muscle Mobility Visualizer
Project brief
Vibe is an intelligent wearable device that can help monitor and improve muscle mobility. The wearable, which can be strapped onto the limbs using Velcro, features an innovative fabric interface that displays the user's muscle activity in real-time. When the user is not exerting any muscle activity, the fabric displays in gray. When the user contracts their muscles, the fabric covering the active muscle parts turns green, providing instant feedback on the user's physical activity. Vibe app visualizes user's mobility data to facilitate better communication between patients and therapists.
Awards
A' Design Award and Competition
European Product Design Award
Muse Design Awards
NY Product Design Awards
London Design Awards
The concept of “Over Care” describes the tendency for caregivers to provide excessive assistance to elderly stroke patients, inadvertently impeding their opportunities for independent mobility. Rui Sun recognized that this overprotectiveness could lead to premature dependency on wheelchairs, robbing the elderly of their autonomy and dignity. Motivated by this observation, Sun set out to create a solution that would empower both caregivers and elderly patients, allowing them to better assess and improve mobility while preserving self-esteem.
This wearable, which can be comfortably strapped onto the limbs using Velcro, features an innovative fabric interface that provides real-time feedback on muscle activity.
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​When the user engages their muscles, the fabric covering the active areas transitions from gray to green, offering instant visual feedback on physical exertion. Moreover, Vibe incorporates a built-in biological monitoring system that transmits data to a mobile application, allowing elderly patients to track their progress and improvements over time. This innovative product has the potential to revolutionize stroke rehabilitation, enabling elderly patients to regain independence and enhance self-awareness.
What sets Vibe apart is its unique blend of functionality and emotional support tailored specifically for the elderly demographic. The ability to receive real-time feedback on muscle activity serves not only as a motivational tool for rehabilitation but also as a source of emotional comfort, reaffirming the user’s sense of independence and agency. From a technological standpoint, Vibe integrates piezoresistive sensors for muscle activity monitoring, electrodes for impedance measurement, and thermal wire fiber for temperature sensitivity, seamlessly combining medical-grade technology with elements from the fashion industry.
The production and realization of Vibe involve a sophisticated fusion of materials and technologies. The inner layer comprises a conductive silvered lycra fabric embedded with electrodes for impedance measurement and piezoresistive sensors capable of detecting body impedance and muscle resistance. Meanwhile, the outer layer features a conductive rubber mold that attaches to an exterior electric fabric, along with color-changing fabric equipped with a micro-wire for subtle temperature changes and pigment alteration.
