A Wi‑Fi–linked lamp‑and‑wearable glove that captures and replays a loved one’s heartbeat, replacing anxious distance with a calming, shared glow.
Artefacts | Wearable Sensor Glove · Ambient Lamp |
Duration | Sept 2024 – Dec 2024 (12‑week sprint) |
Tools | Figma · Fusion 360 · Arduino IDE · VS Code · MQTT Explorer · Notion · UserTesting.com · Adobe Premiere |
Impact | 212 visitors @ SVA IxD Open‑Studio (3 min 40 s avg dwell) · 43 % drop in self‑reported separation‑anxiety score (n = 12 pilot pairs) · NPS +54 |
A Wi‑Fi–linked lamp‑and‑wearable glove that captures and replays a loved one’s heartbeat, replacing anxious distance with a calming, shared glow.
Artefacts | Wearable Sensor Glove · Ambient Lamp |
Duration | Sept 2024 – Dec 2024 (12‑week sprint) |
Tools | Figma · Fusion 360 · Arduino IDE · VS Code · MQTT Explorer · Notion · UserTesting.com · Adobe Premiere |
Impact | 212 visitors @ SVA IxD Open‑Studio (3 min 40 s avg dwell) · 43 % drop in self‑reported separation‑anxiety score (n = 12 pilot pairs) · NPS +54 |
Context & Challenge
Adults wrestle with separation anxiety too: endless doom‑scroll checks, midnight “just text me when you’re home” pings.
Could a tangible, heartbeat‑timed light serve as a modern transitional object, soothing worry without words?
Context & Challenge
Adults wrestle with separation anxiety too: endless doom‑scroll checks, midnight “just text me when you’re home” pings.
Could a tangible, heartbeat‑timed light serve as a modern transitional object, soothing worry without words?
Context & Challenge
Adults wrestle with separation anxiety too: endless doom‑scroll checks, midnight “just text me when you’re home” pings.
Could a tangible, heartbeat‑timed light serve as a modern transitional object, soothing worry without words?
Market Snapshot
No mainstream wellness‐tech product offers ambient, reciprocal bio‑feedback for geographically separated relationships, competitors like Oura or Whoop focus on self‑quantification, not shared reassurance.
IDC estimates the "connected‑care keepsake" market at ≈ US $350 M by 2027.
Psychotherapist Conversations
Psychotherapist Conversations
Psychotherapist Conversations
Literature scan on Attachment Theory
Six semi‑structured interviews (4 psychotherapists & 2 clinical psychologists)
Literature scan on Attachment Theory
Six semi‑structured interviews (4 psychotherapists & 2 clinical psychologists)
Potential Benefits
Potential Benefits
The lamp can act as a modern transitional object, giving tangible reassurance during periods of separation and providing real‑time physiological data that may interrupt catastrophic thinking and aid mindfulness.
Clinical Concerns
Clinical Concerns
Risk of technological dependency, reinforcement of anxious‑attachment patterns, boundary issues due to continual physiological surveillance, and the chance that tech failures could trigger panic.
Therapeutic Recommendations
Therapeutic Recommendations
Use only as part of a broader CBT‑based treatment plan, implemented with clear time limits, progressive "device‑free" exposure windows, and ongoing monitoring for adverse effects.
“
“
“
Think of it like training wheels for anxious attachment, helpful at first, but dangerous if never removed.
Think of it like training wheels for anxious attachment, helpful at first, but dangerous if never removed.
Think of it like training wheels for anxious attachment, helpful at first, but dangerous if never removed.
— Abby, Consulting Psychotherapist
— Abby, Consulting Psychotherapist
— Abby, Consulting Psychotherapist
Potential‑Customer Sessions
Potential‑Customer Sessions
Potential‑Customer Sessions
Two rounds of moderated play‑tests and diary studies with 10 potential customer pairs (8 long‑distance couples and 2 parent‑child pairs)
Contextual inquiry in dorm rooms and studio apartments.
Two rounds of moderated play‑tests and diary studies with 10 potential customer pairs (8 long‑distance couples and 2 parent‑child pairs)
Contextual inquiry in dorm rooms and studio apartments.
Parent with freshman in dorms
Parent with freshman in dorms
Parent with freshman in dorms
Student muted phone to study; parent’s unanswered texts spiked anxiety.
Student muted phone to study; parent’s unanswered texts spiked anxiety.
Provide a passive reassurance channel that doesn’t require the student to respond.
Partner with cardiac arrhythmia history
Partner with cardiac arrhythmia history
Partner with cardiac arrhythmia history
Rapid heart‑rate spikes triggered alarm when mapped to flashing reds.
Rapid heart‑rate spikes triggered alarm when mapped to flashing reds.
Compress BPM mapping and use hue shift rather than strobe to minimise panic.
Roommate environment
Roommate environment
Roommate environment
Bright LEDs disturbed co‑sleepers.
Bright LEDs disturbed co‑sleepers.
Bright LEDs disturbed co‑sleepers.
Add user‑adjustable brightness floor and auto‑dimming after 11 PM.
Couple separated across time‑zones
Couple separated across time‑zones
Couple separated across time‑zones
Late‑night video calls led to sleep disruption and battery drain.
Late‑night calls led to sleep disruption and battery drain.
Late‑night video calls led to sleep disruption and battery drain.
Offer an ambient status cue so partners can skip obligatory "good‑night" pings.
Offer an ambient status cue so partners can skip obligatory "good‑night" pings.
“
“
I don’t want another screen; I just need to know he’s okay while I’m in lab.
I don’t want another screen; I just need to know he’s okay while I’m in lab.
— Maxx, Participant
— Maxx, Participant
“
I don’t want another screen; I just need to know he’s okay while I’m in lab.
— Maxx, Participant
Key Design Insights
Key Design Insights
Concrete evidence
of safety
Heart‑rate data short‑circuits runaway thoughts.
Ambient, not
alarmist
Both clinicians and users prefer a background glow over flashing alerts.
User‑defined
quiet hours
Auto‑dimming and colour desaturation after bedtime
Breathing companion metaphor
Slow 5s sinusoidal fade aligns with an avg calm breath‑rate (~6 bpm) was rated "soothing" by 9/10 participants
Design Journey
Design Journey
Our development cycle followed a standard build–test–iterate loop. Each prototype surfaced concrete usability or engineering issues, which we resolved before the next round.
Below is a concise record of those iterations, framed by the technical focus of each milestone.
Our development cycle followed a standard build–test–iterate loop. Each prototype surfaced concrete usability or engineering issues, which we resolved before the next round.
Below is a concise record of those iterations, framed by the technical focus of each milestone.
Opto‑Mechanical Form‑Factor Ideation
Opto‑Mechanical Form‑Factor Ideation
Envisioning a Sunset, not a Valentine
Translating an abstract mood board into physical form, we prototyped several shapes and gathered rapid user feedback before committing to materials.
Initial concept: Laser‑cut heart‑shaped enclosure.
Feedback: Users perceived it as novelty décor, not a calming object.
Revision: Adopted a semi‑circular MDF arc with a static gradient diffuser that simulates the setting sun through colour falloff—no moving parts required.
Photometric Diffusion Calibration
Photometric Diffusion Calibration
Finding the Right Glow
We measured, tweaked, and measured again—chasing a light level that felt comforting rather than clinical.
Problem: Holographic film produced hotspots and excessive brightness (1,200 lux at 30 cm).
Solution: Replaced with sand‑blasted convex glass and increased diffuser distance by 10 mm; final output averaged 350 lux, deemed comfortable by 5/5 testers.
Firmware BPM‑to‑PWM Algorithms
Firmware BPM‑to‑PWM Algorithms
Teaching the Lamp to Breathe
Mapping heartbeats to light required code that spoke both biology and perception, so we iterated firmware alongside user observation.
Issue: early firmware mapped >100 BPM to flashing reds, which users interpreted as alarm signals.
Fix: compressed BPM range to 50–100 and shifted palette from warm gold (resting) to cool teal (elevated). Implemented a 5 s sine‑wave fade (≈6 breaths/min) for biofeedback alignment.
Haptic Sensor Ergonomics
Haptic Sensor Ergonomics
From Breadboard to Handshake
Comfort and reliability drove every tweak of the input device, turning a lab sensor into a friendly everyday object.
Pain point: exposed wires and breadboard created a clinical look and inconsistent sensor contact.
Update: milled a cedar finger‑cradle, embedded the MAX30102 sensor flush, and moved wiring to an internal JST harness.
On the wearable, a stretch glove with felt underlay improved fit across finger sizes (n = 8 users).
Multi‑Zone NeoPixel Power Optimization
Multi‑Zone NeoPixel Power Optimization
Lighting at Scale
Pushing pixel counts without overheating or flicker demanded both clever power routing and tight timing control.
Technical limit: ESP32 unstable beyond ~50 NeoPixels on a single rail.
Approach: segmented two 144‑pixel strips into three 48‑pixel zones, added 1000 µF capacitors per zone, and used a common‑clock signal. Result: flicker‑free operation at 60 FPS with <3 °C temperature rise.
Photometric Diffusion Calibration
Finding the Right Glow
We measured, tweaked, and measured again—chasing a light level that felt comforting rather than clinical.
Problem: Holographic film produced hotspots and excessive brightness (1,200 lux at 30 cm).
Solution: Replaced with sand‑blasted convex glass and increased diffuser distance by 10 mm; final output averaged 350 lux, deemed comfortable by 5/5 testers.
Firmware BPM‑to‑PWM Algorithms
Teaching the Lamp to Breathe
Mapping heartbeats to light required code that spoke both biology and perception, so we iterated firmware alongside user observation.
Issue: early firmware mapped >100 BPM to flashing reds, which users interpreted as alarm signals.
Fix: compressed BPM range to 50–100 and shifted palette from warm gold (resting) to cool teal (elevated). Implemented a 5 s sine‑wave fade (≈6 breaths/min) for biofeedback alignment.
Haptic Sensor Ergonomics
From Breadboard to Handshake
Comfort and reliability drove every tweak of the input device, turning a lab sensor into a friendly everyday object.
Pain point: exposed wires and breadboard created a clinical look and inconsistent sensor contact.
Update: milled a cedar finger‑cradle, embedded the MAX30102 sensor flush, and moved wiring to an internal JST harness.
On the wearable, a stretch glove with felt underlay improved fit across finger sizes (n = 8 users).
Multi‑Zone NeoPixel Power Optimization
Lighting at Scale
Pushing pixel counts without overheating or flicker demanded both clever power routing and tight timing control.
Technical limit: ESP32 unstable beyond ~50 NeoPixels on a single rail.
Approach: segmented two 144‑pixel strips into three 48‑pixel zones, added 1000 µF capacitors per zone, and used a common‑clock signal. Result: flicker‑free operation at 60 FPS with <3 °C temperature rise.
Opto‑Mechanical Form‑Factor Ideation
Opto‑Mechanical Form‑Factor Ideation
Envisioning a Sunset, not a Valentine
Translating an abstract mood board into physical form, we prototyped several shapes and gathered rapid user feedback before committing to materials.
Initial concept: Laser‑cut heart‑shaped enclosure.
Feedback: Users perceived it as novelty décor, not a calming object.
Revision: Adopted a semi‑circular MDF arc with a static gradient diffuser that simulates the setting sun through colour falloff—no moving parts required.
Photometric Diffusion Calibration
Photometric Diffusion Calibration
Finding the Right Glow
We measured, tweaked, and measured again—chasing a light level that felt comforting rather than clinical.
Problem: Holographic film produced hotspots and excessive brightness (1,200 lux at 30 cm).
Solution: Replaced with sand‑blasted convex glass and increased diffuser distance by 10 mm; final output averaged 350 lux, deemed comfortable by 5/5 testers.
Firmware BPM‑to‑PWM Algorithms
Firmware BPM‑to‑PWM Algorithms
Teaching the Lamp to Breathe
Mapping heartbeats to light required code that spoke both biology and perception, so we iterated firmware alongside user observation.
Issue: early firmware mapped >100 BPM to flashing reds, which users interpreted as alarm signals.
Fix: compressed BPM range to 50–100 and shifted palette from warm gold (resting) to cool teal (elevated). Implemented a 5 s sine‑wave fade (≈6 breaths/min) for biofeedback alignment.
Haptic Sensor Ergonomics
Haptic Sensor Ergonomics
From Breadboard to Handshake
Comfort and reliability drove every tweak of the input device, turning a lab sensor into a friendly everyday object.
Pain point: exposed wires and breadboard created a clinical look and inconsistent sensor contact.
Update: milled a cedar finger‑cradle, embedded the MAX30102 sensor flush, and moved wiring to an internal JST harness.
On the wearable, a stretch glove with felt underlay improved fit across finger sizes (n = 8 users).
Multi‑Zone NeoPixel Power Optimization
Multi‑Zone NeoPixel Power Optimization
Lighting at Scale
Pushing pixel counts without overheating or flicker demanded both clever power routing and tight timing control.
Technical limit: ESP32 unstable beyond ~50 NeoPixels on a single rail.
Approach: segmented two 144‑pixel strips into three 48‑pixel zones, added 1000 µF capacitors per zone, and used a common‑clock signal. Result: flicker‑free operation at 60 FPS with <3 °C temperature rise.
Exhibit Way‑finding & On‑Stand UX
Exhibit Way‑finding & On‑Stand UX
Exhibit Way‑finding & On‑Stand UX
At our December 2024 SVA IxD Open‑Studio exhibition, we split the gallery into two mirror zones to dramatize the lamp’s promise of collapsing distance.
Entrance Signage
We welcomed guests with a concise challenge—“Transform your heartbeat into light.” This set the emotional premise before any technical explanation.
Overview board
It distilled the problem and promise in plain language, helping even non‑designers grasp the intent in under 30 seconds.
Setup Guidelines
We walked visitors through connection steps, eliminating most onboarding questions heard during early pilots. Additionally, it ensured reliable sensor contact, boosting valid‑read success from 68 % to 92 %.
The Pulse‑to‑Color BPM Guide
It taught users how hue mapped to physiology, helping them self‑calibrate anxiety responses.
Entrance Signage
We welcomed guests with a concise challenge—“Transform your heartbeat into light.” This set the emotional premise before any technical explanation.
Overview board
It distilled the problem and promise in plain language, helping even non‑designers grasp the intent in under 30 seconds.
Setup Guidelines
We walked visitors through connection steps, eliminating most onboarding questions heard during early pilots. Additionally, it ensured reliable sensor contact, boosting valid‑read success from 68 % to 92 %.
The Pulse‑to‑Color BPM Guide
It taught users how hue mapped to physiology, helping them self‑calibrate anxiety responses.
Entrance Signage
We welcomed guests with a concise challenge—“Transform your heartbeat into light.” This set the emotional premise before any technical explanation.
Overview board
It distilled the problem and promise in plain language, helping even non‑designers grasp the intent in under 30 seconds.
Setup Guidelines
We walked visitors through connection steps, eliminating most onboarding questions heard during early pilots. Additionally, it ensured reliable sensor contact, boosting valid‑read success from 68 % to 92 %.
The Pulse‑to‑Color BPM Guide
It taught users how hue mapped to physiology, helping them self‑calibrate anxiety responses.
Entrance Signage
We welcomed guests with a concise challenge—“Transform your heartbeat into light.” This set the emotional premise before any technical explanation.
Overview board
It distilled the problem and promise in plain language, helping even non‑designers grasp the intent in under 30 seconds.
Setup Guidelines
We walked visitors through connection steps, eliminating most onboarding questions heard during early pilots. Additionally, it ensured reliable sensor contact, boosting valid‑read success from 68 % to 92 %.
The Pulse‑to‑Color BPM Guide
It taught users how hue mapped to physiology, helping them self‑calibrate anxiety responses.
Entrance Signage
We welcomed guests with a concise challenge—“Transform your heartbeat into light.” This set the emotional premise before any technical explanation.
Overview board
It distilled the problem and promise in plain language, helping even non‑designers grasp the intent in under 30 seconds.
Setup Guidelines
We walked visitors through connection steps, eliminating most onboarding questions heard during early pilots.
Entrance Signage welcomed guests with a concise challenge—“Transform your heartbeat into light.”
The Pulse‑to‑Color BPM Guide
It taught users how hue mapped to physiology, helping them self‑calibrate anxiety responses.
The exit‑survey data showed 83 % of visitors completed the interaction correctly on their first attempt and rated the setup "clear" or "very clear."
Outcome & Impact
Four rapid sprints, six hardware revs, and a dozen late‑night play‑tests paid off.
Here’s what we tracked
Metric | Result | How We Measured |
Studio Visitors | 212 uniques in 6 h | Click‑counter + observation |
Avg Dwell Time | 3 min 40 s | Stopwatch sampling |
User NPS | +54 | 0–10 survey |
Battery Life | 28 h continuous | Bench test |
Latency | 140 ms median | Ping logs |
Four rapid sprints, six hardware revs, and a dozen late‑night play‑tests paid off.
Here’s what we tracked
Metric | Result | How We Measured |
Studio Visitors | 212 uniques in 6 h | Click‑counter + observation |
Avg Dwell Time | 3 min 40 s | Stopwatch sampling |
User NPS | +54 | 0–10 survey |
Battery Life | 28 h continuous | Bench test |
Latency | 140 ms median | Ping logs |
Reflections
Quiet > Clever. Participants preferred the sub‑300 lux "breathing" glow to any flashy biometric visualization. Restraint—both in hue palette and motion curve—proved more persuasive than novelty.
Form Follows Wiring. Clean cable routing guided the lamp’s semi‑circular MDF frame, magnet‑held joints, and internal light‑leak baffles—turning engineering constraints into deliberate aesthetic features rather than compromises.
Narrative Is Part of UX. Splitting the room into Brooklyn and Bangalore zones did more than theme the space—it primed visitors to feel distance before witnessing its collapse. Storytelling amplified the hardware’s emotional value.
Metrics With Meaning. Cutting anxiety scores by 43 % means little unless users feel safer. The diary study confirmed that the glow translated into fewer late‑night check‑ins and improved sleep scores—a reminder to pair numbers with lived experience.
Reflections
Quiet > Clever. Participants preferred the sub‑300 lux "breathing" glow to any flashy biometric visualization. Restraint—both in hue palette and motion curve—proved more persuasive than novelty.
Form Follows Wiring. Clean cable routing guided the lamp’s semi‑circular MDF frame, magnet‑held joints, and internal light‑leak baffles—turning engineering constraints into deliberate aesthetic features rather than compromises.
Narrative Is Part of UX. Splitting the room into Brooklyn and Bangalore zones did more than theme the space—it primed visitors to feel distance before witnessing its collapse. Storytelling amplified the hardware’s emotional value.
Metrics With Meaning. Cutting anxiety scores by 43 % means little unless users feel safer. The diary study confirmed that the glow translated into fewer late‑night check‑ins and improved sleep scores—a reminder to pair numbers with lived experience.
Reflections
Quiet > Clever. Participants preferred the sub‑300 lux "breathing" glow to any flashy biometric visualization. Restraint—both in hue palette and motion curve—proved more persuasive than novelty.
Form Follows Wiring. Clean cable routing guided the lamp’s semi‑circular MDF frame, magnet‑held joints, and internal light‑leak baffles—turning engineering constraints into deliberate aesthetic features rather than compromises.
Narrative Is Part of UX. Splitting the room into Brooklyn and Bangalore zones did more than theme the space—it primed visitors to feel distance before witnessing its collapse. Storytelling amplified the hardware’s emotional value.
Metrics With Meaning. Cutting anxiety scores by 43 % means little unless users feel safer. The diary study confirmed that the glow translated into fewer late‑night check‑ins and improved sleep scores—a reminder to pair numbers with lived experience.
No mainstream wellness‐tech product offers ambient, reciprocal bio‑feedback for geographically separated relationships, competitors like Oura or Whoop focus on self‑quantification, not shared reassurance.
IDC estimates the "connected‑care keepsake" market at ≈ US $350 M by 2027.
Market & Role Snapshot