The BrightHearts project is interdisciplinary research collaboration between artist and interaction-designer Dr George Khut and Dr Angie Morrow at the Kids Rehab Department, of The Children’s Hospital Westmead, in New South Wales, Australia. Research team members include Dr Melissa Yogui-Watanabe (research assistant), Caroline Dale (qualitative researcher), Dr Angelo Fraietta (electronics and software), Jason McDermott (visualisation software) and Frank Maguire (electronics and industrial design).
The project’s aim is to design and evaluate the efficacy of a heart-rate controlled interactive artwork to assist in the management and reduction of stress and anxiety experienced by children undergoing painful, recurrent clinical procedures. Currently in its design-research phase, the project will piloted in early 2012, followed by a clinical trial in the second half of 2012.
Many children with chronic conditions undergo repeated painful procedures as part of their treatment at hospital. The recurrent nature of these procedures can result in a build-up of anticipatory anxiety, causing significant distress to the children, exacerbating the perceived intensity of the painful stimulus, and further complicating certain procedures in cases of extreme vasoconstriction. If left un-addressed – the distress and anxiety associated with these procedures can lead to avoidance behaviors that may stay with an individual into adulthood. Currently in its preliminary design-research phase, the next stage of the project will involve a pilot study in 2012, followed by a clinical trial scheduled for 2012-2013.
The project has received funding from James Kirby Foundation (medical grant for design and clinical trials) and the Australian Network for Art and Technology and the Australia Council for the Arts (2011 Synapse artists residency grant).
Contacts:
Dr Angie Morrow, Staff Specialist, Kids Rehab,
AngieM@chw.edu.au
Dr George Poonkhin Khut, artist and interaction designer
george@georgekhut.com
More information about this project is available on the BrighHearts (ANAT residency) Blog
BrightHearts
The BrightHearts project is interdisciplinary research collaboration between artist and interaction-designer Dr George Khut and Dr Angie Morrow at the Kids Rehab Department, of The Children’s Hospital Westmead, in New South Wales, Australia. Research team members include Dr Melissa Yogui-Watanabe (research assistant), Caroline Dale (qualitative researcher), Dr Angelo Fraietta (electronics and software), Jason McDermott (visualisation software) and Frank Maguire (electronics and industrial design).
The project’s aim is to design and evaluate the efficacy of a heart-rate controlled interactive artwork to assist in the management and reduction of stress and anxiety experienced by children undergoing painful, recurrent clinical procedures. Currently in its design-research phase, the project will piloted in early 2012, followed by a clinical trial in the second half of 2012.
Many children with chronic conditions undergo repeated painful procedures as part of their treatment at hospital. The recurrent nature of these procedures can result in a build-up of anticipatory anxiety, causing significant distress to the children, exacerbating the perceived intensity of the painful stimulus, and further complicating certain procedures in cases of extreme vasoconstriction. If left un-addressed – the distress and anxiety associated with these procedures can lead to avoidance behaviors that may stay with an individual into adulthood. Currently in its preliminary design-research phase, the next stage of the project will involve a pilot study in 2012, followed by a clinical trial scheduled for 2012-2013.
The project has received funding from James Kirby Foundation (medical grant for design and clinical trials) and the Australian Network for Art and Technology and the Australia Council for the Arts (2011 Synapse artists residency grant).
Contacts:
Dr Angie Morrow, Staff Specialist, Kids Rehab,
AngieM@chw.edu.au
Dr George Poonkhin Khut, artist and interaction designer
george@georgekhut.com
More information about this project is available on the BrighHearts (ANAT residency) Blog