Dwarfs: ASD Children Educational KitImproving Social Skills Through Sensory Stimulation
Under Integrated Education in Hong Kong, some ASD students were being labelled because of their different behaviors, many of them just do not know how to express their feelings and emotions properly. Therefore, this became the starting point of the project. In the design, different sensations were involved because I took tactile therapy as a reference. It inspired me to arrange stimulation of different sensations so that ASD children will be triggered to have more and deeper communication since some of them are not good at verbal communication.
Designed by Man Wai Wong, the Dwarfs ASD Children Educational Kit aims to improve the social lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by focusing on two areas they struggle with the most: emotion and communication. The product targets 6-12-year-old ASD children who are educated in ordinary schools, providing them with a playful process to educate them about emotion expression and control.
The kit incorporates visual, tactile, and auditory sensations to trigger the children's senses and encourage communication with a social worker. By engaging in activities that involve observing, touching, and placing Emobjects on the Emoboard, the children are prompted to identify and express different emotions. The Emoboard produces corresponding sounds to represent each emotion, helping the children develop a better understanding of their own emotions and those of others.
One of the unique features of the Dwarfs kit is the integration of RFID technology and digital programming. This technology enhances the auditory stimulation by allowing the Emoboard to produce specific sounds for each Emobject. The use of Arduino and Pure Data programming further enhances the interactive experience for the children.
The Dwarfs kit consists of the Emoboard, which measures 400mm in width, 400mm in depth, and 283mm in height. Each Emobject, representing a different emotion, measures approximately 70mm in width, 70mm in depth, and 70mm in height.
The project, initiated in September 2018 at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, involved extensive research and collaboration with co-designer Chi Wing Lee. A first-hand research phase included observations of ASD children and interviews with social workers to understand the challenges they face. Additionally, a survey was conducted to gather people's impressions of different emotions, providing valuable insights for the design development.
The most challenging aspect of the project was the integration of technology. RFID technology and digital programming required expertise beyond traditional product design. To overcome this challenge, an IT tutor from Hong Kong Polytechnic University was enlisted to provide guidance and support.
The Dwarfs ASD Children Educational Kit received the Iron A' Design Award in the Toys, Games, and Hobby Products Design category in 2020. This prestigious award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. The Dwarfs kit stood out for its integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world.
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Man Wai Wong
Image Credits: Man Wai Wong
Project Team Members: Main designer: Man Wai Wong
Co-designer: Chi Wing Lee
Project Name: Dwarfs
Project Client: Man Wai Wong