Info.

ITI Technologies is a startup reimagining AI-driven wellness tools for the neurodivergent community.

Info.

ITI Technologies is a startup reimagining AI-driven wellness tools for the neurodivergent community.

Role.

Led the design of a mobile-wearable solution for emotional regulation, supporting users to manage meltdowns in daily life

Role.

Led the design of a mobile-wearable solution for emotional regulation, supporting users to manage meltdowns in daily life

Tools.

Figma, FigJam, GitHub Issues, Vercel

Tools.

Figma, FigJam, GitHub Issues, Vercel

Info.

ITI Technologies is a startup reimagining AI-driven wellness tools for the neurodivergent community.

Info.

ITI Technologies is a startup reimagining AI-driven wellness tools for the neurodivergent community.

Role.

Led 0-to-1 design of a wearable-mobile application that supports users through moments of emotional overwhelm

Role.

Led 0-to-1 design of a wearable-mobile application that supports users through moments of emotional overwhelm

Regulating emotions has always been challenging.

Regulating emotions has always been challenging.

For example,

Meltdowns are both emotional and physiological.

Meltdowns are both emotional and physiological.

A meltdown is an intense stress response, often triggered by sensory overload. Users describe these overwhelming moments as both emotional and physical with symptoms like having intrusive thoughts, body pain, and an urgent need to withdraw.

A meltdown occurs when one has a sensory overload (environmental & emotional). Research has shown children with ASD are more likely to have difficulties with regulation due to differences in perception.

Moreover, as neurodivergent users say,

Meltdowns often go unrecognized until it happens.

Meltdowns often go unrecognized until it happens.

For individuals with autism or ADHD, emotions can feel intense but difficult to name. Conditions like alexithymia make it harder to interpret internal cues.

For individuals with autism or ADHD, emotions can feel intense but difficult to name. Conditions like alexithymia make it harder to interpret internal cues.

"I have a lot of trouble identifying emotions other than sad or overwhelmed."

"I have a lot of trouble identifying emotions other than sad or overwhelmed."

"I have a lot of trouble identifying emotions other than sad or overwhelmed."

"I have a lot of trouble identifying emotions other than sad or overwhelmed."

"The only thing that helps if it’s really bad is if I curl up in the fetal position on my bed!"

"The only thing that helps if it’s really bad is if I curl up in the fetal position on my bed!"

"The only thing that helps if it’s really bad is if I curl up in the fetal position on my bed!"

"The only thing that helps if it’s really bad is if I curl up in the fetal position on my bed!"

"..sweating, panicking, stomach pains, looping memories over and over in my head, exhaustion"

"..sweating, panicking, stomach pains, looping memories over and over in my head, exhaustion"

"..sweating, panicking, stomach pains, looping memories over and over in my head, exhaustion"

Problem statement

Current tools lack actionable support to address neurodivergent users’ struggle with recognizing and regulating emotions.

Breaking down the key problem

A gap between tracking and regulating emotions

A gap between tracking and regulating emotions

Today's wellness industry fall into 2 major types of technologies: smart wearables that track general biometrics (e.g. heart rate), and wellness apps that guide mindfulness reflection. Both depend heavily on user evaluating their own physical and mental states, thereby building high cognitive loads on neurodivergent users.

A meltdown occurs when one has a sensory overload (environmental & emotional). Research has shown children with ASD are more likely to have difficulties with regulation due to differences in perception.

Wellness market matrix based on competitive analysis

Problem 1.2

Wellness technology ≠ Effective soothing techniques

Wellness technology ≠ Effective soothing techniques

Journaling vs. Journal-as-a-feature

60% users choose it as the go-to reflection tool

Requires users' efforts, leading to dropoffs

Journaling vs. Journal-as-a-feature

60% users choose it as the go-to reflection tool

Requires users' efforts, leading to dropoffs

Journaling vs. Journal-as-a-feature

60% users choose it as the go-to reflection tool

Requires users' efforts, leading to dropoffs

Journaling vs. Journal-as-a-feature

60% users choose it as the go-to reflection tool

Requires users' efforts, leading to dropoffs

Coping strategy vs. Habit gamification

Most users see it as effective & immediate

Risk of users becoming rewards-dependent

Coping strategy vs. Habit gamification

Most users see it as effective & immediate

Risk of users becoming rewards-dependent

Coping strategy vs. Habit gamification

Most users see it as effective & immediate

Risk of users becoming rewards-dependent

Coping strategy vs. Habit gamification

Most users see it as effective & immediate

Risk of users becoming rewards-dependent

How might we tailor personal emotion regulation strategy and detect early signs of meltdowns?

User story #1

As an Autistic user, I want a wearable made of soft, familiar materials to avoid sensory overload.

User story #2

As a user with ADHD, I want a tool to recap scenarios and examples to explain emotions or triggers, so I can relate to and understand my feelings.

Developing a framework focusing on early cues and emotional insights

Developing a framework focusing on early cues and emotional insights

Early Concept Testing

Tackling the problem of less-burdensome logging

Tackling the problem of less-burdensome logging

Based on client's interests in exploring how smart watches can tag and track emotions, we sketched out a storyboard paired with lofi wireframes to collect initial user feedback.

Users expressed interests in the tapping but were hesitant about the log action.

Empowering through simple gestures and behavior analysis

Feature 1

Mapping emotions to natural gestures

Mapping emotions to natural gestures

By assigning simple gestures (like tap) to selected emotions, users can log their states in a quick and discreet way without the need to constantly check their smartwatch. Moreover, the app captures environmental cues, such as noise level, based on user feedback that surroundings often contribute to emotional overwhelm.

A Newsletter Viewer

Feature 1 (Shipped)

An all-in-one-place archive that enable the user to read through the most current newsletter and the organization to keep active documentation of all current and past works works with ease

Info.

ITI Technologies is a startup reimagining AI-driven wellness tools for the neurodivergent community.

Info.

ITI Technologies is a startup reimagining AI-driven wellness tools for the neurodivergent community.

Role.

Led 0-to-1 design of a wearable-mobile application that supports users through moments of emotional overwhelm

Role.

Led 0-to-1 design of a wearable-mobile application that supports users through moments of emotional overwhelm

Team.

Matilda Chen - UXR Eryn Ma - ML Engineer Gabrielle Ohlson - Wearble Prototyper

Team.

Matilda Chen - UXR Eryn Ma - ML Engineer Gabrielle Ohlson - Wearble Prototyper