A Design-Based Study to Assist Claustrophobics in Overcoming Their Fears
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2023-07-25
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Design in the Era of Industry 4.0
Abstract
Claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces where a person avoids the feared situations or endures them with intense anxiety and a desire to escape. Objective: The aim of the study was to understand the behavioral issues, causal factors, and impact on claustrophobics, creating a solution that would help in coping with the fear and cater to their well-being. Methods: The study was conducted in Delhi and Mumbai where 73 participants took an online survey and 27 participated in empathy interviews with various stakeholder groups such as claustrophobics, therapists, and family members. Journey maps were created to understand user reactions in various trigger locations. A user testing protocol was created, and the solution features were tested with eight users. Results: The study indicated that the dominant triggers were elevators and MRI machines which claustrophobics tend to avoid resulting in missing out on experiences. Lack of acceptance and communication between loved ones and the community reduces the confidence level of claustrophobics. The proposed solution called ‘SPACE’ leverages experience design and IoT. It has three components—an app that motivates the user with positive affirmations and showcases progress through Aura, a virtual representation of the user. A lamp assists in an experiential hypnosis session which is personalized for her triggers. A wearable for stress detection which provides support in case of a panic attack. User feedback was positive overall and appreciated the interaction of the lamp. Conclusion: The solution seeks to strengthen the claustrophobic’s ability to cope with fear by targeting their subconscious minds and eradicating the fear from its core while also bridging the communication gap between families.
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Bhatnagar, N., Maulik, S. (2023). A Design-Based Study to Assist Claustrophobics in Overcoming Their Fears. In: Chakrabarti, A., Singh, V. (eds) Design in the Era of Industry 4.0, Volume 1. ICORD 2023. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 343. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0293-4_41