Mazi'
– mazi
"Mazi'" (μαζί), from the Greek "together" is a sonic tangible user interface for autistic children designed to stimulate active participation, independent, spontaneous and collaborative play, and provide self-regulation. It's been developed for my first exploratory study as a P.h.D research student at MAT, Queen Mary University in London. We adopted a user-centered design approach.
The main frame of the installation was made by covering a soft-play piece of equipment in wool roving which fibers have been felted. Cables and circuitry have all been covered in felt, and Mazi was battery powered (3.7V 1.200mAh Lipo battery cell) in order to make the installation stand-alone. For the bubbles, we enclosed five inflated balance hedgehogs with two layers of 5mm thick polyester wadding, we dry-felted layers of merino wool fiber over it and lastly by using conductive thread we sewn patches of conductive jersey on top to make them interactive.
"Mazi'" is being tested with a group of five children aged between 6 and 9 years for five weeks on Thursday afternoon. The study was conducted in a state "special school" based in North-East London that offers a provision solely specialized on autism for girls and boys aged between 2-16. You can read more about this study from the research section of this portfolio by reading any of the relevant papers that can be accessed freely from the links provided there.
Mazi has been exhibited at Ars Electronica 2018 in Linz, AT, as part of the Campus Exhibition of QMUL, between 6-10 September.
You can go on Vimeo to see more videos of Mazi
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