Mechanical Helmet for Smombies
This solo project critiques excessive smartphone addiction
through a speculative wearable device.
TYPE
Critical Design
TIMELINE
Oct 2022
TEAM
Personal Project
TOOLS
Arduino
CONCEPT
Approach
Designed for “smombies,” the Arduino-powered helmet prioritizes safety while ironically allowing users to remain immersed in their screens. Rather than discouraging smartphone use, this project paradoxically encourages it through an Arduino-based helmet equipped with sensors. While the device appears to ensure user safety during smartphone use, its humorous and exaggerated form critically satirizes and amplifies the issue of smartphone addiction.
FUNCTIONALITY
How it works
Forcing Smartphone Focus
The helmet is designed to encourage users to focus exclusively on their smartphone screens. If a user lifts their head to observe their surroundings, sensors attached to the helmet activate, producing vibrations that create a sense of anxiety. This effectively coerces the user to redirect their gaze back to the smartphone screen.
Obstacle Detection for Safety
The helmet's obstacle detection sensors provide warnings to avoid collisions while walking.
FUNCTIONALITY
How it made
REFLECTIONS
Takeaways
This project explored how design can influence behavior in unconventional ways and reinforced my belief that design is not just about solving problems but also about challenging norms, reshaping behaviors, and creating new ways of thinking.
What I Learned…
This helmet is more than just a device; it serves as a tool that combines behavioral psychology theories with modern technology, prompting users to recognize their habitual behaviors, either directly or indirectly. Rather than simply acting as a regulatory measure, this project demonstrates how design can function as a medium that encourages users to reflect on their actions and initiate change on their own.