AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being, Trust, Tolerance & Empathy
KEYWORDS
covid-19, coronavirus, social distancing, Smart device
COUNTRY
New Zealand
DESIGNED BY
Jessica Vea and Gayle Lee
WEBSITE
https://news.aut.ac.nz/around-aut-news/a-heartfelt-solution
Heartfelt
Separate, pulsing hearts connecting separated people
Jessica Vea and Gayle Lee, Bachelor of Creative Technologies students at AUT, have designed a simple yet powerful answer to the distance and isolation brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Developed with the idea of a virtual hug in mind, Heartfelt is a product with two individual parts, each designed to be kept by separate people. The small, heart-shaped device acts as a means of wordless communication between two individuals, with the ability to warm up when both are being held at the same time.
The device will also be able to pick up on the heartbeat of the person holding the corresponding piece, enabling them to feel connected, appreciated and seen, even when they cannot be together physically.