Printing Pain
The printing pain project explores using Data-objects created to describe individual pain profiles of young adults suffering with chronic-pain. Parameters are manipulated through a software interface that allows an individual’s bespoke pain model to be visualized. These are then produced using a 3d printing process.
Explaining complex feelings and experiences of living with chronic pain is a complex matter, the project uses co-creation, digital technologies and 3D printing techniques to create physical data-objects that are a unique description of the users feeling of pain.
“The data-objects are intended to help young adults suffering from chronic pain communicate their pain issues with medical professionals, carers, family and community.”
The software allows the user to manipulate a shape, creating their own representation of pain and how it feels to them. The software has empty fields next to the parameters so that the users can fill in to describe what they are feeling when creating his shape. When the user is happy with the 3d visualization they can save the model and data as a timestamped STL file for 3D printing transitioning the visualisation to a physicalization.
Research shows that young adults who suffer with chronic or persistent long-term pain regularly describe difficulties in finding ways to effectively explain the experience of pain to their families, close support networks or healthcare professionals.
Personal data physicalization has the opportunities to:
• Connect with young adults by utilising digital fabrication and physical media
• New ways of using a 3d data to enhance communication and a more accessible method for explaining pain to others
• Enhance the experience of coping with chronic pain by offering accessible ways of exploring the individual pain experience
The printing pain project was part of a larger project that brings together researchers and pain management clinicians at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and design research specialists in the Art and Design Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University in a pilot study that explores how the use of creative activities might assist young people in describing and communicating what it is to have chronic pain.
Project dates
2017
2017
Publications
Research by
Nick Dulake
Partners & Stakeholders
Sheffield Children’s Hospital
Funders
ADRC
Sheffield Children’s Hospital
Funders
ADRC
