This hands-on course explores the design, development, and deployment of wearable devices aimed at minimizing face-touching behavior—a key transmission pathway for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Students will study the behavioral science behind face-touching, learn sensor integration, and build a prototype that detects hand proximity to the face and alerts the user in real time.
Participants will examine real-world examples like NASA's "PULSE" pendant and smartwatch-based systems such as "CovidAlert" and "FaceOff." Using tools such as infrared sensors, accelerometers, microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino), and machine learning models, learners will design their own functional "Protect Me" device.
By the end of the course, students will:
- Understand the role of behavior monitoring in infection control.
- Gain proficiency in wearable sensor technology (IR sensors, IMUs, etc.).
- Build and program a basic prototype that warns users when their hand nears their face.
- Analyze and evaluate detection accuracy using real-world movement data.
- Explore open-source contributions and apply ethical design principles in health tech.
Target Audience:
Students, engineers, makers, and public health professionals interested in wearable tech, human-centered design, or pandemic response tools.
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of electronics, Arduino or microcontroller programming, and an interest in health innovation.
Delivery Format:
- 6–8 week course
- Combination of lectures, lab sessions, and project-based learning
- Final project: Demonstration of a functional anti-face-touch wearable prototype