HOME INCUBATOR.
I dedicate this project to all parents, based on my parents’ experience that I was born a premature infant. There are many problems about premature babies in the world. Among them, I was really interested in the emotional problem. Many parents feel guilty because they think they had made their child as a premature. Also, they should go back to the house with leaving their baby at hospital for a long time. They can only watch their child manage to keep life in a plastic box.
Technically, to handling premature babies is a task that requires professional knowledge and a lot of practice, and most parents do not have ability that. Nevertheless, I posed the question if the parents could care the premature infant at home, and I suggest this project which a home incubator is to make parents can care their baby at the house.
The biggest problem is emotional problems. Parents feel very guilty about the thought that they are being born premature and are unable to take care of their children. They should even go to back home with leaving their child in the hospital for a long time. The second is a financial issue, and most parents feel burdened by it.
RESEARCH & ANALYSIS
I have found out what support equipment and managers need to care the baby during its time of birth and development. But, there is a time for a big change. Usually after 33 weeks, if just keeping the temperature of baby and incubator, premature baby can grow up without any device.
OPPORTUNITY
The technology-intensive treatment that only a hospital NICU unit can provide, generally ends at around 32 weeks of gestation, leaving feeding, temperature, heart rate and regular movement of the baby to help them develop a regular breathing pattern (Shake and Bake).
What If there was a home Incubator Unit that provided those last 3-4 weeks of gestation care so that the mother can be involved?
The traditional hospital incubator is boxing and mechanical form. As my project goal, I considered the design that relieve the guilt which parents had given birth to premature babies. It was inspired by egg and animation characters, and I tried to maintain its organic form unlike hospital incubators.
By printing out the different sizes of 1:1 ratios, I had found the proper height and size to be easily cared for by my parents sitting on a chair. I made a 1:3 prototype and gradually trimmed it down into a comfortable design feeling. Then, as I made interface mapping, I studied which interfaces are required and where they are connected, and touched them with the actual screen size.
