Kunstakademiet i Trondheim
Fagsnack is the term for our series of public talks on scientific topics at the Medicine and Health Library, NTNU/St.Olav’s Hospital.
In this talk, artist and interaction designer George Poonkhin Khut will give a presentation of his research on the use of biosensors and biofeedback interaction in art and clinical health care, focusing on the BrightHearts app and associated clinical research. Khut has collaborated with pediatrician Dr Angie Morrow at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Australia to design, build and test a ‘relaxation app’ for children who undergo painful recurrent procedures in hospitals. The app is connected to a sensor that measures the heart right of the user. The goal of the interaction is for children to explore ways to relax and lower their heart rate, as a way to lower the pain and anxiety experienced during and before painful procedures. Children are rewarded with gentle sounds and visuals that respond to decreases in heart rate over different periods of time i.e. changes that they can influence with their breathing, and longer-term changes that require relaxation.
Curious about how it works? You will have the chance to try out the sensor-based app after the talk, and discuss your experience of the biofeedback-session. The interface will also be part of a small exhibition in the library this semester.
Bring your lunch pack – we will serve coffee/tea and a healthy snack.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to give a presentation about your research project, recently published article/book, or other relevant topics related to health and medicine.
Contact us
https://www.facebook.com/bibliotekformedisinoghelse
About the speaker this week
George Poonkhin Khut is an Australian artist, academic and interaction-designer working across the fields of electronic art, design and health, at UNSW Australia, Art & Design. For the past 12 years he has been working with biofeedback technologies, creating intimate, body-focused interactive artworks experiences, that re-frame our experiences of embodiment and presence. In addition to presenting his work in fine-arts galleries and museums, he has been developing new audiences for interactive and participatory art with exhibitions and research projects in hospitals. Among these, the The Heart Library Project at St. Vincent’s Public Hospital in 2009, and BrightsHeart Project, in collaboration with Dr Angie Morrow, Staff Specialist in Brain Injury at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Kids Rehab.
Photo by Lucy Parakhina.