Aire- Where Calm Meets Control

What it does

Aire is a therapeutic wearable designed to reduce hand tremors caused by essential tremors, while seamlessly blending into everyday life. By integrating electrotherapy with the familiar form of a wristwatch, the device supports users without drawing attention.

Your inspiration

A conversation with a family friend who lives with essential tremor made us realise how much it affects everyday life, simple tasks like holding a cup or buttoning a shirt become frustrating. What struck us the most was not just the physical challenge, but the emotional toll of feeling self-conscious in public. It made us want to explore solutions that offer support without stigma, leading to the idea of a discreet, wearable therapy device.

How it works

Aire delivers precise electrical impulses through integrated electrodes that stimulate the radial and median nerves. Each therapy session lasts approximately 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the severity of the tremors. In addition to providing therapy, Aire functions as a fully operational wristwatch and features a heart rate monitor, an important addition, as elevated heart rate can contribute to an increase in tremor intensity. The discreet, dual-purpose design was guided by a key insight: many users feel self-conscious wearing visible therapeutic devices in public. Aire is made to blend in, allowing users to activate or repeat therapy sessions anytime, without standing out. Lightweight, durable, and comfortable materials have been carefully selected for daily wear. Users and medical professionals have been closely involved throughout the development process, helping shape a device that’s not only effective but intuitive and confidence-boosting.

Design process

The idea for Aire began with a simple but personal insight, someone close to us was struggling. A friend’s father lives with essential tremors, and another friend’s aunt, a nurse in a neurology department, works closely with patients who face this challenge every day. Through conversations with both of them, we realised the impact goes far beyond physical symptoms, it affects confidence, daily independence, and how people feel in public. We spoke with patients and medical professionals to gather insights from both sides. From these conversations, two key needs became clear: Tremor reduction and Emotional comfort: Many patients shared that they felt embarrassed by visible or bulky therapeutic devices. Step 2: Early Prototyping Our first prototype focused purely on functionality, testing electrical stimulation at 150 Hz targeting the radial and median nerves. While technically successful, the watch had a larger dial and a flatter design. Through testing and feedback, we found this shape was uncomfortable for users with tremors, as their wrists are in constant motion and sensitive to pressure. Step 3: Iteration and Refinement We refined Aire’s form, changed the dial shape, edges and materials used.

How it is different

Most existing solutions for essential tremor focus on specific tasks, like weighted spoons for eating or gloves to stabilize the hand. While helpful, they’re limited in use and often bulky. For example, weighted gloves, though effective for control, can be too heavy to wear all day and may cause fatigue. One of the more advanced solutions is a wristband with device attached providing electrotherapy. But there’s a key problem, it looks like a medical device. Users we spoke to said they didn’t want to stand out or be seen as “different” in public. Aire changes that.

Future plans

We’re now focused on extended user testing and beginning the medical certification process to ensure Aire meets safety standards. On the business side, we aim to build partnerships with healthcare providers and explore low-cost manufacturing to keep Aire affordable and scalable.

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