What it does
It is a structured task prompter designed for children with autism to help them complete daily activities (such as brushing their teeth, dressing, etc.) more easily.
Your inspiration
My initial inspiration came from observing the daily lives of children with autism. Many parents and special education teachers mention that children often struggle with basic life tasks such as brushing their teeth and dressing – not because they can't do it, but because they are overwhelmed by the vagueness of the steps and anxiety about change. Traditional verbal reminders or checklist lists are often limited, either too abstract or lack interactive feedback.
How it works
The operation of the product is divided into four stages: first, parents set the task sequence through the APP, and the device automatically lights up the first LED light bar and prepares the corresponding NFC magnetic card. Parents post different task cards to different task environments. In the execution stage, after the child clicks the button, the device activates the breathing light prompt and the countdown projection on the countertop, and the child finds the cards of different task environments and completes the task. The card itself can also be flipped to show step-by-step instructions. After the mission is completed, place the mission card in the card slot, press the confirm button, and the device will play an encouraging voice and light up the completion indicator, and accumulate achievements to obtain collectible reward badges.
Design process
The design process of this structured task prompt device for children with autism went through four key stages. Initially, through field observations and expert interviews, I discovered pain points in the use of traditional visual prompt tools, such as insufficient interaction and lack of feedback mechanisms. In the conceptual design phase, the innovative idea of 'physical digitalization' was proposed, which combined magnetic cards with an electronic feedback system. After more than 20 prototype iterations, a rounded cashew nut shape was finally selected, which is ergonomic and avoids safety hazards caused by sharp edges.In the technology implementation phase, we overcame three core challenges: first, we developed a low-power capacitive sensing magnetic card slot that allows children to easily insert and remove cards while accurately identifying them; secondly, we developed a patented soft light guiding structure that makes LED light uniform and gentle through a multi-layer scattering film; finally, the countdown projection module was innovatively miniaturized and integrated into the device body. In material selection, we tested seven TPU formulations and ultimately chose food-grade antibacterial materials, passing 2000 insertion-removal tests to ensure durability
How it is different
Reject screen dependence – use physical magnetic cards and light feedback to avoid overstimulation from electronic screens for autistic children.No voice commands – information is conveyed through gentle light effects and tactile feedback (vibrations/buttons) to reduce anxiety in children with auditory sensitivity.No need for an internet connection – core functionalities are available offline to ensure stability of use and avoid network limitations in home settings.Multi-sensory friendly interaction: a low-stimulation feedback system that combines vision (light/projection), touch (magnetic/button), and hearing (bone conduction).Progressive achievement system: collectible star badge design that aligns with autistic children's preference for regularity and repetition.
Future plans
Intelligent expansion: Combined with lightweight AI algorithms, the order and difficulty of tasks are dynamically adjusted to adapt to children's growth curves. Multi-scene coverage: Develop vertical scene modules such as campus version (classroom instructions) and outdoor version (traffic training). Sensory Fusion Upgrade: Explore more natural ways to interact with each other, such as temperature-controlled feedback, such as a slightly warmer handle when a task is completed. Ecological platform: Build a parent-therapist collaboration community to share customized task card libraries and behavioral data analysis tools.
Share this page on