A covid-19 care kit with the tools you need to social distance right
Caroline David, Emily Esposito, Graham Keeley, Laura Wilson and Grace Zhao
Not everyone has the tools to help them practice social distancing and protect themselves and others from Covid-19. How can we give people protective equipment, up-to-date health guidelines, and fun and informative resources all at the same time?
The Social Distance Kit is a low-tech high-impact care kit with all of the tools you need to navigate the pandemic.
Scroll down to learn more.
THE PROBLEM
Not everyone has the tools to help them practice social distancing and protect themselves and others from Covid-19, and there is no single centralized resource to rely on for guidance and community health and safety.
THE SOLUTION
An all-in-one kit with an informational brochure, masks and mask buttons, screen wipes, soap and hand lotion, thermometer add-ons, and humorous posters.
initial ideation
possible solutions included:
- Technological interventions to enforce social distancing like laser projection of 6-feet circles
- information distribution systems like density maps, and symptom tracking QR codes on thermometers
-Wearable messaging to promote social distancing such as customizable masks and apparel
Method: Development
- A few of the individual designs were combined into one "kit."
- We decided it would include essential hygiene products like masks and soap, but also items to make make peoples’ lives easier like lotion, touchscreen wipes, customizable clips to put on masks, and humorous posters.
Method: research and refinement
- I took the lead on conducting surveys and interview to identify symbols that are recognizable as "high risk"
- Current research informed our design, and we eliminated gloves from the kit due to inconclusive evidence of effectiveness
- We were resource constrained due to national shortages of materials, and replaced hand sanitizer with paper soap because of availability
- researched stickers, magnets, and pins for usability and cost effectiveness
The website includes features such as...
- ordering a kit for yourself or to send to a loved one
- access to free online resources, for everything from news sources to health information to online games
- a custom poster generator for humorous social distancing help
What makes the social distance kit different?
(1)
most items in the kit already exist but are sold separately, either in bulk or for an inflated price. our kits simplify the buying process and make sure that people are getting the baseline amount of the social distancing resources that they need.
(2)
the thermometer QR code sticker provides a unique low-tech solution to make data collection from a non-smart thermometer easy.
(3)
our poster generator lets you design your own poster, providing a fun and interactive way to visualize how far apart 6 feet is.
Future directions
- Include educational component on mask efficacy based on current research
- Modify kit and release new versions monthly (with updated items and information on vaccines, travel, and social gatherings)
