HEALAX - SMART HEATING PAD
Product design 2017-2018
Healax is a heating pad that can be put on various body parts to relieve soreness, pain, and fatigue. It can be used together with the Healax app, which allows the user to locate acupuncture points for applying the heating pad according to their discomfort.
Group project of 2: Chen Chou, Yun-Ru Tseng
CONCEPT
People tend to feel pain in various body parts in the office, at home, or while driving due to poor posture or overwork, and warm compressing is an easy and gentle way to soothe this kind of discomfort. The Healax heating pad can be bent freely to be comfortably fitted to the user's various body parts, such as neck, shoulder, back, stomach, joints, etc. The pad can also be secured no matter which posture the user is in when combined with the designed straps or necklace string. A portable charger is included for convenient usage. The product comes with an app to set the temperature and time, and to look for the ideal position for placing the pad according to the user’s discomfort and related acupuncture points.
PURPOSE
Warm compress is a physical therapy method both used in Western and Chinese medicine. The purpose is to improve the blood circulation of the pain area, in order to relieve inflammation and pain, to soothe muscle cramps, to relax nerves, etc. In Chinese medicine, warm compress on acupuncture points can also relieve symptoms caused by “cold” factors, such as certain types of headache, cold, stomachache, fatigue, menstrual pain, etc.
User research by interviews and questionnaires was conducted with office workers and home makers, and the results show that common reasons for people to use warm compress include pain or soreness in muscles and joints (especially regarding shoulders and neck), fatigue, sport injuries, and menstrual pain. Therefore, the Healax heating pad is designed to be able to fit the relevant body parts and acupuncture points.
FEATURES & USE SCENARIO
The Healax heating pad is completed with a set of accessories that can come in handy in different use scenarios:
Shaping wire: The wire in the pad enables it to be bent in all directions and to retain its shape.
Secure hoops: The elastic strings on the pad can be pulled outward to secure the straps in all directions.
Strap with double-function buckles: The buckles of the straps can be attached to the hoops on the pad or interlock with each other.
Necklace string: The string helps secure the pad to the neck area, with the weight of the pendant.
Portable charger: The charger is portable and can be recharged when unused.
HEALAX APP
The heating pad can be connected to the app via Bluetooth, where the temperature and time are set. If needed, Healax app can also provide suggestions on pad placement according to the discomfort of the user and related acupuncture points.
