A user aware interface for seclusion rooms

Abstract

The efficacy of music for healing psychiatric patients is a well investigated area of research. Often, soothing background music is run and improvement in patients' conditions monitored. It is believed that instead of a general soothing music, if the patient could have the privilege to select music to her/his own choice at that very moment, it would enhance many times the healing effect. On the other hand, as interacting with violent psychiatric patients is often impossible or even dangerous, it is tricky to extend the privilege that would enable patients to select themselves the pieces of music they want to listen to. In this research, we put forward several technical solutions, evaluated them, and finally came up with an effective solution. The core idea of the proposed user aware interface could be extended to other similar situations, like prison.