ditto
DITTO is a tool which has been shown to reduce anxiety related pain, specifically for children during traumatic medical procedures.
The colourful marker characters called 'Dittems' can be inserted into the DITTO to choose between procedural preparation, stories and games. The intuitive user interface has other fun tangible interaction thanks to the touch screen and the motion sensors. Once in a DITTO game or story, the child can tip and turn the DITTO to look around or control the scene.
DITTO offers a range of entertaining stories and games that are interactive under the child's control. It has exciting modes of interaction including touch screen, colourful marker keys, and response to physical movement. Children can sit in a variety of positions while using the DITTO. It is appropriate for children ages 3-8, receiving painful or perceived painful stimuli in a hospital environment.
It is waterproof, therefore it can be used in the clinical setting during bathing and can be cleaned and disinfected using hospital cleaning protocols. The DITTO has a unique navigation system that has been shown to be intuitive to children and adults. It requires minimal instruction in the use of the device from staff, therefore enabling clinicians to focus on treatment while DITTO can immerse and distract the child. DITTO has even been shown to improve productivity within the clinical setting in our latest study.
This mode of interaction has similar immersive power to virtual reality. "Bobby" stories can be used as procedural preparation tools. For example, "Bobby Got a Burn" was designed and trialled in collaboration with our hospital partners for use by children in the burns outpatient waiting room. The story prepares children for the standard procedures, people and medical instruments they are about to come into contact with during their visit to the hospital. The child must help Bobby find medical items that relate to his treatment, in order to help get his bandages changed.
We aim to have "Bobby" content for almost any procedure that a child may undergo during the hospital experience, such as having an x-ray or an MRI. Check out our DITTO Content page for current Bobby stories.
CLICK PLAY BELOW TO VIEW "BOBBY GOT A BURN" SNAPSHOT!