Inspiration
Children with autism and Down syndrome often experience moments of stress that are difficult to express and even harder to anticipate. In many cases, caregivers only become aware once the situation has already escalated. We were inspired to build something that could recognize these early signals and respond in a way that feels natural and non-intrusive. Since many neurodivergent children respond positively to familiar sounds and music, we wanted to explore how personalized audio could be used as a gentle form of support during these moments.
What it does
CalmBand is a wearable system that detects early signs of stress using passive biometric signals such as heart rate variability and skin conductance. When elevated stress patterns are identified, the system responds by playing personalized calming audio tailored to the child’s preferences. Instead of relying on screens or requiring interaction, CalmBand works quietly in the background, providing predictable and sensory-safe support. A companion app allows caregivers to view stress patterns over time and customize the audio responses based on what works best for the child.
How we built it
We designed CalmBand as a combination of hardware and software components. On the hardware side, we created a prototype wearable using biometric sensors connected to a microcontroller capable of basic signal processing. On the software side, we developed a simple logic system to detect changes in stress-related signals and trigger appropriate responses. We also built a Figma-based prototype of the companion app to demonstrate how caregivers can monitor patterns and personalize calming audio. The focus throughout was on keeping the system simple, responsive, and aligned with the sensory needs of neurodivergent children.
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