Embodied Perceptions: Diversity-Sensitive Visualization of Body Data
The FEMtech research project “Embodied Perceptions” is developing diversity-sensitive concepts to make subjective symptoms, such as pain, documentable and communicable through customizable 3D visualizations.
Challenge: Making Subjective Symptoms Visible
Data visualizations are becoming increasingly important in the healthcare sector. Physiological data such as blood pressure can be measured using tracking devices. For subjective symptoms—that is, those perceptible only to the person experiencing them, such as pain, itching, or sensory disturbances—there are, however, only limited options for visualization. Communicating about these symptoms is challenging and shaped by hierarchies based on gender, age, background, and social class. In practice, data collection typically relies on paper-based illustrations depicting male, muscular bodies, which fosters exclusion and can lead to incomplete documentation of health conditions.
The Contribution of Embodied Perceptions
Embodied Perceptions examines pain and other symptoms as social, interactive, and embodied phenomena and, building on this, develops new design and interaction concepts. RISC Software GmbH contributes its expertise in the interactive visualization of symptoms on customizable 3D avatars. In addition, the project is investigating how body shape and marked areas of discomfort can be transferred from photos to the avatar with the help of AI. This results in clear symptom documentation that facilitates communication between patients and medical staff.
Project Procedure
The project takes an interdisciplinary, iterative approach with parallel research and development activities. In addition to analyzing the current state of research, the project involves, among other things, conducting narrative interviews and surveys with affected individuals, examining existing documentation systems and pain assessments, and holding co-creation workshops. At the same time, design and interaction concepts for symptom documentation, as well as the technological foundations of customizable 3D avatars, are being developed. These are tested and further refined in iterative laboratory tests with users.
Benefits and Social Contribution
“Embodied Perceptions” helps alleviate the burden on the health and social care systems and increases acceptance and understanding of those affected, who often feel misunderstood and misdiagnosed. The diversity-sensitive assessment of symptoms over time also heightens awareness of the relevance of gender in the conceptualization and assessment of symptoms, as well as in subsequent diagnosis and treatment.
The project is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) as part of the FEMtech research project call for proposals.
Project partners
Project details
- Project Short Title: Embodied Perceptions
- Full Project Title: Diversity-Sensitive Representation and Visualization of Body Data
- Program / Call for Proposals: Human Potential, FEMtech Research Projects 2023
- Project partners:
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Project Coordination)
- RISC Software GmbH
- Academy for Gerontology at the House of Mercy
- SYNYO GmbH
- Duration: September 2024–February 2027 (30 months)
Ansprechperson
Project management
Sophie Kaltenleithner, MSc
Researcher & Developer