WordLink Hub: Empowering Floating Children Through Interactive Reading and Learning
WordLink Hub is an educational system for floating children in Weilan Libraries. Combining the WordBuddy wearable and the StorySpot Corner installation, it encourages reading through gamified, interactive experiences. The system simplifies book exploration, enhances vocabulary skills, and makes learning fun and social, fostering a love for reading and independent learning.
Duration
April - November 2024
April - November 2024
Project Type
Personal Project
Personal Project
Challenge
Floating children face limited access to quality education and resources. They struggle with book selection, vocabulary, and reading motivation in Weilan Libraries, highlighting the need for a more engaging, supportive system.
Floating children face limited access to quality education and resources. They struggle with book selection, vocabulary, and reading motivation in Weilan Libraries, highlighting the need for a more engaging, supportive system.
What did I learn?
This project shaped my approach to designing for social impact, reinforcing the importance of empathy and user-centered design in my future career. It sharpened my skills in integrating technology with tangible, meaningful interactions and deepened my understanding of educational and social design challenges.
This project shaped my approach to designing for social impact, reinforcing the importance of empathy and user-centered design in my future career. It sharpened my skills in integrating technology with tangible, meaningful interactions and deepened my understanding of educational and social design challenges.
Knowing Content
Why I got the idea to do this project in the first place?
Why I got the idea to do this project in the first place?
Why I got the idea to do this project in the first place?
The Weilan Library is a non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing the educational opportunities of children from rural migrant worker families residing in urban areas. These children, often referred to as "floating children," lack urban household registration due to their parents' rural origins and the transient nature of their work. And these make it difficult for children to establish stable homes and attend school regularly.
As a volunteer at the library, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges these children face in accessing quality education. I was inspired by these challenges to propose innovative designs aimed at improving the learning experience and outcomes of these children.
The Weilan Library is a non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing the educational opportunities of children from rural migrant worker families residing in urban areas. These children, often referred to as "floating children," lack urban household registration due to their parents' rural origins and the transient nature of their work. And these make it difficult for children to establish stable homes and attend school regularly.
As a volunteer at the library, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges these children face in accessing quality education. I was inspired by these challenges to propose innovative designs aimed at improving the learning experience and outcomes of these children.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
About Weilan Library
About Weilan Library
About Weilan Library
The Weilan Library is an organization that operates libraries on a continuous basis, achieved through extensive mobilization and organization of volunteers. These libraries serve as truly "living" libraries for floating children.
The Weilan Library is an organization that operates libraries on a continuous basis, achieved through extensive mobilization and organization of volunteers. These libraries serve as truly "living" libraries for floating children.
Orientation
“ Every floating child has access to fair, quality and appropriate education.”
An advocacy organization in the field of floating children education.
Orientation
“ Every floating child has access to fair, quality and appropriate education.”
An advocacy organization in the field of floating children education.
What is “Floating Children”?
What is “Floating Children”?
What is “Floating Children”?
The social phenomenon of migrant children in China refers to the fact that, as China's rapid urbanization progresses, a large number of rural laborers are flocking to the cities in search of work opportunities, and their children often migrate with their parents, becoming so-called floating children.
These children often face challenges in education, health care and social integration, as they may not be able to enjoy the same public services and social benefits as urban domiciled children.
The social phenomenon of migrant children in China refers to the fact that, as China's rapid urbanization progresses, a large number of rural laborers are flocking to the cities in search of work opportunities, and their children often migrate with their parents, becoming so-called floating children.
These children often face challenges in education, health care and social integration, as they may not be able to enjoy the same public services and social benefits as urban domiciled children.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
HMW
How might we gradually guide floating children to develop their independent learning skills, so as to gradually improve the quality of learning of the floating children group and enable them to develop the habit of learning?
How might we gradually guide floating children to develop their independent learning skills, so as to gradually improve the quality of learning of the floating children group and enable them to develop the habit of learning?
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Knowing People
About Research Plan
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Research Objectives
Gain an in-depth understanding of the needs and challenges faced by specific groups
Explore opportunities to improve their quality of life and sense of happiness through design.
Research Objectives
Gain an in-depth understanding of the needs and challenges faced by specific groups
Explore opportunities to improve their quality of life and sense of happiness through design.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Research Methods
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Findings from Research
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
About the Instruction Approach and Volunteers
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
At Weilan Library, volunteers read to kids in groups, but their attention varies. I suspect the storytelling or content isn't engaging enough, especially with English picture books.
The lack of professional training for volunteers makes it hard to keep the information both accurate and interesting.
At Weilan Library, volunteers read to kids in groups, but their attention varies. I suspect the storytelling or content isn't engaging enough, especially with English picture books.
The lack of professional training for volunteers makes it hard to keep the information both accurate and interesting.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
About the Children
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
At Weilan Library, I noticed a "Wish Wall" with children's future hopes. Many had trouble with vocabulary and spelling, suggesting a possible literacy gap needing attention.
At Weilan Library, I noticed a "Wish Wall" with children's future hopes. Many had trouble with vocabulary and spelling, suggesting a possible literacy gap needing attention.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
About the Weilan Library Management System
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
The library categorizes books into sections like "Popular Science" and "Stories," and has a "Recommended Books" area. But many kids struggle to understand these categories, hindering their independent selection. They also seldom browse the recommended books without volunteer guidance. There's a need to simplify the system for easier, self-guided exploration by children.
The lack of professional training for volunteers makes it hard to keep the information both accurate and interesting.
The library categorizes books into sections like "Popular Science" and "Stories," and has a "Recommended Books" area. But many kids struggle to understand these categories, hindering their independent selection. They also seldom browse the recommended books without volunteer guidance. There's a need to simplify the system for easier, self-guided exploration by children.
The lack of professional training for volunteers makes it hard to keep the information both accurate and interesting.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Research Analysis
Analysis Using POEMS Framework
Analysis Using POEMS Framework
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
What is POEMS FRAMEWORK?
What is POEMS FRAMEWORK?
What is POEMS FRAMEWORK?
The POEMS framework is an observational research tool for analysing the elements of a scenario, encompassing the five dimensions of people, objects, environment, information and services. It encourages independent and systematic research on these elements to understand the complexity of scenarios.
Systematic Perspective: It promotes a systemic view of the situation, recognizing how elements interact and influence each other within the scenario.
Interdisciplinary Approach: It supports research across different disciplines, encouraging a more holistic understanding of the scenario.
Enhanced Understanding: It can lead to deeper insights into user behavior, service design, and the overall context of the situation.
The POEMS framework is an observational research tool for analysing the elements of a scenario, encompassing the five dimensions of people, objects, environment, information and services. It encourages independent and systematic research on these elements to understand the complexity of scenarios.
Systematic Perspective: It promotes a systemic view of the situation, recognizing how elements interact and influence each other within the scenario.
Interdisciplinary Approach: It supports research across different disciplines, encouraging a more holistic understanding of the scenario.
Enhanced Understanding: It can lead to deeper insights into user behavior, service design, and the overall context of the situation.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Define from Research
Define from Research
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
The POEMS framework is an observational research tool for analysing the elements of a scenario, encompassing the five dimensions of people, objects, environment, information and services. It encourages independent and systematic research on these elements to understand the complexity of scenarios.
Systematic Perspective: It promotes a systemic view of the situation, recognizing how elements interact and influence each other within the scenario.
Interdisciplinary Approach: It supports research across different disciplines, encouraging a more holistic understanding of the scenario.
Enhanced Understanding: It can lead to deeper insights into user behavior, service design, and the overall context of the situation.
The POEMS framework is an observational research tool for analysing the elements of a scenario, encompassing the five dimensions of people, objects, environment, information and services. It encourages independent and systematic research on these elements to understand the complexity of scenarios.
Systematic Perspective: It promotes a systemic view of the situation, recognizing how elements interact and influence each other within the scenario.
Interdisciplinary Approach: It supports research across different disciplines, encouraging a more holistic understanding of the scenario.
Enhanced Understanding: It can lead to deeper insights into user behavior, service design, and the overall context of the situation.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Ideation
I did almost 4 rounds of design iterations during the ideation phase.
I did almost 4 rounds of design iterations during the ideation phase.
I did almost 4 rounds of design iterations during the ideation phase.
Stage 01: Stakeholders and their interactions -> looking at who interacts with whom can design products
Stage 02: This phase is a bold divergence of thinking and big ideas directed at touchpoints.
Stage 03: After defining the big idea, we reorganize the user flow and rethink the overall system logic.
Stage 04: Finalize details and design concepts
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Final Design — The WordLink Hub
“ Linking City and Country with Reading, Encouraging the Drive to Read with Words.”
“ Linking City and Country with Reading, Encouraging the Drive to Read with Words.”
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
WordBuddy
WordBuddy is a wearable device designed to stimulate children's interest in reading, featuring text scanning, display, and pronunciation functions to assist children in learning new vocabulary.
It personalizes the learning experience by collecting the words that children inquire about, and its design is customizable to be worn as a bracelet, used as a handheld tool, or even serve as a magnifying glass for close reading. The device displays an evolving monster character based on the words collected, and when two WordBuddy devices connect, they engage in a friendly competition based on the words each child has gathered, encouraging social learning and interaction.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
StorySpot Corner
StorySpot Corner is an interactive library installation designed to sustain reading motivation by visualizing learning progress and encouraging word exploration.
Set within a cardboard structure that blends seamlessly into the library environment, StorySpot Corner provides an engaging space with two interactive screens.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Scenario
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
The entire scenario emphasizes interactive and gamified learning to improve vocabulary and interest in reading, while using technology to aid the learning process. A library management system that breaks down traditional library finding methods and is better suited for primary schools students.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Information architecture
Information architecture
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
Final Library System
The entire book management system has been redesigned to take advantage of the child's curiosity about vocabulary before searching for a book, breaking away from the original system for ‘adults’, the new system starts with the development of the child's self-help learning ability.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
WordBuddy
WordBuddy is an innovative wearable device designed to boost children's enthusiasm for reading through an interactive learning experience. Equipped with a text scanner, display and audio output, it allows children to instantly scan and learn the pronunciation, meaning and application of vocabulary words.
The device makes vocabulary learning more engaging through a combination of instant feedback and visual and auditory sensations. WordBuddy is designed to make it easy for children to master new vocabulary as they read, interacting directly with their school library's library management system.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
StorySpot Corner
StorySpot Corner is an innovative interactive setup within a library, crafted to enhance and maintain children's enthusiasm for reading. This installation utilizes visual representations of learning progress and promotes the exploration of new words, making the reading experience more engaging and rewarding.
This environment is designed to captivate children's attention and stimulate their curiosity, encouraging them to delve deeper into the world of literature and discover the joy of learning through reading.
DIY Empowerment: Showcasing a process that enables individuals with upper limb disabilities to design and build their own gaming controllers using open-source tools, fostering independence and inclusivity.
Case Study Contribution: Development and iterative refinement of an accessible game controller prototype, incorporating direct feedback from disabled participants.
Methodological Contribution: A comparative analysis of Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Dialogic/Performance Analysis provides new insights into their application in HCI research, particularly for designing accessible technologies.
