ENCODED – Gamified Connection Network for Hospitalized Teens at Sant Joan de Déu

This project introduces an interactive experience at SJD Hospital for teenagers with minority diseases. We started from the belief that a process of hospitalization could trigger negative emotions, which may interfere with the healing process. Studies show that connection and social interaction reduce pain and improve recovery. For this reason, we propose Encoded, a voice communication system materialized in an artifact that gamifies social connection between patients in an encrypted way.

The reason why the message is encoded is to generate a communication space designed for patients, creating a new layer, like a small parallel society, that breaks away from hospital hierarchies. In this system, voice memos are shaped by the patient into visual patterns that must be memorized and replicated by the receiver in order to hear the voice message. This way, we stimulate mental activity through memory and the motivation for connection, even when physical movement is limited.