Empathy-Driven Concepts

Teams interview a user (peer or potential end-user such as a teacher or therapist) to surface real needs for a soft robotic finger. They create an empathy artifact (e.g., empathy map or user persona) to capture user context, then generate multiple concept options through quick brainstorms. Each group develops concept sketches or storyboards for at least four different finger designs and mechanisms, and builds a feasibility/impact matrix comparing materials, actuation methods, durability, and user benefits. Finally, each group selects their top three concepts and writes succinct rationales linking user needs, constraints, and how each concept addresses the project goals. All outputs are prepared for critique and feedback in the next phase.