Fin Schofield

Email: fin.schofield.2019@bristol.ac.uk

Project Title: Assistive Sleep Technologies: inclusive design with ADHD

Supervisors:

Dr Hanna Kristiina Isotalus, School of Engineering, Mathematics & Technology

Prof Matt Jones, School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience

 

Project summary

My research aims to understand the lived experiences of sleep disturbances in adults with ADHD to better design assistive sleep technologies following human-centred design principles. Ubiquitous computing can support the general population in achieving healthy sleep behaviour, yet there are few technologies which account for and tailor their design to a population of adults with ADHD. The objectives of my research are oriented around 1) establishing the context of use, 2) understanding design requirements, 3) co-producing design solutions for assistive sleep technologies and 4) evaluating those solutions. The research is set out into distinct projects that contribute to those objectives. To understand the context of use, a mixed-methods approach of research is undertaken, which includes an examination of the quantitative associations between measures of sleep, ADHD, and common mental health comorbidities, utilising statistical modelling of large longitudinal datasets and opportunistic sampling. This is further supported by qualitative investigations via semi-structured interviews into the lived experiences of sleep disturbance and sleep management with a population of adults with ADHD. To produce and subsequently evaluate design solutions, a series of co-design workshops will be hosted so users can experience, test, co-produce, and iterate on assistive sleeping technologies that can more suitably embed the lived experiences and preferences of users.

Bio

In June 2022, I completed my BSc Neuroscience course here at the University of Bristol. The course was a research-driven deep dive into key healthcare conditions across neuroscience and physiology, ranging from neurodegenerative disorders to chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis.

My final year research project focussed me onto digital health – wherein I employed ‘smart watches’ to quantitatively investigate the relationship between physical activity, mindfulness, and wellbeing.

As the project developed, I became more fixed on the detection of quantitative biomarkers of stress, primarily heart rate variability (HRV), and the psychophysiological theories that build the relationship between the body and mental state. Digital health strategies offer novel opportunities to monitor these biomarkers and further empower patients to take control of chronic conditions that affect their mental health and wellbeing.

I’m currently interested in following on from my undergraduate studies to further investigate the employment of non-invasive trackers to assess mental state across chronic healthcare conditions. Real-time monitoring and processing of biomarkers poses many exciting opportunities for a blend of engineering, preventative medicine, and ethical discussion on the future of healthcare provision.