Solace

University project
(conceived during bachelor’s)

©2022

Project Solace is a simple solution to promote eating healthy among latchkey kids.

noun : solocae ; plural noun ; solaces
comfort or consolation on a time of distress or discomfort

Research

  • Over 4 million children were observed to be left without supervision for more than 6 hours every week on an average. Finding home-made food stale and ‘boring’ , children have tendancies to resort to alternative solutions like unhealthy snacks and beverages that are subject to adverse effects like obesity. Using wet ground spice bases for food is a common method in Indian cooking. Keeping the food stored beyond a certain amount of time results in the alteration in it’s taste. For Children, food insecurity is particularly devasting resulting into implications on the child’s physical and Mental Health.

  • It is crucial that the food should remain hot/warm to be fresh. Considering the user, the use should pertain to ease of use and reliability. The solution can also look at portability and modularity in use cases.

    • Typical tiring day at School

    • Anticipation of interesting food due to hunger

    • Stale and unappealing food at home

    • Resorting to unhealthy food choices

    • Typical tiring day at School

    • Anticipation of interesting food
      due to hunger

    • Appealing food with no altered taste resulting in healthy food choices

    • Risk: Microwaves are notorious for "superheating" liquids or causing sparks if a child accidentally leaves a foil wrapper or a metal fork in the bowl.

    • Passive Interaction: With a hot-hold setup, the child simply scoops and eats. There’s no programming timers, no "standing time," and no heavy, steaming dishes to carry across the kitchen.

    • Texture and Palatability: Microwaves work by vibrating water molecules, which often turns breaded items soggy and proteins rubbery. A child is more likely to finish a meal that tastes like it was just served, reducing food waste and ensuring they actually get their nutrients.

    • Uniform Heating: Hot-holding ensures the entire meal is held at a temperature that inhibits bacterial growth without "nuking" the vitamins.

A person working on designing a set of modern, minimalistic plastic containers and lids, with sketches and 3D models on the wall and table, including a small 3D printer creating prototypes.
Technical drawing of a device with six circular components arranged in two columns and three rows, housed in a rectangular casing.
Line drawing of a compact, portable air purifier from multiple angles, showing its rectangular shape, removable filter, and adjustable stand.
A diagram showing the exploded view of a food container with labeled parts, including interaction panel, PCB housing, lid, lunchboxes, conductive plate and heating coil fans, body, ventilation, and rubber pads.
Cross-sectional technical drawing of a modern kitchen stove with a cooktop, oven, and storage compartments.
A modern, sleek device labeled 'Project Solace' on a minimalist white and beige platform against a neutral background.
A digital health device with a square screen and rounded edges displays a warning message in yellow text about internal temperature.
A small, beige and pink Project Solace device on a white table, displaying a message on its screen that says "Keep Warm." Next to it are a black notebook, a small bottle, and a wooden stool.
Three divided food containers with various foods, one with slices of flatbread, one with a wrap, and the other with a sandwich and garnishes, all placed on a light surface.
A comic strip showing a person with a backpack leaving school, hoping for food but receiving a hot lunch instead, which is steaming and accompanied by a note from a mom expressing love and encouragement.