SOS: Shortage On Spoons is an interactive public health campaign targetet at able-bodied people who do not struggle with chronic physical pain or chronic mental illnesses. “Spoon Theory” is a common way of explaining the unseen choices made by people who live with seen and unseen disabilities, physical and mental. While able-bodied and neurotypical people have the luxury of living daily life without giving energy levels much thought, spoon theory breaks down daily tasks into energy costs and allows the person with pain or illness to prioritize their day. E.G., if Pat only has seven “spoons” to spend and showering costs five spoons while cleaning costs ten, Pat will only have enough “spoons”, or energy, to shower and will have to leave the cleaning until Pat rests and is able to get more “spoons”.
Players will grab a handful of spoons to begin the game. After the instructions, a daily task list should be projected, displaying necessities and the “cost of spoons” of each one. Before time runs out, the player should spend their spoons on the activities they find most important. There will never be enough spoons to complete every task, and at the conclusion of the time, a message box should display the “failure” of the player to complete all “normal” tasks. The goal is to frustrate the player. It is impossible to truly and wholly understand the struggles of another, but through this game, able-bodied and mentally well people should gain a better understanding and appreciation of the daily struggle of those with few “spoons”.
My role: Unity development; Elegoo Uno hardware design and construction;