Jesper Nilsson of Days of Design got a flash of inspiration on how to make syringes more "kid-friendly":
The Sphinx is an ancient mythological creature that sits around all fabulous looking with a feline body and a human head. The “Syrinx” is a cute little modern-day creature that helps kids out with getting their skin pricked for shots at the doctor. Specifically it’s made for reducing the fear children feel before taking a blood test. Aimed directly at kids aged 3 to 6 years, or for bigger kids, whoever likes cute thangs and fears the prick of the needle!
What do you think? Will it work (once) or will children see through it in an instant? Link - via Wired's Gadget Lab
You don't want the kids looking at the needling action anyways, and if you do you don't want them to see these.
That way the kids would fear needles AND fast food.
This was Jespers degree work at the Umeå Institute of Design ( http://www.dh.umu.se/ )and had you seen his degree work presentation you wouldn't be as straight off the bat negative as you are right now.
Syrinx was a chaste nymph, chased by Pan. She turned into reeds when she asked for protection, and that's where he got his pipes.
Not sure why they want kids looking at the syringe, anyway.
Maybe if they made it look like a cigarette, it would scare them away from smoking.
As a dad of two (now grown) kids, I can see how reading the book and the kids getting to select a critter would make for a less scary blood draw. I like the way he incorporated a window so the phlebotomist can see the backflash, and how the little replacement "needle" can recreate the display.
When I was a child, the doctor used a syringe that hid the needle inside a plastic tube. I couldn't see the needle, but I sure new what was coming. It made no difference to me at all. Infact I felt non-existant pain the instant the tube touched me.
I am not sure what to do in this matter, but it seems the secret is in making the child understand why getting shots is a part of life.
These would have cracked me up!!
From the diabetic perspective these would have been nice for when I 1st started giving myself injections. If it would have slightly hidden all the fluid I thought I was injecting.
I hated shots, I hated those thin but terrifying needle tubes, but something like this looks like they could potentially have a nice larger grip.
on Syrin(x) or syrin(ge). I love these ideas, anything to make medical care better for kids is a-ok by me!