Baylor College of Medicine

Diabetes Family Teamwork - 3D Animated Relational Agent and 2D Illustrations

Diabetes is not a disease that affects only the patient, but one that impacts a diabetic’s entire family. Baylor College of Medicine recognized the importance of having a well-equipped support system, especially in the case of teens suffering from Type 1 diabetes. They planned to make this happen by way of an online tool, funded by a federal grant from NIH. When they approached Bouncing Pixel to create this online experience for families to navigate the topic of diabetes, we were intrigued.

Together with BCM researchers, our team developed a private website where a 3D animated Relational Agent coached families to communicate more effectively about their diabetic experiences. With this interactive tool, parents and teens navigate through various scenarios that families might encounter, such as a teenager forgetting to monitor his/her blood sugar levels, or wanting to be a part of extra-curricular activities that raise parental concerns. The Relational Agent guides them through possible responses to each situation, and explains why some might be better than others.

Using the scripts which outlined different scenarios, Bouncing Pixel created a series of questionnaires that teens and parents could work through to help families approach the topic of Type 1 diabetes in a more understanding way.