Tyddyn Môn
Title: Clear View Masks – Enhancing Communication Through Remote User Testing
Research Area: Human Behaviour and Psychophysiological Measurement
Partner: °Õ²â»å»å²â²Ô&²Ô²ú²õ±è;²Ñô²Ô
Project outline
Project outline
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread use of face masks and PPE created new communication barriers—especially for people who rely on lip reading or facial cues.
Tyddyn Môn, an organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities, approached ATiC to explore how clear face masks could improve communication between healthcare staff and patients.
Traditional masks obscure facial expressions and lip movements, making it harder for patients—including those with hearing impairments, learning disabilities, or dementia—to understand and engage with clinicians. In noisy hospital environments, these challenges are even more pronounced.
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ATiC helped demonstrate the value of clear face masks in improving communication and emotional connection in healthcare settings. Working with the Maxillofacial Laboratory at Swansea Bay University Health Board, the team supported the development of a clear mask prototype.
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- Collaborated with Tyddyn Môn and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Audiology Department to evaluate user experience through anatomical and emotional response analysis.
- Developed a remote testing method using facial expression recognition software to assess emotional responses to different mask designs.
- Conducted usability surveys to support and validate the quantitative findings.
Impact:
This project highlighted the importance of inclusive design in healthcare and provided evidence for the benefits of clear masks in enhancing patient-clinician communication.
