By Yue Shi

The Masking Ball artefact was created to explore the research question: “How can we foster new understandings about neurodiversity and masking with the aim of inspiring new discussion on inclusive environment?”

The Masking Ball is an e-textile artefact inspired by stress-relief balls. It consists of a soft crocheted ball embedded with piezoresistive material and connected to an Arduino LilyPad microcontroller, programmed to detect the force applied when squeezed. An LED light provides feedback by displaying different colors based on the level of force: green or yellow indicates insufficient effort, red represents the ideal level, and purple warns of overexertion.

The interaction is designed for two participants. While both work on assigned tasks, one participant must simultaneously squeeze the ball to keep its light red. This requires them to adjust their grip and find the best way to maintain the ideal level of force, simulating the efforts neurodivergent individuals developing their own strategies for masking. Through this experience, participants can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges of masking and reflect on ways to foster more inclusive and supportive environments.