When I joined the project, the fNIRS headband was approaching its final stages — but persistent issues were preventing successful data collection. The team was struggling with poor fit, unreliable sensor alignment, unstable circuitry, pressure points, and likely light seepage interfering with signal quality. They needed someone with sensor integration and soft goods expertise to untangle the human factors.

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I focused first on material evaluation and layering strategy. The headband's thickness and stretchiness were contributing to circuit instability, bunching, and breakage. I refined the material selections to allow for contouring without warping, added light-blocking structure to the sensor zones, and adjusted pressure distribution to reduce skin imprinting and hair loss. I also modified how the circuits were routed and stabilized to ensure alignment even during movement.

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These refinements enabled the headband to capture reliable data for the first time. My textile-based problem-solving allowed the device to function as intended, while still remaining comfortable and reusable for human subjects.