Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Tech Startup Daivurjnt Launch Living Lab Pilot to Improve Sensory Accessibility in Public Spaces
BROOKLYN, NY — Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) and Daivurjnt, a health technology company, announced today the launch of a new Living Lab pilot that will explore how community-generated data can help make public spaces more accessible for people with sensory sensitivities.
Research and recruitment will begin in August, and the pilot will launch in October , the pilot will run through 2 months and invite community members to use SpectrumScan, Daivurjnt’s mobile app, to measure environmental conditions such as ambient light and noise levels in parks, plazas, and other public spaces throughout Downtown Brooklyn.
The initiative brings together SpectrumScan’s technology and Downtown Brooklyn’s streetscape to better understand how people experience the built environment and explore ways to support more inclusive public spaces.
“Creating welcoming public spaces means recognizing that people experience cities differently,” said Regina Myer, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership president. “Our Living Lab program allows us to partner with innovative startups to pilot emerging technologies in a real-world urban environment. Through this collaboration with Daivurjnt, we’re exploring how community-generated data can help us better understand the sensory experience of our public spaces and inform future conversations around accessibility and inclusion.”
Many neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism and sensory processing sensitivities, can experience sensory overload in busy public environments. SpectrumScan is designed as a wellness and self-awareness tool that provides users with real-time information about their surroundings, helping them make informed decisions about the spaces they visit. The app is not a medical device and does not diagnose or treat any condition.
“We are eager to pilot SpectrumScan in Downtown Brooklyn because we know this vibrant community is ready and willing to prioritize inclusivity and accessibility in this way,” shares Daivurjnt Co-Founder Lena Alabbasi. “We hope to gain a lot of valuable insight that will help us improve the tool and ensure it is supporting the needs of those who need it most.”
SpectrumScan is designed with a privacy-first approach. The app measures environmental conditions such as light and sound levels but does not record or store photos or audio. Individual user data is not sold or shared with third parties for advertising purposes, and information collected through the app is securely stored.
Insights gathered during the pilot will help inform future conversations around accessibility, placemaking, and inclusive urban design while demonstrating how emerging technology can improve the public realm.
About Downtown Brooklyn Partnership:
The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. The Partnership’s diverse activities include attracting new businesses and improving the environment for existing companies, facilitating the construction of public spaces and streetscapes that promote an active and cohesive community, supporting and promoting Downtown Brooklyn’s cultural assets, and encouraging a sense of place and an engaged civic community. For more information, visit downtownbrooklyn.com
About NYC DOT Art:
Daivurjnt is a health technology company developing tools that help neurodivergent individuals better understand and navigate their sensory environments. Its flagship application, SpectrumScan, provides real-time environmental awareness by measuring ambient light and sound conditions, empowering users with information that supports everyday decision-making.
