Abstract Background Goal Methods Results Conclusion References ...
Undergraduate Category: Engineering & Technology Degree Level: B.S. Mechanical Engineering Abstract ID# 768
Assis$ve Device for Improving the Effec$veness of Augmenta$ve and Alterna$ve Communica$on Tools for the Disabled Samantha Bell & Marina Eaves; Faculty Advisor: Waleed Meleis Abstract Severely disabled, non-‐verbal students at the South Shore EducaGonal CollaboraGve (SSEC) use augmentaGve and alternaGve communicaGon applicaGons on iPads that effecGvely speak for them and allow them to communicate with the world. However, these students tend to have poor fine motor skills and oSen cannot effecGvely use these applicaGons because they cannot control which buTons they are pressing. ASer brainstorming, rough prototyping and the pitching of ideas to the teachers at the school, the basic design of an iPad case with interchangeable key guards through a sliding method was decided on. Many iteraGons were designed in CAD soSware unGl a working device that allowed for ease of access to the necessary iPad ports and controls, a quick and easy opGon to change the key guard without, and the ability to orient the iPad in any way. The case was then 3D printed in ABS plasGc and the keyguards for each screen layout were laser cut out of 1/16” thick acrylic. The product is currently being tested by students at SSEC to discover any issues that may arise with the design. The design has also been modified slightly for implementaGon in an orphanage in Ecuador for three students that use the same applicaGon and are having the same issues as the students at SSEC. This product can be used by severely disabled individuals to improve their ability to effecGvely uGlize alternaGve communicaGon tools to interact with those around them.
Background
Goal
Methods
The touchscreen guard was created for use by disabled students at the South Shore EducaGonal CollaboraGve. Beginning in the spring of 2014 the project was developed from rough prototyping into a refined product that is used at the school today. The touchscreen guard was then modified to fit the needs of an Ecuadorian orphanage, For His Children, where it was successfully implemented in March 2015.
The specific goal of our project was to aid people with motor funcGon disabiliGes in communicaGng through alternaGve means and in gaining a voice. Some important design consideraGons were: • Be able to withstand regular use and abuse by strong, disabled children without breaking • Be easy to use • Be able to have interchangeable keyguards for different screen layouts In creaGng the touchscreen guard, we also kept the overarching goal of Enabling Engineering in mind: “We use engineering technologies to build low-‐cost devices that improve the lives of the elderly and individuals with physical or cogniGve disabiliGes. We help family members and nursing care professionals care for people with special needs. Our goal is to empower affected individuals by giving them greater independence, reducing medical errors, and increasing social connectedness, at minimal cost.”[1]
Rapid prototyping methods, such as rough prototyping and constant redesign, were criGcal in reaching a workable model. To produce the touchscreen guard, resources at Fikst Product Development were uGlized. The outer casing was 3D printed in ABS plasGc, and the keyguards were laser cut from 1/16th inch thick acrylic sheeGng.
Results The final product comes in two parts. The two U-‐shaped halves are held together by the acrylic keyguard, which is equipped with slots that slip over bumpers on each end of the case. This stops the case from sliding apart. The case was also modified to fit a clamp system seen in the fourth picture below, which can be affixed to a wheelchair.
Conclusion The device is now implemented in both the South Shore EducaGonal CollaboraGve and For His Children, in Ecuador. The design will go through redesign as needed, but so far it has been very successful in increasing the speed and ease of communicaGon for its users.
References
Acknowledgements
[1] Northeastern.edu, 'Enabling Engineering | Engineering to Empower', 2015. [Online]. Available: hTp://www.northeastern.edu/ enable/. [Accessed: 20-‐ Mar-‐ 2015].
Paul Sabin and Adrienne Jalbert at Fiskt Product Development in Woburn, MA for their invaluable design advice and donaGon of 3D-‐printed touchscreen guards. James Ferrara, Kevin Ou, Isabel Welch, and other team members who helped create the original design for the touchscreen guard. Professor Lorna Hayward of the Physical Therapy department for working with us and providing us the opportunity to implement the touchscreen guard in Ecuador. The teachers at SSEC for providing us with the original idea for the touchscreen guard.
Assis$ve Device for Improving the Effec$veness of Augmenta$ve and Alterna$ve Communica$on Tools for the Disabled Samantha Bell & Marina Eaves; Faculty Advisor: Waleed Meleis Abstract Severely disabled, non-‐verbal students at the South Shore EducaGonal CollaboraGve (SSEC) use augmentaGve and alternaGve communicaGon applicaGons on iPads that effecGvely speak for them and allow them to communicate with the world. However, these students tend to have poor fine motor skills and oSen cannot effecGvely use these applicaGons because they cannot control which buTons they are pressing. ASer brainstorming, rough prototyping and the pitching of ideas to the teachers at the school, the basic design of an iPad case with interchangeable key guards through a sliding method was decided on. Many iteraGons were designed in CAD soSware unGl a working device that allowed for ease of access to the necessary iPad ports and controls, a quick and easy opGon to change the key guard without, and the ability to orient the iPad in any way. The case was then 3D printed in ABS plasGc and the keyguards for each screen layout were laser cut out of 1/16” thick acrylic. The product is currently being tested by students at SSEC to discover any issues that may arise with the design. The design has also been modified slightly for implementaGon in an orphanage in Ecuador for three students that use the same applicaGon and are having the same issues as the students at SSEC. This product can be used by severely disabled individuals to improve their ability to effecGvely uGlize alternaGve communicaGon tools to interact with those around them.
Background
Goal
Methods
The touchscreen guard was created for use by disabled students at the South Shore EducaGonal CollaboraGve. Beginning in the spring of 2014 the project was developed from rough prototyping into a refined product that is used at the school today. The touchscreen guard was then modified to fit the needs of an Ecuadorian orphanage, For His Children, where it was successfully implemented in March 2015.
The specific goal of our project was to aid people with motor funcGon disabiliGes in communicaGng through alternaGve means and in gaining a voice. Some important design consideraGons were: • Be able to withstand regular use and abuse by strong, disabled children without breaking • Be easy to use • Be able to have interchangeable keyguards for different screen layouts In creaGng the touchscreen guard, we also kept the overarching goal of Enabling Engineering in mind: “We use engineering technologies to build low-‐cost devices that improve the lives of the elderly and individuals with physical or cogniGve disabiliGes. We help family members and nursing care professionals care for people with special needs. Our goal is to empower affected individuals by giving them greater independence, reducing medical errors, and increasing social connectedness, at minimal cost.”[1]
Rapid prototyping methods, such as rough prototyping and constant redesign, were criGcal in reaching a workable model. To produce the touchscreen guard, resources at Fikst Product Development were uGlized. The outer casing was 3D printed in ABS plasGc, and the keyguards were laser cut from 1/16th inch thick acrylic sheeGng.
Results The final product comes in two parts. The two U-‐shaped halves are held together by the acrylic keyguard, which is equipped with slots that slip over bumpers on each end of the case. This stops the case from sliding apart. The case was also modified to fit a clamp system seen in the fourth picture below, which can be affixed to a wheelchair.
Conclusion The device is now implemented in both the South Shore EducaGonal CollaboraGve and For His Children, in Ecuador. The design will go through redesign as needed, but so far it has been very successful in increasing the speed and ease of communicaGon for its users.
References
Acknowledgements
[1] Northeastern.edu, 'Enabling Engineering | Engineering to Empower', 2015. [Online]. Available: hTp://www.northeastern.edu/ enable/. [Accessed: 20-‐ Mar-‐ 2015].
Paul Sabin and Adrienne Jalbert at Fiskt Product Development in Woburn, MA for their invaluable design advice and donaGon of 3D-‐printed touchscreen guards. James Ferrara, Kevin Ou, Isabel Welch, and other team members who helped create the original design for the touchscreen guard. Professor Lorna Hayward of the Physical Therapy department for working with us and providing us the opportunity to implement the touchscreen guard in Ecuador. The teachers at SSEC for providing us with the original idea for the touchscreen guard.
