Week In Review

Maxwell Glenn

Please write about: the problem you're solving and the ways in which you are thinking about solving that problems. This should be at least 4 sentences

Our problem is less of a tangible issue that Sarah has to deal with, and more of an aspiration we want to provide her with the tools to reach. Sarah expressed interest in drumming, but because of her difficulties with holding objects and controlling the movements in her arms and one of her legs, we had to come up with a way to provide a drum kit that is accessible to her. In my original sketches, I developed ideas that allow her to utilize her good arm and good leg, with different attachments to her chair so she doesn't have to change her environment to access the drums. Once Nick and I converged ideas, we came up with four main parameters to meet in order to make this project successful and beneficial for Sarah: having different types of drums in a drum kit, using both her hand(s) and foot/feet to slowly gain more control of her body, having a way to improve at drumming to experience it in full, and a way to include her occasional spastic movements—rewarding them with drum noises instead of trying to stop them. Our most recent draft was a table attached to the handlebars of a wheelchair, with two pedals that attach to the foot rest.

Next week, I would like to begin modeling our first official draft in rhino, identifying any design issues that arise, and creating a list of resources/technology we will need.