Using rather crude materials we constructed a prototype aimed at the general functionality of our device as well as overall aesthetics. We were lucky enough to find some gems like a plastic syringe and some nice piping to work for our 'series of tubes'. :-)

We couldn't shut up...even if we wanted to!

The problem:

A person was born with a physical handicap similar to the Thalidomide deformities of the 1950s. People with this hanidcap are not able to retrieve things from the floor on their own, cannot type or drive in a traditional way, would have trouble combing or brushing their hair, and difficulty getting dressed or using a restroom independently. 

We decided to focus on dressing and using the restroom as our main problem.

Our possible solutions included tools that could be manipulated with our hands, furniture-like contraptions that would assist in dressing, and clothes with built-in systems- specifically for raising and lowering pants. 

The Problem

Our disability makes it impossible to see in front of you, but doesn't disrupt peripheral vision. This means you can see left, right, and down, but not up for straight. Sound is also muted and your own voice echoes more than normal. This is odd as usually the loss of one sense will heighten another, but two senses are being dampened. 

The Solution

We created a mirror system of a large mirror that hangs and rests on the chest of the person. Then a second mirror that is Velcroed to the back of the main mirror and attached with a tether goes into the users hand. Then simply manipulating the mirror allows the individual to see what's in front of them. 

Our assignment was to create a simulation of a disease for the user to empathize with the victims. To do this we had to find and research a disease that could be represented mechanically. Parkinson’s proved to have physical symptoms that wished to recreate. We chose to represent the hand tremors and the poor posture. To represent hand tremors, we created a laser cutted hand plate that would mount on the back of one's hand. Atop the hand plate we vertically placed a motor surrounded by laser cutted walls in order to provide stability. A 3.5 centimeter ellipse was then meshed to the gear on the motor. On the far side of the ellipse was a 20 millimeter M6 screw with two M6 nuts holding it in place. The hardware was incorporated to provide additional force exerted on the hand with each rotation of the motor. This created for more realistic hand tremors. To power the motor, we created a wrist module to encase a 9 volt battery. We then soldered a wire connector to the motor leaving a connectable side for the battery. Sturdy fabric strips and velcro were used to secure both the wrist and hand modules. To represent the poor posture that is often associated with parkinson’s, we designed a back brace that forces poor posture. This consisted of creating one large curve and notching four additional pieces horizontally. The back brace also used fabric straps to secure itself to the user's back. Our project produced extremely realistic results. The hand tremors were very natural and made normal tasks exceedingly difficult. One of the best traits of our project is the hand modules ability to shake more vigorously when the user performs a task. When the user grabs an object such as a pencil, the hand module will tighten around the hand creating faster tremors. This is often how hand tremors affect those with Parkinson’s disease. The back brace creates an unbalanced feeling and forces the user to experience bad posture. The two elements create for an overwhelming, slightly scary, and empathizing experience for the user.