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In conjunction with Sydney Design Week we are once again bringing together people with disabilities and makers to work on three solutions:

  1. 3D Scanned/Printed Ankle Foot Orthotics (New project)

  2. Boccia Ramp (Continued from previous event)

  3. Bluetooth Switch/PC Interface (Continued from previous event)

These 3 projects are all things used by people with disabilities all over the world, so if we can create an open-source design for these you have the opportunity to have a big, worldwide positive impact.

See below for more details!

PROJECT 1: 3D SCANNED/PRINTED ANKLE-FOOT-ORTHOTIC

(New Project)

There are around 3000 people in NSW alone who need Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFOs). It can take 10 months just to get an appointment with a hospital, cost starting from $700 per foot, and take 2-3 more months to make the AFO!

We want to see if we can do better. On the day we want to see if we can 3D Scan and then 3D Print an AFO. We are very fortunate to be joined by a Physio Therapist specialising in Orthotics and a professional Orthotist who will guide us.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/4/a/5/600_441605285.jpeg

PROJECT 2: BOCCIA RAMP

(Continued from Last Event)

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/5/b/6/600_441605558.jpeg

We are working on a design that would let people who can't lean forward, play. Solving this won't only help Kylie who attended our event, the director of Boccia Australia has confirmed this is a big issue for a lot of good players not only Kylie. Kylie's key issues are:

  1. She's unable to release the ball from a lower position, so need a way to be able to slow the ball down.

  2. She needs a way to line-up the ramp to aim the ball in the right direction. The $4000 ramp has a swivel which works well, but Kylie's wooden ramp does not.

  3. She needs a way to ensure the ball runs as straight as possible after leaving the end of the ramp

A Big thanks to Dave who has created some concept drawings, on the day we will aim to build a prototype and start testing it!

PROJECT 3: BLUETOOTH SWITCH/PC INTERFACE

(Continued from Last Event)

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/0/d/4/600_439725268.jpeg

This interface allows you plug up to four switches into your computer via the USB port. This can be used as both a keyboard and a mouse interface and can be used with most single switch programs. These things currently sell for around $439, which is INSANE. We want to create one that can be built for less than $40

A BIG SHOUTOUT to Dimitry who have created a first design for the electronics and enclosure, you can checkout the designs here:

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/6/a/d/600_441605805.jpeg

BlueButton Enclosure (http://magictale.com/2805/the-bluebutton-envisaging-enclosure/)

BlueButton Electronics (http://magictale.com/2726/the-bluebutton-project/)

Our mission on the day is to finish the prototypes and start testing them!

Requirements (from Previous Make-a-Thon)

Per input from experts Kylie and Marusha, the draft requirements for a useful ability switch are:

  1. Shall have Bluetooth capability in order to communicate with an iPad.

  2. Shall be wireless (no wires for communication or power) from the wheelchair to the iPad or PC.

  3. Shall be battery powered.

  4. Shall not need to be recharged more than once per day with normal usage, if powered by a rechargeable battery.

  5. Shall have a programmable / changeable function for the switch, for example a keyboard keypress, mouse click or media button.

  6. Shall have electronics and software that is reusable in alternative multi-switch ability switch designs.

  7. Shall be an open source design that can be constructed by makers using purchasable components or modules.

We will be working towards meeting these benchmarks at this event.

WHAT DOES THE DAY LOOK LIKE

We used a Human Centered and Design Thinking approach to the day. Here is a summary of how we roll!

9:30 - 11:00 DISCOVERY

We understood the challenge by listening to the Australian Boccia coach and the director of Boccia Australia. We heard from Marusha and Kylie about difficulties they have with their current ramps & switch applicators

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/5/0/3/600_440574531.jpeg

11:00 - 12:00 INTERPRETATION

Shared our experiences related to the challenge. Understood potential problems by listening to the everyday use of people with disabilities.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/f/4/5/600_440388965.jpeg

12:00- 2.00 IDEATION

Working by team on the 2 different projects. Brainstorming, emerging ideas and refining them in priorities.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/4/f/d/600_440574525.jpeg

2.00 - 4.00pm EXPERIMENTATION

This is where we got our sketches down. We used tactile materials to produce prototypes of a new design. This enabled us to shape the concept, prototype it and perfect it.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/4/d/b/600_440574491.jpeg

4.00pm to 4:15pm EVOLUTION

We tracked our ideas and debriefed to move forward. While eating cake, playing Boccia!

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/4/b/4/600_440574452.jpeg

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/4/c/1/600_440574465.jpeg

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/4/c/6/600_440574470.jpeg

THE TEAM FROM PREVIOUS MAKEATHON:

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/5/d/6/600_441605590.jpeg

Related topics

Events in Erskineville Sydney, AU

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