Keyboard Aid for Limited Hand Use

pinshape

Background and Inspiration This design challenge was initiated by the "Within Reach – Design Challenge," a competition that pushes designers to create innovative tools for individuals with limited hand functionality. One of the significant challenges faced by people with restricted hand use, as mentioned in an article by the Accessible Technology Coalition, is grasping utensils or writing instruments. This sparked an idea - how difficult would it be to type on a computer when you have limited mobility in your hands? To gain insight into this experience, I tried typing while wearing socks on both my hands, just as the video suggested. The process was tedious and challenging; often, I inadvertently pressed multiple keys at once, necessitating the deletion of extra characters. This approach proved impractical for composing emails or even performing short Google searches. Following my experiment, I researched assisted typing tools designed for individuals with limited hand use. Most devices followed a design that involved placing your hand into a cuff with an extension to press the key; however, these tools were priced between $16 and $33+. After observing these keyboard aids, I aimed to create a device that functioned similarly but could be 3D printed at a significantly lower cost. Another challenge I encountered while limiting my hand movement was turning on my desk-lamp, which features a "ball and chain" mechanism. I then realized that not only did my desk-lamp have this feature but so did my ceiling fan. While most ceiling fans come equipped with switches, some don't - like mine. To resolve this issue, I designed a piece for the keyboard aid that slips over the "ball" part of the "ball and chain" mechanism, allowing users to pull down on it instead of grasping the "ball" portion. You can find videos showcasing the Typing Aid in use on a keyboard here, as well as the "ball and chain" assist in action here. Modeling Process To create my model, I utilized Autodesk Fusion360 - you can view a video of the modeling process here. Print Settings We used Matter Hackers Silver PLA for this print. It's recommended to use support everywhere to help with the spaces in the top and sides of the print as well as the extending arm. A raft or brim is not necessary but printing one won't cause any issues. Check out this time-lapse we took of the print here! Future Plans In the future, I plan on creating another version of this model with the ability to add an insert made from flexible filament that acts as a hand pad for users. If you're interested in modifying or improving upon this concept, please reach out to me and I'll provide you with the source file (Fusion 360 file). Update 1 (9/06/16) I added three new versions of the model (Blank, Flowers, and Arrows), so there are now more options available. In addition, I changed the title of the original model to "Ovals" to distinguish it from the rest. I also uploaded rendered images of all four models to showcase what each looks like!