Author: Matthew Lee

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Team 3: Project Reflection

Introduction:

Welcome to Vizallo! Throughout the semester, we built silicone cover solutions to prevent water from damaging electronics in power wheelchairs. We are a team of 4, comprised of 2 technical business students, a computer science major and a very talented industrial designer.

Ryan’s Story:

Our journey began when we were introduced to Ryan, a recent UIUC graduate and a power wheelchair user himself. We heard unbelievable stories of his multi-thousand-dollar machine simply powering off in the rain because of circuit leakage – and we could not believe it. Ryan resorted to literally using a Ziploc bag to protect the electronics to avoid being stuck helplessly in the rain, banking on kind pedestrians to assist him in getting under a roof. It didn’t take us long to commit to embarking on this semester-long design challenge and trying to help Ryan find a sustainable way to stay dry in the rain.  

Research:

We first decided to look into the market to identify the different options that are available for the purpose of protecting the electronics on the power wheelchair. Although there are several brands with the offerings, most of the options available apply the same concept. They look like a little quarantine tent, where the user would insert his or her hand into to operate the joystick of the power wheelchair.

We realized that these types of covers have many flaws and thus, a big space for us to make improvements on. For example, there are many complaints about the product not being able to hold against heavy rain. It could successfully prevent light drizzles from entering through but under heavy rain, the water could still enter through, thus failing to provide its primary purpose of protecting the electronics of the power wheelchair from the weather. Additionally, because the products are so big and bulky, the users always take them off when it is not raining outside. This means that the users often forget to bring the products with them or get caught in the rain by surprise without having access to them. Furthermore, the designs of the products are not appealing to the users, discouraging them from continuous use.

Design Process:

The design process was not easy. To create what seemed to be a simple solution, such as using an umbrella, was not beneficial for our user. This is when we really became challenged by the design prompt. We came up with extreme ideas from protectant fields to very simple ideas such as utilizing saran wrap. After talking with Ryan about his desire to ride in a Ferrari, our perspective changed and we realized that in order to design something effective, we had to thoroughly consider the user. Coming to this awareness really enabled us to focus on the actual problem, which is to protect the joystick. Although we thought of coming up with solutions that will protect the entire chair from the rain or even his hand, in order to design effectively, we had to consider how every aspect of our design was going to affect Ryan.

After gaining an understanding of what is available on the market, we decided to poke around other protective covers to gain inspiration for our product. We did not limit ourselves to the power wheelchair related products and looked far beyond. For example, we looked into baby strollers and convertible cars to gain inspiration for the “armadillo-style” protective cover. We even looked at phone cases to come up with an idea of a “perfect-fit skin” for the arm of the power wheelchair.

Our goal was simple: create a product that is easy and effective. Since we could not exactly predict the other weather conditions that may come with rainfall such as wind, we had to simplify some of our ideas. This is when the phone case idea provided major inspiration. The phone case is an everyday product that is not only practical but also customizable. Those are two characteristics that we did not notice in other power wheelchair protective covers available on the market. So from there, our goal was to create a product that serves as a skin cover for the joystick, thus allowing it to be mobile, simple, and provide a room to add customization.

Make-A-Thon:

Leading up to the Make-A-Thon, we spent most of our time brainstorming. Going into the Make-A-Thon, we had a solid idea of what we wanted to produce but we weren’t quite sure of the process. Our first step involved creating a mold of the joystick. Since we did not get to scanning and 3D-printing the actual joystick until weeks later, we created a model of a joystick out of styrofoam. After this stage, we were again, unsure of our next steps, and so we tried to develop a prototype that incorporated everyone’s ideas.

We decided to develop on the sleeve cover idea, for which, we tried out the heat gun. The goal was to use heat in some way to get the plastic to shrink to the form of the joystick prototype. Unfortunately, this was not very successful. Some of the plastic and styrofoam melted and the rest refused to stick to the prototype. However, what we did discover was that the plastic, when heated would stick to itself. Therefore, after we came up with another idea, which was to cut the fabric into pieces and piece the pieces together with hot glue, we utilized the heat gun to seal the seams.

While looking for inspiration, we also ran into covers/skins with texture such as the one on game controllers. This inspired us to make grips out of moldable plastic that we then added to our prototype for additional support when the joystick gets slippery. The overall process worked out great and after we added a couple of details, we were done with the prototype for the Make-A-Thon.

Post-Make-A-Thon:

After the Make-A-Thon, we continued to work on the next version of the prototype, which would be closer to what we would hope to put on the market. In order to make the prototype more accurate, we scanned the joystick of Ryan’s power wheelchair, with which we 3D printed the mold. Unfortunately, due to the size of the arm of the power wheelchair, we had to scale the mold down and only focus on the part with the joystick to serve as a demonstration. With the scan of the arm of the power wheelchair, we used Meshmixer to isolate the part with the joystick. We also used the software to fill any gaps from the scan.

The file was then transferred to Fusion 360, where the mold is designed based on the scan. Our idea is that we have a base of the mold with the scanned joystick, which will be enclosed by the top that has a slightly larger negative image of the joystick. Therefore, when the top encloses the base, there will be a slight gap between the base and the top, through which silicon will be inserted to produce the sleeve cover. We were unable to try the silicon injection but we were able to successfully print out the top and the base of the mold.

Next Steps/Testing:

Although the semester wrapped up and the project ended, we decided to share what we have planned on doing further if we were to have more time. For example, we planned on performing more user testing. This will allow us to gain perspectives from the other power wheelchair users and also test the scalability of the product by having them give us feedback. This will also give us valuable insight into the user interface/user experience process of putting on and removing the silicone cover. Since certain users may have less dexterity function than Ryan, we must ensure that we can accommodate everyone.

Next, once we have validated with a broader range of users, we would look into manufacturing the silicone cover at a slightly larger scale. However, we will probably only leverage the database we would have built up from working one on one with the other power wheelchair users. Nonetheless, since there is such a limited amount of power wheelchair manufacturers, this would help us cover a substantial part of the market.

Ultimately, we would look to encompass the rest of the market through more one-on-one testing and database logging or try to leverage the OEMs and use their molds directly from the production line. This is where the large scale manufacturing and distribution comes into play, otherwise known as our moonshot.

This is an enormous industry as a whole. According to Smart Chair, the power wheelchair market alone was valued at $3.9 billion. This is a large market which can be easily infiltrated due to the staggeringly low amount of wheelchair manufacturers that exist. According to IBIS World, there are only 21 wheelchair manufacturers in the US, and it is likely that not all of them make power wheelchairs.

Hence why we justified growing a digital database one-by-one based on individual user testing. Since there is a maximum of 21 different models which we would need to model and manufacture for, hustling and meeting users of each type is not completely out of the question. The manufacturer concentration in this market actually plays heavily to our long-term advantage.

The final presentation for my team can be found here: Team 3 Final Presentation.

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The Journey Continues…

Thinking back to the time when I was applying to be a part of the course, I realized how far I have come since then. I remember being excited yet nervous about taking the course. As someone who lacked self-confidence in my own technical abilities, I was looking forward to learning different skills, such as using a 3D designing tool and 3D printing a product. However, I was nervous that I would fall behind. You can see how nervous I was from the post I wrote in the past. Little did I know then that I would be spending hours taking a lead in cleaning up 3D scans and printing them for the team by the end of the semester.

Before the course began, I didn’t know what to expect from it. All I wanted was to gain more technical skills that I can continue to use even when the course wrapped up. However, I quickly came to realize that the course provided far more than the hard, technical skills.

Upon hearing the stories of the mentors, I realized that the course is very unique in the sense that it has many opportunities to leave an impact on society. That’s when I began to develop my desire to do something more than simply developing technical skills. Even if I could not complete an idea by the end of the semester, I wanted to leave an idea behind that other people can be inspired by.

Since the course had a main focus on developing ideas around the subject of accessibility, it was critical for us to understand the process of designing and developing prototypes. This was when I learned about the term “design thinking” or “human-centered design.” I realized that this idea can be applied to everywhere in any profession, not just in the space of designing. By constantly keeping the customers/clients in mind and being open to their feedback, you have the best chance of providing something for their needs. This is one of the most valuable ideas that I learned from the course.

As we continued to learn about different skills and qualities necessary to be successful at developing ideas, such as failing early and often, we began to learn the technical skills that I was looking to learn as well. Unlike my worries, I was able to absorb the information quickly and even take a step beyond what was taught in the course.

I remember the first time watching the 3D printers at work in awe as my work on the computer came to life in a tangible form. Although I have always wanted to try it before, due to the lack of confidence, I kept on convincing myself that I don’t know how to do it, so I never have until this point. This class allowed me to break the barrier and become comfortable with the idea of exploring the unknown.

In addition to the 3D designing and printing programs such as Fusion 360 and Ultimaker Cura, I also learned other skills that I did not expect, such as using Inkspace, laser cutting, sewing machine, and Arduino. I also discovered Fablab and its resources, which I am interested in exploring further in the future. I did not realize that we had access to such resources nearby and I am grateful to have met even more amazing people who are ready to help with anything within their capabilities.

The real fun began when I was able to apply these skills to develop my own idea with the team. We faced many challenges throughout the semester from trying to figure out the opportunity we wanted to pursue to making advances in the prototypes. However, we continued to push through and persevered in the end.

Through the Make-a-thon and a couple of weeks after the event, we were able to develop on the prototypes rapidly. It was amazing to see how quickly we were able to make advancements during these three weeks. I was even more surprised to discover how much I could do with Fusion 360 and Meshmixer to 3D print the scan. This experience built my confidence in my abilities to learn and apply the technical skills.

Wrapping up the project, I cannot believe how much I learned from the course. Not only have I gained more technical skills than I expected, but I also learned about different ways to interact with people of varying needs and mindsets. It was also very exciting to be able to see other people’s passion and to watch their ideas become tangible products. I never considered myself an innovator and did not think that I would have an opportunity to work with people of varying backgrounds to develop on a new idea, but this experience demonstrated to me that I have what it takes and I just need to dive into it, past the self-doubt stage. This course has really allowed me to build the self-confidence and passion that I need to pursue after different opportunities beyond my comfort zone. Not only am I excited to see where this experience will lead me to, but I am also looking forward to seeing everyone else continue to grow and reach their dreams!

Thanks everyone for such a wonderful semester! Also a big shoutout to the mentors and judges who provided so much valuable inputs and feedback!
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Post-Make-A-Thon Recovery

From Friday, April 12th, 5:00 pm to Sunday, April 14th, 2:00 pm, we participated in a Make-a-thon. Yes, it was a LONG weekend, but I had a lot of fun, not just developing the idea with my team, but also seeing the brilliant ideas that other teams came up with. It felt amazing to be finally turning our ideas into something tangible and demonstrating it to others.

Before heading into the event, my team and I were still exploring a couple of different ideas for the protective cover of a power wheelchair joystick and decided that we would try to develop a prototype for both. One of the ideas was an armadillo-style cover that would function like the cover that is found on baby strollers.

Image result for baby stroller
Baby stroller, which inspired us to come up with an armadillo-style cover for a power chair.

On Friday evening, we met with Ryan, our expert user, and shared this idea. He seemed to be interested in the idea but shared a few of his concerns about it, including the visibility of the screen, buttons, and joysticks that would be protected by the cover. After the meeting, my team and I discussed the idea further, wondering whether it would be best if we continue to focus on trying both ideas or dropping this one. While discussing it, we also realized that this armadillo-style may not be as effective if it is used in a windy condition as the rain could still easily get to the electronic parts of the chair. Therefore, although we really liked this idea since it was unique, we decided to focus our efforts on creating a prototype for the other idea throughout the event.

After this decision was made, one of my teammates and I decided to scavenge for materials around the Fablab. Since we decided on the skin idea, similar to that of the phone covers, we were looking for a transparent material that could be wrapped around the arm of a power chair. We were very lucky to find one that perfectly suited for this purpose.

Image result for flexible transparent phone cover
A flexible phone cover that is transparent, which inspired us to come up with a “skin” for the arm of a power chair.

The following day, a fellow student from the Fablab course joined our team to work on the project together for the duration of the event. After we caught him up on our ideas and the progress, we were able to work together extremely well, making progress quickly. From gathering the rest of the materials to designing the prototype, everything progressed smoothly. Using the dimensions of Ryan’s power chair that we measured earlier, we made a copy of the arm using styrofoam. Based on this model, we were able to wrap the transparent material around it to mold and cut it into the shape that we needed it to be.

In addition to the cover, we wanted to provide texture on the part that covers the joystick to allow for a firmer grip for the users. Not only would it allow for easier use for the user, but it would also provide a more secure feeling, which we decided was important to offer with our product. We were able to mold a material around the joystick with grooves of a grip to demonstrate this.

While we were working on this, one of the teammates worked on using Arduino to create a testing device that could detect whether moisture was entering through the cover or not. He was able to code and successfully build a device that would make a beeping noise when it detected moisture. Although we do not think this would be a part of the final product, it is something that we plan on using to test our prototypes in the future to check for its functionality.

Initially, although I was happy that we were able to create a prototype and demonstrate our idea to others, I was not as confident in it. I thought that it did not have enough differentiating factors that made it unique. Fortunately, others did not think that way. From judges to supports, everyone showed their interest in our idea and provided their own inputs for it. Everyone was so supportive that I felt proud to showcase it. I learned the importance of not doubting myself and instead, being proud of the work that my team and I have put in throughout the event. From working in a team environment, providing and receiving feedback, to learning to use different tools, this experience taught me a lot of valuable skills that I will continue to use.

For the rest of the semester, we are hoping to move on from this transparent plastic material that we found and work with silicone instead to create the cover. Now that we have the idea set on how it will look like and how it will be used, we want to create it with the actual material that we are hoping the product to be made with. With silicone, there may be additional adjustments that need to be made on our design, which is why we believe it is critical to create a prototype with it. We are very excited to see how far we can get with the rest of the semester.

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Prototype Development

As the date of the Make-a-thon approaches, my team and I are trying to narrow down on our options for the prototype. With selecting one or two prototypes to continue as our objective of the week, we shared our ideas to Milestone Labs to receive their feedback. From the bridge-style and an armadillo-style to a molding idea, we had a wide range of ideas for the cover of the joystick for a power wheelchair. Although we liked the idea of providing a molding kit to the user so that the cover can be customized for the specific wheelchair along with the possibility of adding grooves for the grips or using different colors, we realized that this method is most likely out of our reach to achieve for the make-a-thon event. Therefore, we decided to continue with the prototypes that we can make further progress with.

During the discussion with Milestone Labs, we shared our findings on the market research and how the current joystick protectors on the market are ugly as seen below.

However, when we came up with other ideas with better designs, we discovered the challenge of making the product fit with different types of chairs in order to increase the user base. When we shared this problem with Milestone Labs, they told us to focus on our direct user, Ryan, first and see how it goes from there on.

After consulting with Milestone Labs, we came together as a team to have a discussion about our prototypes. Our original prototypes were made to protect the joystick itself, but after reviewing Ryan’s power chair, we decided that it would be important to also protect the screen and the buttons on the arm of the chair. Therefore, we developed an idea of a protective sleeve that would fit around the arm of the power chair tightly for the improved appearance compared to the ones in the market. The design is shown in the sketch below.

After the sketch, we discussed the potential materials that can be used for the product. There were many things we needed to consider, including:

  1. Is the material waterproof? Will it be able to withstand a lot of rain?
  2. Can it withstand a variety of weather conditions including but not limited to rain, snow, cold, humid, hot, and direct sunlight?
  3. Is it transparent so that the user can see the buttons and the screen through the cover?
  4. Is the material affordable?
  5. Is the material durable yet flexible enough that it can be molded around the joystick as well as the arm of the power chair?

Considering such questions, we developed a list of materials, which can be seen in the picture above on the top right corner of the whiteboard. We also discussed the mechanism for wrapping the sleeve around the arm of the chair, including buttons, zippers, and velcro. We talked about whether one method was easier to perform than the other as well as the effectiveness of it as both factors are crucial for the users.

Although we had many ideas before, we were unsure which route to take for the project. This week, we were able to narrow it down and come up with solid details for the product, so I am very happy with the progress that has been made. We are excited to get our hands on the materials and start working on the prototype. In the meantime, we are planning on meeting with Ryan again to measure dimensions of his chair as well as developing low-fidelity prototypes using papers and fabrics.

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Week 10 Summary: Make-a-thon Pre-Event

The ultimate goal of the Digital Making Seminar course is to create a functioning prototype of whatever it is that each team is working on by the end of the Make-a-thon, taking place from Friday, April 12th, 5:00 pm to Sunday, April 14th, 2:00 pm. What makes this event so exciting is that it not only involves the Digital Making Seminar students but also the students from Dr. Deana McDonagh and Jim Kendall‘s studio class as well as Jeff Ginger‘s Marketspace class. Although the point of the event is to provide the space and resources for the participants to make their ideas come to reality and not to compete against each other, because many external people see the value of what we are doing, we have judges, sponsors, and expert users and mentors to guide us through the progress.

As the date of the event approaches, Dr. Vishal Sachdev, our professor for the course, set up a pre-event, where the participants came together to meet each other as well as some of the mentors and expert users. The pre-event began with the introduction of the make-a-thon with details regarding the schedule and the resources that we would have access to. From the Fablab to Architecture Annex on campus, we are fortunate to have been provided with access to many resources. We are all very excited to utilize the resources to develop on the ideas that we have worked on so far throughout the semester.

While sharing the details of the event, Dr. Sachdev, as well as Dr. McDonagh, reemphasized that the purpose of the event is to design with the expert users and mentors in different opportunities that have been identified. We are not solving any problems or challenges. It is critical for the participants to remember this as we want to constantly keep the users in our mind while constructing prototypes and receive feedback by working with them.

After going through the details of the event, we were introduced to a few of our mentors and expert users as well as new ones. Each one of them took the time to introduce themselves, sharing their stories to inspire us.

John and Isaiah, two of the new expert users that have been introduced, shared how they adapted to the struggles that they faced. For example, John, whose condition does not allow him to have enough grip strengths to use his fingers to pull apart a sock to put over his foot, kindly demonstrated the solution that he found for it.

John’s sock which has been modified to fit his need.

As pictured above, with help from his mother, he simply had three loops sewed around the neck of the sock, allowing him to insert his fingers through them and to tug on them. This simple, yet brilliant idea inspired many of us, encouraging us to think of simple ideas and to look for inspiration from the daily objects. We realized that by doing that, we will be able to come up with things that many users would have access to and find easy to use.

Steve, a representative of Clark-Lindsey, also shared the stories of the residents and their needs in the local retirement community. From the challenges of holding the phones to video chat with the family to the danger of falling due to dementia and pre-Parkinson’s disease, he shared how we can leave a big impact on many different types of users through this event. This sharing inspired some groups, such as the team that is working on developing a product to help the people with prosthetic legs to improve the balance to do yoga, to think of ways to expand the user base.

Afterward, we were provided with opportunities to talk with the expert users and mentors to ask questions and to receive feedback on the ideas that we have been developing throughout the semester. Some teams were also able to talk with students from other classes to see if any of them would be interested in joining the team.

As we continue towards the make-a-thon, most of the teams are moving into the prototyping phase. So far, we came up with many different ideas and developed on them, constantly receiving feedback from the expert users. However, we understand that there will be different challenges that will arise when we try to make the ideas tangible, which is why prototyping is important. From low fidelity prototypes to 3D designing through Fusion360 and printing the product, we will be experimenting with different ways to develop the prototypes. We are all very excited to continue to work on our ideas and look forward to presenting them during the make-a-thon!

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Setting the Pace for the Make-a-thon

This week, instead of holding a regular class, we had an opportunity to come together with the rest of the Make-a-thon participants. Make-a-thon is a 3-day capstone event for our course, where the goal is to develop a working prototype of the idea that we have been working on over the semester by the end of it. Just like any other make-a-thon or a hackathon event, there will be a panel of judges to select the best prototype/idea, and prizes, including a 3D printer, will be given out. What got me excited about this event is that it is not only us, the Digital Making Seminar students, participating in it but there are students from the Accessibility + Design course, as well as other design and making courses and programs across the campus who will be participating in it. With everyone working on the theme of accessibility, I am glad that this event is open to more people and hope that it will continue to expand over the years.

It was exciting for me to see a room full of participants and the mentors, all buzzing with various ideas. With so many people present, I could not wait to see the different ideas that they were exploring and what would come out by the end of the event.

Getting Inspired by the Mentors and Expert Users

Another important part of the meeting was being introduced to new mentors/expert users and hearing their stories. One of the most inspiring stories that I heard was from John, an expert user, who has conditions that do not allow him to have the necessary grip strengths on his hands to pull a sock apart to put it over his foot. He shared the challenge of this as well as how he overcame it. His solution was to attach three loops around the neck of the sock, through which he can insert his fingers and pull it over his foot. It was an extremely simple, yet brilliant idea.

This reminded me of the phrase “simple is the best” and made me reevaluate the ideas that my team and I are working on. To ensure that our product is usable by a large user base, we need to make sure that the idea is simple and clear enough that it can be used easily. As an idea develops and makes progress, I think it is very easy to lose the initial goal or a mindset that the idea was developed from due to the excitement and the desire to do more. However, since the ultimate purpose is to allow the users to use the product easily, we always need to be conscious of them. John’s story inspired me to look around the daily objects to see if they can be modified to help with the opportunity that my team and I have identified.

Team Rotam

With the new inspiration and energy from the participants, my team and I gathered during the breakout session to talk about our ideas further. While discussing, we realized that we have several ideas but it would be more helpful to have them be tangible to determine whether they are viable options or not. Therefore, we are looking to develop on the ideas further and create a few low fidelity prototypes of each to test them out. We expect challenges from transferring our ideas to tangible products, but we are also very excited to see how they will turn out. We believe that with tangible prototypes, we will also have an easier time demonstrating our ideas to Ryan to receive his feedback, which is why this is very important.

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Putting It All Together

Sewing the Strap

We met at the Fab Lab for the last time in order to assemble the motion-detecting watch together. Before the class began, I took some time to go back to the Lab to work on the strap of the watch, which was an interesting experience. Although I have done hand sewing before, I have never used a sewing machine, so I had to begin with the first step, which was threading the machine. After a couple of practice, I was able to begin to use the machine, following a guideline on a piece of cloth to get a feeling of the machine and how to control the pace of it. After some practice and building up confidence, I began to work on the strap.

Using the sewing machine to sew the cloth to create a strap for the watch

Although I had to redo a couple of parts because I got too close to the edge of the strap, it was a fun experience overall, moving at a steady pace along the cloth. It was very satisfying to see the result after the string has been cut from the cloth.

Experimenting with Arduino

Back in the class, we began to play around with Arduino, learning about different components and transferring codes over from the computer to it. Since the majority of the class, including myself, did not have any experience with Arduino, we used the example codes that are already on the Arduino program and adjusted them to fit our situation. We first used the code to light up the little bulb by connecting it to Arduino itself. After, we connected the motion-tilt sensor and used a code to show a graph on the computer that represented when the Arduino was tilted.

  • Different components of Arduino

This program was to be used for the motion-detecting watch, so after ensuring that the code worked correctly, we started assembling the watch together.

Assembling the Watch

  • Fully assembled motion-detecting watch
  • Arduino in the motion-detecting watch
  • Different components of the motion-detecting watch

I was very happy to see all the parts come together into what it is supposed to be. From connecting the wires to putting together the different components of the watch, it was as if I was playing with a Lego. Due to the time constraint, we had to rush through at the end, so I cannot tell whether the watch functions correctly or not, but I am looking forward to finding out in the future.

Storyboarding

After the watches are finished with assembly, we got back into our team to continue working on the project. The main focus of the day was to create storyboards to demonstrate how a user would find out about our product, why they would use our product, and how it would be used by the user.

  • Storyboards that my team and I came up with

We first began by creating a profile of the user, using Ryan as our base for it (first picture on the top left corner).

Next, we demonstrated a situation where Ryan would be out in the rain using his power wheelchair without any cover for it, leading to a system shutdown. This situation would require him to receive help from a stranger to be pushed to a dry spot where he can wait until the chair dries and the system can be rebooted (the five pictures on the top row next to the profile picture).

We then looked into how a user may find out about our product, one of which was through a Google search. For example, the users may search “wheelchair protection from rain” or “how to protect a wheelchair from the rain” (two pictures on the left bottom row).

Another way that a user may find about our product is by seeing other users using the product (two pictures on the right bottom row). We also showed how the user may use our product, allowing them to travel safely in the rain.

This was an interesting exercise that again, focused on the users of the product. It made us rethink why the users may use our product and what may be a critical part of creating a successful product for them. By also thinking about how they would find out about our product, we were ensuring that our product would reach out to the intended users.

Moving Forward

Moving forward, we will continue to explore different options already available in the market that serves the similar purpose of our product as well as various materials that can be used to develop it. We are also planning on reaching out to Ryan once again to have a conversation with him regarding the potential design of the product and receive his feedbacks. We will make sure to continue focusing on the users and how to make sure that they will have access to our product.

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Lighting Up the Bulb

Circuits & Arduino

This week, we continued with our learning at the Fab Lab. Instead of working on the motion-sensing watch like last week, I got to work on a circuit and learn how to use a multimeter. Playing around with the circuit reminded me of my elementary school days when I got to tinker around with the flashlight kit and a mini motor car kit in a science class. Though I did not understand the details during then, I still enjoyed trying various configurations to see which one lights up the bulb and runs the motor and which one does not. With the good memory in my mind, I had fun with the breadboard, resistors, and multimeter, trying to figure out how much of a difference each type of a resistor made to the brightness of the bulb.

  • A circuit with resistors, lightign up the bulb dimly
  • A circuit without a resistor, lighting up the bulb brightly

After playing around with the circuit, we were very briefly introduced to Arduino and its capability. Although this technology is probably not what our project group would use, it was interesting to think how such a small component can have so much computing power.

  • Example of how an Arduino is used for a motion sensing watch
  • Top view of the motion sensing watch

Team Rotam Project Ideas

We also got to meet and receive feedback from the Milestone Labs on our idea of the project. They recommended that we look into different materials that would allow our product to protect the joystick of the power wheelchair. For example, they suggested that we look into the scuba diving suits, which I did not even think of. After hearing the recommendation, it seemed so obvious to me that I should have thought about this before, but while brainstorming, it never came to my mind. That recommendation, however, sparked few ideas of my own, such as looking into the materials of umbrellas. Upcoming week, my team is planning on looking more into what is available in the market for the purpose of protecting the joystick of the power chair as well as different types of materials that could be used to protect it from the water.

After receiving the feedback, the team got together to brainstorm further on our ideas. Last time, we were focusing on additional parts that can be added to the wheelchair to serve the purpose of protecting the joystick, but this time, we focused on how we may be able to make our product be applied to different types of power chairs and not just that of Ryan’s. One idea that we came up with was a DIY molding package. We were thinking that if we could provide a DIY molding package to the users, they can customize the part on their own, ensuring that not only will it fit their power chair, but they could add personal touches and additional comfortability with grooves on the mold and so on.

Outside of the Class

Outside of the class, I managed to find time to go back to the lab to laser cut my own face of the motion sensing watch. While designing this face, I was thinking ‘simple is the best,’ which is how I came up with the design below. I hoped to design the face in a way that it would be very simple and easy for the user to understand it.

  • Completed face of the motion sensing watch

Though this face makes clear sense to me as a designer, I am wondering how different people would perceive it. This thought made me realize how challenging designing is, which is why human-centered designing is crucial. Through the constant feedback from the users, the designer can ensure that the end product would be easily used by the users for the purpose that they are looking for. This is something that my team will constantly keep in our mind as we proceed with the project.

While using the laser cutter, I was curious as to what else the device is used for. I discovered that this technology can be used not just on wood but also on other materials, such as glass and acrylic as demonstrated by various objects shown here. It was also interesting to find out that there are various ways to use the machine, such as cutting, engraving, and vector etching, which are explained here. Looking through images of different things that this machine is used for, it amazes me how much of a detail that this machine can handle.

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Fab Lab: Fabulous Resources for Fabulous Ideas

Exterior of Fab Lab located in Urbana, IL

This was our first of the next three weeks that we will be spending at Fab Lab to learn about various resources that are available to us. Although I have heard of Fab Lab before, I was not aware of what it contains. In fact, I didn’t even know where it was located, so I was very surprised when I found out where it was. It was a small, old-looking building that I passed by daily to get to my classes from the dorm that I used to live in during my freshman year. I always wondered what it was and even peered into it through the windows once, but I never figured out what it was. Walking into it, I was wondering how this place could contain all the high-tech gadgets that the professor was talking about.

As soon as I walked through the doors, I had my eyebrows raised. It was not at all what I imagined the place to be.

  • One side of the wall at Fab Lab displaying different products that are made there
  • Example of a machine that is available at Fab Lab for use
Examples of various products that can be made at Fab Lab

Inside the building was an open space filled with computers, machines, and various types of products that were made at the lab. I felt like a kid who just walked into a candy store, trying to absorb all the different things that I see. From electric cutters, 3D printers, to embroidery machines, there seemed to be endless lines of resources available. Although I was excited to see so many resources, I was also worried about how I could possibly learn to use them for the project.

  • Examples of laser engraved products from Fab Lab
  • 3D printers available at Fab Lab
  • Map of the Fab Lab

After taking a tour throughout the building, the class was divided into two groups to get hands-on learning on a couple of resources available at the lab. This week, I got to participate in an Inkscape workshop. Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor, which can be used to create or edit vector graphics. During the workshop, we got to design a watch face of a motion-detecting watch, which could detect whether the user was performing the bicep curls or wrist twist motions correctly. We were to think of a specific user group and create a design based on it so that the user can use the watch correctly. Although the task seemed simple, it was challenging to come up with a simple, yet effective design. This exercise made me realize how much of a challenge we have ahead of us in trying to design a product that could help the power wheelchair users with preventing the rain from getting into the joystick.

After the workshop, we were grouped into our own teams and got time to brainstorm various prototypes for the team products. The point of this session was to keep the options limitless, even thinking of things that are impossible for us to achieve. For example, while we were brainstorming about what can protect the power wheelchair from rain, we came up with instant heating that dries the moisture, force field, and strong wind blower that can push the water droplets away. Although we understand that these options are not viable, by not limiting ourselves, we were able to come up with more creative ideas that can potentially lead into more feasible ones.

Sketches of various ideas we brainstormed during the session to prevent rain from getting to the joystick of a power wheelchair

In the end, we had to select a couple of designs that were more feasible, easier to implement, and most effective, which we decided were bags to put over the joystick and a mold that can be put over the part. For our next assignment, we will be coming up with a 3D prototype of these ideas. Although the exercises that we performed throughout the week demonstrated lots of challenge ahead of us, I am excited to use the available resources to take our ideas further.

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Learning from the “Firsts”

For me, this week involved a lot of the “firsts.” It was my first time using the Fusion 360 to design and print out an object, first time interviewing an expert user for the project, and my first time not feeling lost about the direction of the project that the team was taking. With the advancements that we have made this week, I feel more confident that we will be able to provide a tangible product that will help our intended users by the end of the project timeline.

Autodesk 360

This week, one of our focus was on learning how to use the Autodesk Fusion 360. As someone who was hoping to learn about 3D designing software such as AutoCAD and be able to create an object through it, this was an exciting topic. In fact, I was so mesmerized by the shapes that were taking form on my screen while doing the first assignment that I forgot that it was to complete up to part one of the videos. Instead, I ended up completing all three videos to create a final product in one sitting even though it took me several hours.

My first attempt at creating an object on Fusion 360

Although it was fun and I enjoyed the process of creating a product on Fusion 360, there were many frustrating moments throughout the assignment. While trying to interact with the interface, I found out how difficult it is to select a very specific area or a part of an object created. Sometimes, it seems like you clicked the correct side or a part of an object but when viewed from a different angle and zoomed in, that may not be the case. It also frustrated me that there were so many lags with the interface. Many of the times when I tried to change the perspective of the view, the interface would lag, testing my patience. Regardless, I am very satisfied with the result and proud of how much I taught myself going through this one assignment.

The practice with Fusion 360 continued in class with Dan Banach from Autodesk leading the workshop. I was extremely happy to find how easy it was to follow him since I already dedicated a lot of time learning the interface. I am usually afraid of using such technical software since I feel that I am slow with technology but this time, I am looking forward to continuing to hone my skill and see where this leads to.

A phone stand created through Fusion 360 during the workshop led by Dan Banach

Interviewing Ryan

This week, our team finally had an opportunity to interview an expert user of a wheelchair. We were privileged to interview Ryan, one of the mentors for the course. With our goal of creating something that will improve the experience of youth wheelchair users, we began to ask him for his stories, especially focusing on his past. He was extremely nice and opened up to us quickly, sharing his stories and emotions that he felt being a wheelchair user since he was young. While sharing the stories, he shared one particular problem that he continues to face as a user of an automated wheelchair: rain getting into the joystick of his chair, leading to a power outage.

Ryan demonstrating his current solution to prevent rain from getting into the joystick of his chair, which is to simply put a plastic bag over the part

With further discussion, we came to the conclusion that it is better for us to focus on something very specific like Ryan’s challenge, rather than something broad like the one that we have been planning on addressing. Although Ryan liked our original idea, he guided us to a different path since we were under a time constraint. Therefore, we will continue to focus on this particular challenge and address it. We also realized that by pursuing this opportunity, we will be able to utilize the technical skills that we are obtaining in class and provide a tangible product by the end, whereas for the other topic, we weren’t sure how that would happen.

Now that our path of the project is a little more clear, we are planning on returning to our plans and activities that we have done in class to modify and adjust accordingly. Although I have always been nervous that our team was behind and unclear about our destination, I now feel much more confident that we will be able to achieve something that will be of help to users like Ryan by the end of the project. This experience confirmed the importance of working with mentors and understanding the perspectives of the users, so we are hoping to set up more interviews with not only Ryan again, but with other users of wheelchairs also. With the new topic in our mind, we have already started visioning what our product would look like, and we are looking forward to where it will lead to!