This week, I learned how to light up a bulb using wires and a flat battery on the circuit board. First, we tested if the flat battery had enough voltage using a Multimeter. Then, we connected both positive and negative sides of the flat battery to the circuit board using the wires. And depending on the placement, we added different stoppers to limit the amount of voltage going through the circuit. This will help us light our protection in light for prosthetic users to use them in the night when they are going on a walk. Next week, we are going to finish making the watch using the watch cover we previously made using the laser cutter.
Last week, we created three different prototypes based on our research. And in this, Milestone studio was generous to spend their time with us and gave us feedback based on our new research and prototypes. Overall, we got some great feedback. Our group had some great first hand resources, Jenna and Jeannette, and have some good prototypes. Now, we need to interview elder prosthetic leg users and veterans prosthetic leg users. Then we can target a larger age group than just, young athletic prosthetic leg users. Milestone also suggested us to study Jenna’s prosthetic model and create a protection specifically for her. So further on, our group is going meet up with Jenna and take pictures of her walking and running with her prosthetic leg. This way, we can design a model that will not interfere with her movement.
Jenna gave us great feedback this week. She told us to not make the protection come up to their thighs. That actually hinders her from running. Also, she wants her protection to not be a sleeve because it tends to spin around her slippery prosthetic leg. So, we need to hold down the protection on the prosthetic leg without going over the thigh. As a solution, our group create a hook that will go on the back part of Jenna’s prosthetic leg. This will firmly hold the protection to the leg without having it fall off. The hooks should be covered with rubber but have a metal sheet for firmness. The sleeve is going to be made out of silicon or part PVC plastic and silicon. For next week, we are going to work on deciding the best material for making our prosthetic model. So, we are going to a prosthetic arm firm called Psyonic and ask for material suggestion. This way we can finalize on our material cost and find a way how to make a cheap prosthetic protection just like Psyonic.
We are also working with Jenna on making a tread for better mobility in rough terrains. With feedback that we have gotten, I suggest that you make sure the material you use can maximize protection to weight ration as making a prohibitively heavy guard would not be helpful. I think that the hook idea is really cool though, and I can’t wait to see where your project goes!