Kate Hartman

Category: Assistive Technology

  • FINAL PROJECT: Q Beta

    For the final project I am working with Kati, Alice, Megan, Nanna, and Fiona. We have decided to create a quilt that can be used in exercises for physical & speech therapy. Our research notes and project development can be found here. General information about the project can be found at www.qquilt.com.

  • ACTIVITY ANALYSIS CONTINUED: VACUUM SHOE

    We reexamined the activity of vacuuming without the use of hands or arms.

    [QUICKTIME http://itp.nyu.edu/~kh928/archives/vacuum.mp4 160 137]

    We found it impossible to connect the most commonly used large attachment. For this particular attachment, there is a small button that needs to be depressed in order to lock it into place. Using only the feet and legs, this proved to be extremely difficult, both because of the size of the button and the need to use simultaneous opposing force.

    It was also difficult to maneuver the plug and cord out of the vacuum cleaner body. After several attempts, we were successful. The design of this particular vacuum cleaner model made it easy to access the attachments with the use of two feet. We decided to analyze the actual back and forth motion required to vacuum the floor.

    The solution that we came up with is a specially designed attachment for the the vacuum to be used with the foot. The attachment is worn as a slipper. The floor cleaning attachment is integrated into the weight-bearing base.

    [QUICKTIME http://itp.nyu.edu/~kh928/archives/footvacuum.mp4 160 137]

  • ACTIVITY ANALYSIS OBJECT REDESIGN

    Using a Vacuum Cleaner to Clean an Apartment

    In the chart below, we’ve tried to break down this chore into basic steps. The Physical, Sensory and Cognitive columns all indicate what type of involvement is needed for that specific task. We did not analyze these steps from a social perspective, as this is usually an activity that is done in the privacy of one’s home.

    Activity Breakdown Physical Sensory Cognitive
    1. clear floor balance/strength/coordination to bend/lift see/sense where objects are located and where to move them to know which objects should be moved and which should not
    2. remove vacuum from storage mobility/strength/balance to maneuver into storage space to get vacuum & attachments see/sense of storage location and space around know the storage location
    3. plug in power cord flexibility to pull out cord and reach socket see/sense the socket location understand that the plug must go into the socket
    4. attach appropriate hose/nozzle hand strength and fine motor skills see/sense appropriate nozzle, location, connection know which attachment is appropriate and their location
    5. turn on vacuum fine motor skills with hands or feet, balance see/sense switch, awareness that it is working/clogged know how to operate the switch
    6. maneuver through space strength to pull, balance/awareness not to trip over cord see/sense where to clean–finding nooks & crannies, location of cord understand back/forth motion and what has been cleaned and what needs to be cleaned
    7. manage locations of cord, vacuum body, hose, attachment strength, coordination see/sense location of cord, vacuum, new socket understand concept of vacuum being attached to the wall and adjusting plug relative to rooms
    8. turn off fine motor skills see/sense the switch understand when finished, how to turn off
    9. unplug fine motor skills, balance, strength see/sense plug understand unplugging as a next step
    10. rewrap cord fine motor skills with hands or feet, coordination see/sense cord without tangling/knots realize cord needs to be wrapped up
    11. return to storage mobility/strength/balance to maneuver into storage space to get vacuum & attachments see/sense of storage location and space around know the storage location

    POTENTIAL ISSUES:

    Vision Impaired

    tripping over cord
    knowing position of all components
    knowing what has been vacuumed
    finding nooks & crannies
    knowing when you run out of cord
    locating new sockets

    Hearing Impaired

    longer response time if plug accidentally comes out of the socket/vacuum is off
    difficult to sense if the vacuum is backed-up

    Restricted Mobility

    the chord could pose a problem maneuvering around and not tripping over
    lifting/accessing machine and attachment

    PROPOSAL:

    A system for moving and managing large objects or devices with a wheelchair. Objects/devices are placed into a storage unit which is mounted on a wall via electro-magnetic powered latches (caribiners). The user backs up to the storage unit, located at wheelchair level, and by pressing switches, located on the armrests of the wheelchair, opens and locks the front latches, securing the unit to the back of the wheelchair, and opens the back latches, releasing the unit from the wall.

    A cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner could be adapted using this system. Attachments would be mounted on the wall nearby and all the vacuum controls would be located on the handle of the nozzle.

  • SYLLABUS