Tag Archives: special needs

Man with amputated fingers since childhood gets life changing 3D-printed Bionic fingers

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What technology is good if it is of no use to living souls? Meet Mo Ali, a 40-year-old from Brighton, West Sussex, who has just received the world’s first 3D-printed bionic fingers after toiling all his life with low confidence and major handicap in doing most tasks we would take for granted. He loved cycling right from his childhood when he unfortunately met with an accident in the kitchen, chopping off his fingers in a meat grinder. Not surprisingly, he was bullied by other kids due to this unfortunate disability.

He was always two steps behind others when it came to enjoying bicycle rides as he had to make unfruitful quick fixes like wearing a bike glove stuffed with tissues to have a better grip on the handlebar. Even worse, when he finally got a prosthetic hook operated by the force of the shoulder, prescribed by NHS as a glimmer of hope, things didn’t turn out as planned. The thing was heavy and uncomfortable, making it even more difficult to do the simplest of tasks. After only a day of use, he had to stop using it.

Designer: Open Bionics

It was a compromised life after that as Ali coped with the disability by simply hiding it. Now Bristol-based Open Bionics has employed their advanced 3D printing and scanning technology to develop a prosthetic hand with independently moving fingers, which they call the Hero Gauntlet. According to Ali now he’s able to walk down the road without feeling the need to hide.’ Gaining more confidence in the prosthetic, he now says, “With the Hero Gauntlet, once I have a grip on something I know it’s not going anywhere.”

Mo has experimented with countless options in the last 15 years but with no success or even the slightest hope for his situation. Now with the innovative partial hand prosthetic custom-made for him, life is far better. The team at Open Bionics made use of 3D scanning, printing and modeling technology to craft this partial artificial hand with fingers. According to the developers, the prosthetic will be available for people with limb differences soon. The firm even claims that this gauntlet can help revive the hand functionality of ones born without fingers.

According to co-founder, Samantha Payne, “It’s pure joy to see this piece of engineering have a positive physical and emotional impact on Mo’s life.” For us, it’s heartening to see a life-changing transition that technology has made possible. The world needs more of this!

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Electronic 3D book concept helps visually impaired kids feel the magic of fairy tales

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Reading is already a difficult task for people with visual impairments, but it’s especially challenging when it comes to material that involves a lot of visual elements. Adults might have not much of a problem visualizing those words in their minds, but children who are still developing their mental libraries will probably have a harder time. Fairy tales and fictional books with fantasy elements are examples of these highly visual materials, and simply hearing the narration or feeling the words through Braille feels rather insufficient to capture the emotions and magic of the stories. This electronic book concept tries to offer an equally magical experience that makes the objects and scenes pop out from the book, almost literally.

Designers: Subin Kim, Yujeong Shin, Seungyeon Lee

It’s pretty amazing how blind and visually impaired people can read a book while sliding their hands across seemingly random dots, almost like magic. But the text on a page doesn’t exactly show the images associated with the words, relying on your imagination to conjure up those associations mentally. Of course, that comes almost like second nature for those with normal eyesight, but the visually impaired, especially younger ones, need a bigger boost to help match words with shapes and objects.

bbook is a concept for an electronic 3D book that provides all the necessary tools for a child with visual impairments to not only make sense of but also enjoy such fantastical books. It has an audio component that reads the book out loud, with large tactile buttons that let the reader skip forward or backward as desired. There’s also a dynamic Braille “page” where dots rise and sink as the words change.

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The most interesting part of the book, however, is the fabric-like material on the opposite page. This soft material would also rise to create bumps but not as words in Braille but as actual three-dimensional objects related to the story being told. It could be Snow White’s apple, Cinderella’s glass slipper, or the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. In addition to the educational value of this feature, it also helps make the story feel even more magical.

Every part of the 3D book was designed so that a visually impaired individual could use it without assistance. Even the charging indicators are elevating dots rather than LEDs so they can feel how much more time it needs. bbook also has a rather interesting feature where each individual story is inserted into the device like a USB stick, making each tale a memorable and magical experience.

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Wooden wheelchair adds an eco-friendly and aesthetic aspect to a mobility aid

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There are a lot of well-designed wheelchairs currently in the market for those who need mobility aids to get around. Most of them use basically the same materials and will have a few differences in terms of features and functionality. A new wheelchair design that is eco-conscious but also aesthetically appealing was recently unveiled and its first beneficiary is one of the most famous people on Earth that needs a wheelchair to get around – Pope Francis.

Designer: Paul de Livron

The Apollo Wooden Wheelchair was designed by Paul de Livron, a French craftsman and designer who has been making his own wheelchair models ever since he broke his spine and had to use wheelchairs back in 2013. He was finally able to create a wooden wheelchair prototype that is eco-friendly and can use locally available materials as well as not so expensive and also not that complex.

Aside from the fact that the materials used are sustainable, the other “superpower” that the wooden wheelchair possesses is that it changes the way that other people will look at those who will be using this unique-looking mobility aid. The wooden aesthetic adds an interesting aspect to something that used to be purely functional and was in fact a source of embarrassment to some of its users.

Early last year, they presented an enhanced prototype of the wheelchair to Pope Francis who has been using a wheelchair to get around because of his constant knee pain. de Livron was actually given piece of wood from the medieval frame of the Notre-Dame Cathedral to incorporate into the wheelchair and he also put in some other religious details to make it a wheelchair worthy for a pope.

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World’s First AR Glasses that correct Partial Retinal Blindness: Hands-on with Eyecane AR at MWC 2024

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I’ve always said that great technology doesn’t cater only to the needs of the dominant 95%, it also factors in the needs of the often neglected 5%. To that end, AR technology is great, but it hasn’t been applied in a way that benefits the 5th percentile – and Cellico wants to change that. The medical-tech company unveiled the Eyecane AR glasses at MWC, the world’s first augmented reality device designed to correct age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Designed to look and feel like your standard sunglasses, the Eyecane AR helps people with retinal disease see clearly. A 4K camera at the center of the glasses records the world, feeding media into a tiny projected display within the Eyecane AR’s lenses. AMD causes blind spots within people’s vision, but the Eyecane AR’s cameras help fill in those blind spots with digitally captured imagery in real time, helping people see fully and clearly again.

Designer: Cellico

A disease that affects as many as 1 in 200 people by the time they reach 60, going up as high as 1 in 5 people by the time they hit their 90s. The affliction, caused by the degeneration of the macula (the central part of the retina) results in blurry or sometimes even no vision in the center of your eye. Think of a large black dot in otherwise relatively clear vision. Given that a lot of the important things we see find themselves in this central zone, people with AMD can have a tough time looking at objects, identifying people, and navigating scenarios. Cellico’s solution is incredibly simple – have a camera capture whatever is in that gap, and display it in the corner of your eye, where you can still see things relatively clearly. Creating somewhat of a picture-in-picture effect, Eyecane AR allows people with AMD to regain vision in their macular region simply by having a camera capture it and display it in another part of their field of view.

A snap-on sunshade helps people see clearly in bright settings too

By harnessing the power of a compact 4K 20MP camera seamlessly integrated into smart glasses and complemented by an intuitive mobile app, Eyecane AR captures and processes real-time images with precision, even applying optical image stabilization. These images are then projected onto an augmented reality display in Full-HD, effectively shifting central vision to the peripheral field of view. This groundbreaking approach not only restores clarity but also rekindles independence for those navigating the challenges of AMD.

simulates how people with AMD perceive the world, and how the Eyecane AR can help fill in the gap with a PIP on the left side.

Moving the PIP to the center of the screen shows what images would look like for people with regular vision.

The beauty of the Eyecane AR lies in the fact that it can be used right out of the box without a hospital visit. The Eyecane app has a built-in scotometry program that analyzes your vision for you, pinpointing the blind spot or the problematic area in your vision. The app then helps the AR glasses’ camera calibrate and focus on that region, capturing the image and displaying it in a corner of your peripheral vision. The entire process takes mere minutes, and helps quickly restore macular vision simply by relying on the inherent properties of augmented reality displays!

Key Features of Eyecane AR:

  • 4K camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) embedded in AR glasses
  • Mobile app featuring a customized image-processing engine
  • Full HD Reflective Freeform crystal Lens offering a Field of View (FoV) of 40°
  • Voice control functionality for seamless user interaction
  • Electric Auto Sunshade coated with an LC film, ensuring optimal visual comfort in diverse lighting conditions
  • Lightweight construction, crafted from Titanium and Ultem materials, prioritizing comfort and wearability

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Is Your Elderly Dog Facing Issues While Walking? This Walking Aid Was Designed For You

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As our beloved furry companions age, they may encounter challenges during their strolls that hinder their once effortless mobility. Recognizing the unique needs of senior dogs facing walking-related health issues, 3 designers have unveiled an ingenious solution – the Steady walking aid. This seatbelt-inspired device not only provides vertical support to assist elderly dogs in their walks but also incorporates cutting-edge technology for data analysis, ensuring a holistic approach to the well-being of our canine friends.

Designers: Jungmin Park, Chaewon Lee and Seungha Baek

The foundation of Steady lies in its innovative design, inspired by the structure of a seatbelt. Unlike traditional walking aids that can be cumbersome and restrictive, Steady offers a flexible range of motion while prioritizing comfort, freedom of movement, and adaptability to different terrains for senior dogs. The strap design mimics the safety mechanisms of a seatbelt, cradling the dog’s belly from behind and allowing unhindered walking.

Adjusting the length of Steady is a breeze, thanks to a simple turn of the knob, accommodating dogs of various sizes effortlessly. The device seamlessly integrates with joint-protective clothing, serving as both a walking aid and a harness, streamlining the preparation process before a walk. The strap part of Steady stretches and contracts like a seatbelt, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit for both the dog and the handler. In the event of a sudden rebound, the walking aid tightens securely, preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of our furry companions.

Steady introduces a practical feature that allows it to stand securely by pushing the brake, providing a convenient break for the dog and its owner during their walk. This innovative brake mechanism adds an extra layer of versatility to the device. Moreover, the supporting structure can be rotated for convenient storage after use, making Steady a hassle-free companion for both indoor and outdoor activities.

Complementing the physical product, the Steady app takes the concept of canine care to the next level. By analyzing and presenting information about the dog’s walking patterns, owners can gain valuable insights into their pet’s well-being. The app becomes an essential tool for identifying potential issues that may not be immediately apparent in the pet’s regular behavior, facilitating proactive care for aging dogs.

Getting ready for a walk with Steady is a simple and quick process, requiring just three easy steps. The back height of the device ranges from 250mm to 450mm, ensuring that it caters to the varying needs of different breeds and sizes of senior dogs.

Steady represents a perfect solution that addresses the unique challenges elderly dogs face during their strolls. With its innovative design, safety features, and analytical capabilities, Steady emerges as a practical companion that enhances the quality of life for both senior dogs and their caring owners. As we celebrate the bond between humans and their canine companions, Steady stands as a testament to the power of design and technology in ensuring the well-being of our furry friends in their golden years.

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MedEasy: A Medicine Box That Reminds The Elderly Of Their Dosages

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MedEasy, a thoughtful medicine box designed for the elderly, aims to address the challenges faced by seniors in managing their medications independently, focusing on regions in India with a significant population of elderly individuals living alone, such as Tamil Nadu and Nagaland.

Designer: Tarun Pahadiya

The primary goal of the MedEasy project is to create a product that serves as a reliable companion for the elderly, helping them remember, manage, and stock their medicines efficiently. With a focus on addressing the loneliness prevalent among seniors living alone, the product aims to contribute to the well-being of this demographic, which constitutes 5.7% of senior citizens in India.

MedEasy primarily caters to elderly individuals who struggle with proper medication adherence due to memory issues or limited motor activities. This includes elderly family members, individuals living alone with forgetfulness concerns, and those dealing with Alzheimer’s issues. Secondary users encompass caretakers, including nurses, young family members, doctors, and NGO helpers who interact with the product to support the primary users.

Conducting extensive market research revealed key insights, emphasizing the importance of addressing sensory degradation with age, monitoring proper medication dosage, reducing dependence on others for medication, and creating a positive and engaging process for medication adherence. Additionally, the elderly often avoid taking their prescribed doses consciously, necessitating reminders and easy refill and dispensing mechanisms, however, I believe there could be a more emotional approach to motivating them to take their dosages which can be explored, rather than just reminders if they avoid them on purpose.

Inspired by the “less but better” ethos of Dieter Rams, the designer employs a minimalist, functional, and timeless design. The prototype underwent rigorous testing, focusing on the sliding-out day sections, the ambidextrous nature of the product, and the ease of interaction with the opening of cells. The color palette reflects morning, noon, and night cues, fostering a visually captivating aesthetic.

Slide Action: The sliding mechanism allows users to effortlessly remove cells, reducing physical effort while providing a smooth experience.

Physical Controls: The product incorporates minimal yet impactful physical controls for essential functions, ensuring ease of use with scrolling and selection.

Clean UI: Employing a simple and calm visual language to minimize visual complexity, fostering a welcoming approach to enhance user interaction with the product.

App Support: The inclusion of a user-friendly app enhances the medication management experience, providing interfaces for tracking medications, dosages, and schedules. This feature enables remote monitoring and management by caregivers, ensuring timely adherence and reducing the risk of errors.

MedEasy is not just a medicine box; it’s a comprehensive solution that empowers elderly individuals to take control of their medication regimen. By combining thoughtful design, cutting-edge technology, and a user-centric approach, MedEasy contributes to the well-being and independence of seniors, ensuring they can lead fulfilling lives with confidence and peace of mind.

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Segway-style, motion-activated ‘standing’ wheelchair helps users confidently navigate life

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What is the ultimate freedom for those with lower limb disabilities bound to a wheelchair? A ride that not only helps get around with minimum external human assistance, but that allows one to stand up and sit down with similar convenience. Invaluable modifications have happened to the traditional wheelchair to reach closer to this dream of ultimate freedom.

Joysticks are used for maneuvering the wheelchair through obstacles and mechanics are to allow a wheelchair to rise from the usual sitting position to semi-standing freedom. Addressing this facet with an outstanding new approach is the Kim-e, a segway-styled wheelchair users can stand upright in just a matter of seconds.

Designer: Chronus Robotics

The brainchild of Chronus Robotics, a Lithuanian-based manufacturer, the Kim-e has been developed into a production model over four years of research, prototyping and perfecting. Unlike the traditional wheelchair, the Kim-e is instantly distinguishable with its two-wheeled design. There is no word on pricing or availability at the time of writing, presumably though, it should be out sometime later in the year. You can book a free test ride with Kim-e today.

Things are made ultra-convenient not just by the instant transformation of this wheelchair from sitting to standing in seconds, but more so by its hands-free functionality. Reportedly, Kim-e can be controlled by upper body movement to raise and lower the seat or glide the wheelchair through the crowd. And when you’re ready to hit the road, it can fold up to fit into the boot of your car for easy transportation.

Drawing its power from a lithium battery onboard, Kim-e can power up fully in four hours and travel up to 30 km on a single charge at a top speed of 20 km/h. This wheelchair, along with the built-in battery weighs 38 kg and has a payload bearing capacity of up to 90 kg. Kim-e may have a slightly lesser weight-carrying ability, but it is designed with safety in mind whether you use it in a traditional seated position at the work desk or while strolling upright with your friends in the mall.

Kim-e is equipped with a scissor-lift-type mechanism which allows the seat to raise enough to put the occupant at the eye-level of your companion. No more pushing or tugging. Let your friend/partner wall besides, while you maneuver the wheelchair on your off-road capable tires over sand, gravel or shallow water. At a semi-standing position, Kim-e straps the user’s thigh and even supports one to climb slopes of up to 20 degrees without breaking a sweat.

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A Music Instrument for the Hearing Impaired: This Synth uses Tactile and Color Cues Instead of Sound

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“Play by ear” as they commonly say, doesn’t really apply to people with hearing impairments. The most common example of a hearing-impaired musical genius remains Beethoven, who composed entire orchestral pieces by relying on what he remembered from a time when he could hear. By the time he reached the peak of his career, Beethoven was completely deaf, but his memory served him well when it came to playing music… not everyone today has that luxury, but the Vibra helps the hearing impaired play music by connecting the audio to other senses like touch and sight.

Designers: Ahn Taegwang, Go Yeongseok, Hwang Jimin, Lee Wonjae

A winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award, Vibra is a new instrument and service that can meet the musical needs of people with hearing impairments. Unlike traditional instruments that rely entirely on auditory feedback, Vibra relies on a combination of vibrations or haptic feedback, and visual cues like color and composition. The musical instrument comes with a modular design that serves the needs of multiple instruments, from key-based to percussive, string, and even electronic. It eventually pairs with an app that allows players to visualize their music. With a fair amount of visual training and consistent practice, hearing-impaired people can use the Vibra to play existing tunes and even compose new music entirely on their own.

The companion app fills in the sensorial gaps left by the auditory impairment. It provides a visual interface that helps conceptualize sound in a graphic sense, allowing people to understand notes, chords, harmonies, and other complex theories through vision instead of sound. The app enables practice, helps users find which instrument they’re more comfortable playing, and also allows them to learn and practice how to play popular tunes!

The Vibra is a Winner of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept for the year 2023.

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This Korean institute’s robotic wheelchair can let the user stand up and climb stairs at will

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Mobility has presented challenges for the differently abled, and it has also posed difficulties for the manufacturing industry in perfecting the concept of self-controlled wheelchairs to provide users with greater freedom. While addressing the quest for enhanced mobility, the focus has predominantly centered on the practicality of being seated and moving smoothly on level terrain.

A bright idea, which could change the way we see mobility on wheelchair for good, seems to be in the works as a new robotic wheelchair. The wheelchair, conceived by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), comprise mechanism that would allow it to climb stairs and let the occupant stand upright with assistance.

Designer: KIMM

The latest breakthrough in assistive technology, this wheelchair design places a strong emphasis on user comfort and adaptability. This remarkable idea comprises a central platform equipped with two distinct modules: a stair-climbing module located at the bottom, and a standing module on top.

The stair-climbing module, which is ingeniously designed to stay retracted within the chair when not needed, keeping the chair looking classic and sleek for everyday use. When the user encounters a flight of stairs, the stair-climbing module can be lowered and while maintaining the wheelchair’s horizontal level, it allows the user to tackle the staircase one step at a time without compromising safety. For safety, the stair-climbing module features pair of rubber tracks on front and back that grips the edge of the stairs to ensure it does not slip.

Beyond this enhanced mobility, this wheelchair offers an added dimension of well-being through its standing module. This module facilitates smooth transitions between various postures, including standing, reclining, leaning backwards or forward. This adaptability helps reduce monotony and the risk of poor blood circulation that can result from prolonged periods of sitting in the same position on a wheelchair.

As if these features aren’t impressive enough, the design team is reportedly working on transforming wheels to replace the climber module. These wheels exhibit the ability to remain perfectly round while moving on flat surfaces and tend to conform to the contours of stairs as they roll over them. With the combination of a retractable stair-climbing module and a standing module, this robotic wheelchair has the potential of transforming the lives of individuals with mobility challenges for good.

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This beautiful adjustable side table was made for accessibility and uses reclaimed wood

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We’ve seen no small number of furniture here a Yanko Design covering a wide range of materials, shapes, and functions. While these designs try to cater to as many people as possible, few of them address one specific but very important use case. The word “accessibility” isn’t often used when it comes to furniture, mostly because of the stigma the term has in relation to sterile and clinical designs found in hospitals. That’s not to say, however, that these don’t serve a purpose outside of medical facilities, only that their aesthetics are a poor fit in homes and residences. The answer is not to shy away from these products but to shed new light on them, just like this handsome wooden side table that is actually an over-couch or overbed table that you see beside hospital beds.

Designer: Capella

The interesting thing about accessibility is that even though it’s sometimes seen as a burden on designers, it actually benefits more than just people with disabilities. Software gets new features that can be utilized by power users, and physical products gain capabilities or parts that wouldn’t be there otherwise. When it comes to furniture, however, accessibility suffers from the association with hospital equipment whose designs are driven by very different requirements from home use. Fortunately, all it takes is some creative thinking and smart use of materials to reshape one such common piece of furniture in order to benefit anyone at home, especially those who have poor mobility.

The Corbal Side Table looks like any other wood and metal shelf, albeit one that can easily be attached to the side of a couch or a bed. Its secret, however, is that the tabletop can actually swivel around, putting that surface right in front of the person sitting or lying down. It’s a kind of function commonly found in overbed tables in hospitals to help patients eat without leaving their beds. Corbal offers the same convenience for eating, working, or any other activity, all from the comfort of one’s home.

The side table definitely doesn’t look like any piece of hospital furniture because of its modern design utilizing finished solid wood and matte black steel supports. At the same time, it isn’t like any normal overbed table either, because of the feet that can be hidden under the bed or couch to provide stability, especially when swinging the height-adjustable tray. It looks like a perfect match for any home interior without giving away its clinical inspiration.

As if its features weren’t impressive enough, the Corbal Side Table has an equally interesting origin story to tell. It is made from vintage and reclaimed wood, specifically mahogany, giving it a sustainable and environment-friendly character as well. All in all, it’s a design that benefits not only those who are in need of accessible furniture at home but practically everyone else as well, and that includes even the planet.

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