Team Cosmos
(Aditi Magal, Veda Zalarvis-Chase, Tianna Mackey)
Goal
While creating a glove for Sara our group had to keep her hand’s dexterity in mind. We prioritized communicating simple movements like Bathroom breaks, pointing for suction and small hand movements. We also wanted to incorporate sound as this is something Sara really wanted.
Prototype 1
Through this prototype we wanted to gather some important information about Sara’s capabilities. Our priorities were to figure out how her index finger and thumb operate before we could assign conductive switches that would trigger different sounds. We wanted to make sure the buttons we assigned on her glove did not interfere with Sara’s voluntary movements.
This is why our first prototype is solely based on understanding her index and thumb capabilities.
Process
Through light feedback, we hope to understand the concious range of motion Sara has in her pointer finegr and thumb.We can use this information to undertsand how hand signs might translate to a range of sound.
We made the glove out of a light-weight stretchy fabric to prevent her hand from getting sweaty and to reduce any tension from the glove.
Tiana and Veda worked on the sewing of the glove and the materials used in the construction of the glove.
Aditi worked on the coding aspect of the glove and how it functions.
Initially sewn glove, Getting One flex sensor to work
Once the first flex sensor started to vary light produced..
Working with two flex sensors and getting them to change the RGB light in the same way
Stitching the circuits onto the glove
Testing the glove with the two sensors working
Instructions to put the glove on
1. Pull the glove onto Saras hand. The glove covers the pointer finger and the thumb. These have sensors in them that will change the lights.
2.The battery has a wire that must be plugged into the board to power it. The outlet is located under the red + symbol on top of the glove.
Questions we have for Sara and her family
It is important for us to get feedback from Sara’s family so we can deduce the range of Sara’s motion.
Blue is the dominant color when her fingers are at rest and the LED’s turn red and eventually green when she bends her fingers.
What Light colors are most common when her hand is at rest?
Light A: Light B:
When she makes a fist?
Light A: Light B:
When she points?
Light A: Light B:
When she gives a thumbs up?
Light A: Light B:
Questions we would like answered in the Video
We sent Sara a couple of fabric swatches to see which one she is most comfortable with. We would like to personalize the glove as much as possible to her needs and preferences.
Sara, out of the swatches which is your favorite fabric to touch?
Would it be possible for Sara to go through a fist, a point and a thumbs-up with the lights pointing towards the camera?
Feedback from Courtney
From the video –
- We thought her thumb was dominant, however this could influenced by her recovery.
- The colors were dominantly blue. The thumb LED switched to green occasionally. This indicates that her pointer finger and thumb are not usually in an upright or fisted position but in between.
- Sara’s middle, ring and pinky fingers were constantly bent.
- Sara’s thumb and pointer don’t really meet intentionally. Sara’s thumb moves more towards her palm.
- Sara seemed to like the stretchy, thin fabric.
- Sara has a preference for colorful and patterned fabrics.
From Call-
- Sara’s recovery and mood could have impacted her movements .
- Sara’s pointer finger is usually the dominant one (contrary to observations).
- The glove was big for her hand.
- Sara liked the way the glove felt.
- The components weights do not necessarily hinder movement on Sara’s hand.