Researchers at theUniversity of Sydney已经开发了一个3D打印的传感器手镯，该手镯允许那些有手动损害的人更轻松地使用计算机和玩视频游戏。
By detecting vibrations in users’ wrists as they move their fingers, the wearable is said to be capable of picking up inputs, before relaying these to a machine learning (ML) program that converts them into computational commands. Once they’ve perfected this process, the team intends to make the bracelet open-source, with the aim of improving smart device access for disabled people across the world.
领导该项目的本科荣誉学生斯蒂芬·林（Stephen Lin）解释说：“可访问性不应以巨大的成本来实现。”“我们的使命是提供一种负担得起，易于使用的解决方案，以帮助世界各地的残疾人。我们希望这项技术适用于需要它的任何人，这就是为什么我们计划在没有知识产权的情况下公开发布它（IP）。”
The inequality of tech accessibility
People with disabilities such as cerebral palsy often suffer from muscle stiffness and variations in muscle tone, which leave them vulnerable to jerky involuntary movements or give them exaggerated reflexes. This, according to the University of Sydney team, causes 50% of those living with the condition to struggle to speak, and as many as two-thirds to have difficulty moving one or both arms.
Given the intricacy of the inputs now required to operate computers, mobile phones and gaming pads, the hand-impaired are therefore faced with being frozen out of the modern world. To combat this, Professor Nadia Badawi, who supervised Lin on the bracelet project, says that the rapid development of advanced assistive technologies is vital, but they must be attainable enough to meet demand.
“We know that assistive technology holds the key to a brighter future for many children with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities, with the potential to transform communication, mobility and participation in society,” adds Badawi. “Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood globally, meaning it is vital that these tech advancements are accessible, customisable and as widely available as possible.”
用3D打印恢复控制
Lin and Badawi’s solution to the technological barriers faced by hand impairment sufferers takes the shape of a unique, sensor-packed bracelet. 3D printed using an everydayFormlabssystem, the device is designed to pick up subtle finger movements via vibrations in the carpal tunnel, a wrist area that contains the tendons which control the hand.
一旦发现这些输入,他们可以sent via bluetooth to a program the researchers have designed, which is capable of identifying patterns and communicating them with a given device. As this process is carried out instantaneously, the bracelet enables wearers to input the commands needed to play games, something that ordinarily requires using a handheld controller.
目前，该团队在台式PC上部署了ML算法来解释手镯用户的运动，这些动作因人而异。但是，研究人员最终旨在将其软件凝结到免费的移动应用程序中，并制作传感器手镯开源，Badawi说，这种方法可以帮助患有脑瘫的孩子更好地“玩，学习和表达自己”。
The project is not just backed by the Australian government andCerebral Palsy Alliance, but is being carried out in partnership with theMJF慈善基金会也是。根据非营利组织康复服务主管Gopi Kitnasamy的说法，其儿子也患有脑瘫，手镯在“低到中型收入国家”中具有巨大的潜力，而辅助设备访问是“主要问题”。
Kitnasamy解释说：“我23岁的儿子喜欢看汽车和自行车比赛，玩电子游戏。”“由于他有很多运动障碍（非自愿）运动，因此他发现很难使用操纵杆或控制器，因此他最终只是在我们为他效力时观看。我们长期以来一直梦想着找到一种让他自己完全玩游戏的方法。”
“I was so thrilled and excited to learn about the researchers’ sensor bracelet, which appears promising in terms of functionality and affordability,” he added. “We hope the research progresses, not only to give people like my son access to video games, but also to improve rehabilitative services and to make the impossible possible.”
Additive manufacturing assistive devices
虽然悉尼队的小说手镯无疑满足了对残疾人的新技术的紧迫需求，但它远非第一个通过使用3D打印来实现这一点的设备。在安特卫普大学, for instance, one of its students, Mano Balliu, has developed anaward-winning 3D printed orthosisthat’s able to combat the effects of hypertonia in children with cerebral palsy.
Elsewhere, the likes ofB9Creationshas partnered with social services organization黑山工作， 目的是3D printing custom assistive devicesfor over 600 disabled individuals. As part of their collaboration, the firms have agreed to produce everything from eating utensils and wearable medical devices to wheelchair grips, all of which are designed to grant their users greater independence.
In the past, theCerebra Innovation Centre(CIC) has also utilized the technology to3D print a custom horse riding helmetfor a young, disabled dressage riding enthusiast. Working with theAssistive Technologies Innovation Centre(ATiC), the CIC was reportedly able to develop a 3D model from scans, before deploying additive manufacturing to create molds that perfectly fitted the child’s head.
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Featured image shows PhD student Stephen Lin using the 3D printed bracelet to play a video game. Photo via the University of Sydney.
