Technology Tuesday

A group of University of Colorado students in Professor Melinda Piket-May's Fall 2016 Engineering class worked on adaptive equipment projects for individuals served by Imagine!. We have worked with Professor Piket-May on projects like this for more than seven years, and are always delighted by the results.

This year’s class demonstrated their projects this past Saturday, and below are some photos and descriptions of some of them.

Two student groups created Wheelchair Umbrella Attachments. These were designed to be attached to wheelchairs and easily opened and closed, protecting individuals who use wheelchairs for mobility from inclement weather, therefore increasing their independence. Learn about how one such umbrella attachment has worked for an individual served by Imagine!.

Another student group created a Can Hole Punch. This one take a little explanation. Our good friends at Oskar Blues Brewery provide employment for individuals served by Imagine! who make Oskar Blues “Can Bling” – necklaces with a beer can with the top removed for use at events such as beer festivals. This can hole punch ensures that the cans don’t have sharp edges to protect the folks creating the bling, and can assist those with poor motor skills in threading the beads in to the can.

Another student group created a “Laser Harp,” which uses lasers that can be “plucked” to make musical notes. The laser beams can be calibrated for people with different range of motions, so even those with limited range of motion can create their own music. It is a great tool for range of motion exercises and for making music more accessible. In the darker picture below, the lasers are seen through the green smoke.

Below you will see the student group project “The Runner,” which is a walker designed to remain stable during more intense exercise. This is great for physical therapy and to allow people who use walkers for mobility to increase their options and make greater strides toward not needing the walker at all.

One student group worked on a project they called the “Helping Hand.” This was designed specifically for individuals who struggle with tremors, making the use of finger controlled smart devices such as iPads challenging. The Helping Hand was created to stabilize the person’s hand, making it easier to use the device independently despite the tremors.

And finally, the group pictured below created a Foldable Communication Device Arm. This was designed to be attached to a wheelchair and to hold heavy communication device. It is easily foldable so it can be put out of the way when not in use.

As always, we thank all of the students for their time, their efforts, and for their role in creating a world of opportunity for all abilities. And of course, we thank CU Professor Piket-May for this ongoing and very beneficial collaboration.