Neural Nexus

Created Date: 2025-02-21/ updated date: 2025-02-24
    Owner & Collaborators
    License
    Neural Nexus by FablabShinagawa, Pomodhya4, Chamodya716, Kavindya7G is licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution license.
    Summary
    Introducing a simple communication system to our need knower baby Aanya the way she likes it. It is a device with compartments containing several choices for one of her main needs, feeding. The partially see through device rotates upon banging on an ergonomic buzzer displaying one of the choices at a time. The option chosen can be accessed upon banging on a separate buzzer. Objective is to make the communication process for baby Aanya a unique, simple and an interactive process.

    Materials

      Tools

        Blueprints

          Making

          • 1st State : Interview with Need Knowers

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            About the Need Knower

            • Name : Aanya Fernando
            • Age :  5 years
            • Background : Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Cortical Visual Impairment since birth. Have communication frustration along with limited mobility. Relies mainly on parents for almost everything in daily life. Very helpful family.

            Comments

              • Speciality

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                • Interests : Loves story books, enjoys engaging, favourite color is yellow, interested in sudden moving things.
                • Strengths : Banging, recognition, knows how to show excitement by raising hands, knows how to show dislike by pushing things away, communicate through facial and bodily expressions.

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                • Physical Characteristics

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                  • Physical : Stiff body, minimal verbal communication, hearing is very good, whole body needs support when walking, involuntary hand movements, excellent biological clock, difficulty in touching, pointing and grabbing.

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                  • Mental Characteristics

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                    • Mental : Gross (walking) and fine ( eg: grabbing)  motor coordination problems, Good memory and understanding, good recognition, inertia towards changing routines.

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                    • Desired Need

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                      Being able to say "yes" and "no" on her own. A simple communication system to communicate basic needs in a way she likes.

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                    • 3rd State : Ideation

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                      A brainstorming session was conducted followed by mind mapping, affinity mapping and empathy mapping  to cluster the information gathered. 
                      Banging was chosen as one of her main strength that could be used for effective communication. 

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                      • 4th State : Concept development & Refinement

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                        After going through several ideations and identifying possibilities and limitations, the concept was narrowed down.

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                          • Targeted Activity

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                            • What : A device to choose between her meal options and communicate it effectively

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                            • How to Accomplish

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                               A simple rotating device mounted on a stepper motor with 3 compartments containing 3 feeding choices. The device rotates upon banging on a buzzer displaying 1 choice at a time through partially visible device . Another buzzer when banged opens the compartment and makes it accessible.

                              Comments

                              • When & Where

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                                When : During feeding time
                                Where : Feeding chair/ Table

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                                • Precedent Studies

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                                  Precedent studies were conducted to research on similar push mechanism and rotating devices used by kids

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                                References

                                  Usages

                                  • Usage

                                    The targeted activity is her evening snacking time, which is a usual routine habit for her. The design is very simple. It is a transparent cylindrical device with 2 vertical compartments, separated by a flap door and a buzzer to facilitate communication. 

                                  Project comments