Team Member

The name Muensel carries deep meaning, symbolizing our core mission to bring light, understanding, and support to individuals facing challenges in their everyday lives. In Dzongkha, the word Muensel translates to brightening the darkness or illuminating the unknown. 

Team Muensel

  1.  Dorji Dema: IE Teacher (Team Leader)
  2. Kinzang Choden:  IE Teacher (Pre-Testing Leader)
  3. Pelden Wangchuk: IE Teacher (Sub Leader)

Team Muensel

4. Jamphel Kuendhen: Choego FabLab Student (Prototyping/Documentation Leader)
5.  Laxmi Prasad Dhakal: Choego FabLab Student (Presentation Leader)
6. Jigme Wangchuk: JNEC (Prototyping Co-Leader)
7. Koji Yamada: ADB Consultant (Sub Leader)

About the need knower(s)

Thai Khendrup Jurmey (10-years) class PP at Zhemgang PS, has ASD. He is nonverbal (use sounds and gestures to communicate) making it hard for teachers and caregivers to understand him. He struggles with self-care, short attention span, poor eye contact, and needs constant support for daily tasks.

Idea(s)

For the needs identified above, we proceeded to the idea-sketch phase and settled down with the two product ideas that will serve for addressing the problems of the need-knower.

Idea-1 Token Bank

The need-knower stops tooth-brushing after moving the brush just once or twice. So our idea is that the teacher gives a token to him every time he brushes five times and he deposits it in the bank. After the deposit reaches the threshold, he could receive a certain benefit. 

Idea-2 Interactive Communication Board

It helps the need-knower to send his message about yes/no answer, feelings and what he wants teachers and his family to do for him by pressing the respective buttons. Once button is pressed, voice message is automatically sent out from the speaker.

Subject / Need(s)

A Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or a 3D Interactive Communication Board to help him express needs and wants effectively.

A 3D Reward Board using tokens to reinforce task completion and positive behavior. 

2nd Prototype: Interactive Communication Board

It's a web-based assistive communication tool designed to help individuals with speech or communication challenges express their needs and feelings effectively.

KeyCaps 1: 3D-Printing

We designed the keycaps on Tinkercad for 3D-printing with PLA filament.
KeyCap 3D Data is attached herewith.
Pictures are on the keys as the need-knower is non-verbal and struggles in communication.By introducing relevant pictures, he can use them to communicate effectively with those around him.

KeyCaps 2: Vinyl-Cutting

Then we designed the image stickers so that the need-knower could express their feeling. After the interview with the SEN teacher, we shortlisted the six images and designed a simple sticker with Illustrator for vinyl-cutting. For prototyping, we chose three messages. 
Cut Data for Stickers

Case (Enclosure)

We designed the enclosure on Tinkercad for 3D-printing with PLA filament.
We have made sure that the design is extremely simple and user friendly for people with special needs to use.
Below attached are the 3D model files for the enclosure divided into two parts.
- Case 
- Case Lid

Key Features

Built around an ESP32 microcontroller, this project combines physical buttons and a responsive web interface to enable users to trigger predefined phrases, which are then spoken aloud using the browser's speech synthesis capabilities.

System

It includes physical buttons for accessibility, a user-friendly web interface, real-time feedback, and WiFi connectivity. ESP32 hosts a web server, enabling interaction from any device on the same network. Users can press buttons physically or on the web page to trigger spoken phrases.
Sample Code

BOM for the Board

  • Seeed Studio Xiao ESP32C3
  • Push buttons
  • Jumper wires 
  • Bread board
  • Circuit Diagram

1st Prototype: Token Bank


Token

We are going to use the screw caps of the PET bottles as colorful token for our prototype. The screw caps are abundant resources available in the school. We measured the diameter of the screw cap to come up with specific dimensions for the width, depth and height of the Token Bank.

Token Bank

We designed the box by Autodesk Fusion. The stl file was sliced by Prusa Slicer with generic PLA filament. We printed it with the Prusa 3D printer and it took approximately five hours.

Result(s)

Due to the time constraints, we could only complete the token bank of three tokens vertically and the sample communication board on the breadboard. 

Observation: Token Bank

The token bank is user-friendly and can be customized based on the activity being conducted. It also helps children learn various concepts effectively. It work as a motivational tools for them to carry out the next activity improving their conduct of the activities. 

Observation: Interactive Communication Board

It is highly effective for both users and caregivers. The pictures on the keys assist students in understanding their needs, and as they press each button accordingly, the caregiver can immediately recognize and respond to their needs, facilitating better communication.

Future Prospect(s)

The need-knower and his teacher are based in a remote dzongkhag from any of the FabLabs or space equipped with 3D-printers. Also, they don't have any facility for electronics works. Therefore, we feel that we should stay engaged in further improving the system until the final deployment.

Interactive Communication Board for Centralized Production

  • Suitable for centralized production.
  • However, it could be customized according to the needs of the children. The local capacity to make customized keycaps is required.
  • If SEN program could coordinate with STEM program, it could be a good content for local STEM education.

Future Enhancements

  • Add more buttons and phrases to expand the range of communication options.
  •  Implement a mobile app for easier access and portability.
  •  Integrate text-to-speech customization (e.g., voice selection, speech rate).
  •  Add support for multiple languages to make the system more inclusive.

Token Bank for Decentralized Production

  • Token Bank could be redesigned according to the needs of the child. The height and width of the tower could be customized.
  • However, we are aware that the local production capacity should further be enhanced. 

Local Capacity for Replication and Customization

Even though they have limited access to the production facility, the teachers could work on designing or customizing the existing design locally.  We provided a brief Tinkercad training session to the member SEN teachers, hoping they could further collaborate with local STEM teacher.

External Conditions

  • FabLabs provide the place to work on the project for the improvement or replication by others.
  • SEN teachers have better understanding on the whole system. They should involve STEM teachers.
  • MoESD has to further serve for the development of local capacity for SEN-STEM collaboration.

Materials

Interactive Communication Board
- Seeed Studio Xiao ESP32C3
- Push buttons
- Breadboard
- Jumper wires
- PLA filament
- Cutting sheet for vinyl-cutting

Token Bank
- PLA filament
- Bottle Caps (Token)

Finishing the Unfinished Prototypes: Annexure by Koji Yamada

  • メイカソンから半年以上が経過しましたが、メンバーの１人として強い後悔と焦りを感じていました。１つは、メイカソンの開催期間中に試作品を完成させられなかったこと、もう１つは、短時間のアイデア出しで出されたアイデアが必ずしもベストのソリューションではないと感じていたことです。
  • メイカソンにはニードノウア本人が来ていなかったので、試作品を完成させて持って帰ってもらう必要まではありませんでしたが、その分時間をかけ、中期的には何ができたのかを振り返ってみる必要があると感じていました。

Token Bankの問題点

  • Token Bankは２×３で試作品が3Dプリントされました。しかし、２×３はあくまでも試作で、SENスクールの養護教員のニーズによっては、３×５が必要になるケースもあるし、今回はブータンで一般的なボトルウォーターのスクリューキャップにサイズを合せましたが、ブータンで売られているジュース等のキャップはボトルウォーターとサイズが違うため、何をトークンに使うかによって、Token Bank自体の寸法を変更する必要もあります。

  • 従って、Token Bankのデザインはニーズに応じてスケーラブルなものにする必要があります。

Token Bank 代替案（続き）

Time Log: https://www.techno-aids.or.jp/kaihatsu/j_48_2.shtml
Quarter Hour Watch: https://www.techno-aids.or.jp/kaihatsu/j_48_1.shtml

これらに近い作例をInstructablesで調べてみました。
https://www.instructables.com/VizTimer-the-Electronic-Hourglass/
https://www.instructables.com/Light-Spectrum-Clock/

【習作】可変式Token Bank

  • Tinkercad Codeblockを活用して、縦横のセル数とキャップのサイズ（直径と高さ）を指定すれば、それに合わせてデザインを改変できるプログラムを作成しました（link)。これに基づき、STLファイルを生成・エクスポートし、実際に3Dプリント出力してみました。うまく行きました。
  • なお、日本では様々な色のキャップがありますが、使用する際には色は統一した方がいいかもしれません。また、Token Towerの色も、ASDの生徒に不要な刺激を与えない色にすべきではないかと思い、ホワイトを選択しました。
  • これで可変式Token Bankは終了、続いて代替案の検討に入りました。

Token Bank 代替案

  • もう１つの重大な課題は、Token Bankのような報酬型の機構がASDの児童の集中力アップに本当に役立つのかがわからないという点です。
  • ASDの児童に時間の感覚を理解してもらうためのツールとしては、北欧でQuarter Hour Watchが考案され、日本でもその改良版のTime Logという製品が2000年代には開発されていました。通常、スマホ等で使われているカウントダウンタイマーは数字をデジタル表示しますが、QHWはLEDの点滅や色の減衰で残り時間を表現します。

Interactive Communication Board の問題点

  • メイカソンでは、メンバーの１人が自宅から電子工作用のパーツを持ってきて試作しましたが、メイカソンの後、すぐに分解してパーツを自宅に持って帰りました。あくまで試作品だったので、動作確認はできたものの、キーキャップ等も利用者の利便性を考えていない小さなものを作ってそれで終わりました。
  • 加えて、スマホを使ったコミュニケーションが想定されていましたが、これよりはるかにシンプルな指差しコミュニケーションツールが2023年7月のFab Bhutan Challengeで作られています（Mood Canvas）。

Interactive Communication Board の代替案

  • このため、単純に指差し型のボードを作ることも考えましたが、エンドユーザーの選好を音声情報に変換する機能は残し、少し時間と予算をかければ作ることができる機構を目指すことにしました。
  • 参考にしたのはInstructablesにあった次の作例です。
https://www.instructables.com/Light-Spectrum-Clock/
https://www.instructables.com/Communication-Board-Aided-AAC-Device/