Team 6: Stephen Heussler and Nolan Skop

Freely Adjustable and Accessible Keyboard and Arrow Pad for Client with Cerebral Palsy

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation

Outline

Introduction– Background– Problem– Solution– Previous work done by others

Project Description– Design– Materials

Budget Conclusion

Client Background

Sam from Hampton, CT 10 year old 5th grade student Wants to fit in with other students Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

– Non-verbal– Requires electric wheelchair– Typing is primary means of communication

Athetoid Quadriplegia

Permanent damage of cerebullum or basal ganglia

Affects all limbs– Involuntary Movements– Difficulty in Preciseness– Difficulty with speaking

and other motor functions

Problem with Standard Keyboard

Horizontal position– Affects positioning of client’s hands

Keys too small– Multiple keys hit at a time– Damage to the keys

Not portable Slows down speed and efficiency of typing Not Durable

Problem with Standard Mouse

Difficult to grab Requires fine movements of hands and

fingers Highly sensitive

Solution

New Keyboard Design– Allow Sam to type faster and with greater ease– Reduce stress on hands and fingers

Replace Mouse with Arrow Pad

Patent Research

FrogPadTM

- Sits horizontal to surface

- Small Keys - Multiple

characters per button- not user friendly

Project Design

New Keyboard– Vertical Position– Large Keys– Simplified Layout– High Wear

Resistance– Portable

1 2 3 4

Q

A

Z

65

EW IUYR

0987

T

LKJH

C

GF

X

DS

PO

.MN

.

BV

ESC BACK SPACEINSERTDELTABSHIFT LOCK

ENTER

SPACE

7.6 cm

38.1 cm

3.8 cm

6.4 cm

27.9 cm

55.9 cm

Project Design cont’d.

Rubber bottom for high coefficient of friction

Compressible Diagonal Member to absorb impact of powerful typing

38. 1 cm

2. 5 cm

3. 8 cm

34. 3 cm

17. 8 cm

Diagonal Member

Project Design cont’d.

Cherry MX Switches– High Durability– Lifetime: 1^109

Operations

Project Design cont’d.

Keyboard Control Board (PI Engineering)– 128 possible switches– Connects to CPU through

USB

Diagram provided by PI Engineering

Project Design cont’d.

LED Backlighting– Enhance aesthetic

appeal of keyboard– Help our client fit in

Illustration of LED TLVP4200

Project Design cont’d.

Arrow Pad– Cherry MX Switches– Attaches to Keyboard

Control Board

5.1 cm

1.3

cm 5.1

cm

17 cm

Materials

Keyboard– PVC– Cherry MX Switches– LEDs– Compression Spring– Misc. Electrical Components– Misc. Mechanical Components

Budget

Available budget is $750 provided by the National Science Foundation

Product Price Per Unit ($) # of Units Total

keyboard controller 59.95 1 59.95

PVC (1/8” x 24” x 48” white pvc sheet) 30.27 3 90.81

LEDs 0.299 40 11.96

30 pin receptacle 1.99 1 1.99

diodes (pack of 50) 5 2 10

key caps (set of 10) 4.5 6 27

cherry mx switches (10pack) 9.95 6 59.7

Estimated shipping costs.     30

Miscellaneous     < 75

TOTAL 350 ± 50

Conclusion

Accesible Keyboard and Arrow Pad– Faster, easier means of communication– Less strain on clients arms– Portable for classroom transport– High wear resistance - long lasting– LED backlighting– Custom built within budget