Head and Arm Mounted Art Design Systems
By Lussier, Rebecca; Muppidi, Sirisha; Kotadiya, Nemi; Enderle, John; NSF 2007 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons With Disabilities, pp. 240-241Publication Date: 2010
Description of two devices that enable an individual to create works of art at a studio for people with developmental disabilities. Designed by students at the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Connecticut at Stoors, the Head and Arm Mounted Art Design systems were developed for a client with limited motor skills due to cerebral palsy and hydrocephaly. The devices are rotating cables that turn a compass that fits multiple sizes of art utensils. The systems are attached either to the head or arm of the user and are turned on and off by sensing purposeful blinks provided by the artist using an eye-blink controller circuit activated by an infrared switch worn on a pair of eyeglasses. The main subassemblies of the systems were fabricated from a rotating speedometer cable within a flexible tube. The cable rotates and adjustable compass piece in order to fit multiple sizes of media. The rotating motion of the compass is provided by a 12 volt DC reversible motor run by rechargeable AA betteries. The adjustable design of the systems makes it possible for other artists at the studio to use the devices as well.
Published by: Creative Learning Press, Inc. (Website:http://www.creativelearningpress.com)
Link to text: http://nsf-pad.bme.uconn.edu/2007/Chapter14,University%20of%20Connecticut.pdf
ISBN: 1-931280-12-6
