The document describes the development of an assistive device to help an 8-year-old boy named John with Down syndrome write more effectively. John had difficulties with handwriting due to low muscle tone and joint issues. The engineering team developed a writing glove and adjustable writing surface to provide stability and encourage proper form. Testing showed the prototype improved John's writing ability, control, and comfort. The team concluded the device was successful but could be improved with more durable materials and additional motion restrictions.

1. STEM II: Assistive
Technology
Aishwarya Kaki, Swathya Koukuntla, Rishi Makkar, Xiayue Wang

2. What is STEM II ?

3. Our Client: John
 8 years old
 Norrback Elementary School
 Personal Interests
 Monster’s Inc.
 Basketball
 Unable to write effectively
Norrback Avenue School
Worcester, MA

4. Down Syndrome
 John was born with Down
Syndrome
 Genetic disease
 400,000 children in the US
 Trisomy 21
 Physical growth delays and
moderate intellectual
disabilities
Meiosis
Egg Sperm
Nondisjunction
Mitosis
Fertilization
The image above displays the cellular
process in which trisomy 21 occurs

5. Musculoskeletal Conditions
 Deformed structure of the protein known as collagen
 Located in muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, bone
and the support structures
 Orthopedic disabilities
 Hypotonia: Low muscle tone, mitigated proprioceptive
and neuromuscular feedback
 Hyper flexibility: Ligamentous laxity, excessive joint
mobility, frequent joint dislocation
 Hinders development of motor skills

6. John’s Writing Disabilities
Photographs of our client writing without use of assistive technology
 Ineffective writing form
 Bent wrist
 Flailing fingers
 Extremely uncomfortable
 Lack of control
 Illegible Handwriting

7. Engineering Problem
Our client is unable to write effectively with
current writing utensils. Current forms of
writing technology do not instigate
neuromuscular feedback, cannot effectively
eliminate unwanted motions, and do not
encourage proper writing form

8. Existing Devices
 Specialized pencil grips, wrist and finger stabilizing apparatuses, weight
cuffs, and ergonomic hand rests
 Existing designs, especially the pencil grips, do not conform to the
specific biomechanics of John’s hand
 Other designs were uncomfortable, some served to restrict John’s range
of motion and development of an ideal writing form
A ball-like pencil grip
(one of John’s previous devices)
Weighted Wrist band

9. Existing Devices (Cont.)
Tripod finger grip
Uses thumb, index, and middle fingers
Bird-Shaped Pencil Holder
Holds pencil in adjustable hole and glides across
writing surface
(Also one of John’s previous devices)

10. Engineering Goal
The goal of this project was to engineer
an apparatus that enhances our client’s
writing abilities by stabilizing the motions
of the loose muscles, ligaments, and
joints in his fingers, providing a greater
degree of control, and encouraging an
ideal writing form, while offering
ergonomic comfort

11. Design Requirements
 Feasibility
 Can be constructed within the given time and budget
 Durability
 Capable of being used multiple times
 Safety
 Does not cause physical injuries
 Does not induce permanent impairment to any
muscles, ligaments, joints, or bones
 Simple to Operate
 Should not require long periods of “set up” or
“detachment” time
 Visually Appealing and Elegant

12. Engineering Matrix
Engineering Matrix
Stimulatesagreaterdegreeof
controlandstability
Ergonomicallyappealingtothe
client
Developsamoreeffective
writingform
Safetoutilize
Relativelyhighdurabilityand
reliability
SimpletoOperate
Relativelysimpletoconstruct
Total
Percentage(%)
Max Score 10 10 10 6 6 4 4 50 100
Final Prototype 8 7 9 6 5 2 4 41 82
Sliding Hand Rest Design 5 9 5 6 5 4 2 33 66
Advanced Pencil Grip Design 5 8 5 6 3 4 2 33 66
Finger Socket & Weighted Band 7 6 6 6 3 3 3 34 68

13. Preliminary Designs
 Many were inspired from previously existing designs
 Modifications of currently available products
 We decided that our primary option was ineffective by
its restrictive nature and relatively difficult operation
technique

14. Our Prototype
 Consists of two separate components
1. Writing Glove
2. Angle Adjustable Writing Surface
Writing glove. Angle adjustable writing surface

15. Writing Glove
 Made of an interior compression glove and an exterior
overlay glove
 Instigates proprioceptive and neuromuscular feedback
 Prevents unwanted writing motions and to secure the
client’s ring/pinky finger in an ideal position
 Stitches applied to secure overlay glove to compression
glove and reinforce delicate portions

16. Testing and Analyzing the Glove
 Other materials Considered:
 String
 Glue
 Button and string system
 To test, our test subject tried to pull her fingers free from the
securing system
 The final decision was to attach a Velcro piece to the palm in
addition to a piece on the fingertips of the two edge fingers
Test subject trying to de-bug
prototype of glove

17. Writing Glove: More Pics

18. Writing Glove: More Pics

19. Angle Adjustable Writing Surface
 Designed to encourage a more proper writing form
while providing necessary comfort
 Made from block of wood, approximately the
dimensions of a sheet of paper (landscape), attached
to a rotatable T hinge
 Using a threaded screw, a bolt, and a nut, the board
is angle adjustable
 Rubber inserted upon surfaces on contact with table

20. Angle Adjustable Writing
Surface More Pics

21. Angle Adjustable Writing
Surface More Pics

22. Client Experience
 Improved writing form
 Increased legibility
 Additional control
 Much needed comfort
 Together, both parts provided a greater degree of control
by stimulating increased amounts of neuromuscular
feedback, eliminating previously uncontrollable motions,
and encouraging an effective tripod writing form
 Our client was given a more enjoyable and less tiresome
writing experience

23. Client Experience

24. Client Experience

25. Client Experience

26. Economics
 The cost table: Glove
ITEM PRICE Details Modified Price
White Cotton Gloves Pack-8Gloves, film, coins, CD/DVD, Handling Gloves 6.20$ Only 1 out of 8 0.78$
Mueller COMPRESSION GLOVE BEIGE - PAIR-SM (SMALL) 8.29$ 2 pairs per box 4.15$
3M Spray Adhesive 5.77$ Used twice per glove miniscual
Velcro Strips 1.20$ For 6 straps, used 2 0.40$
TOTAL 5.33$
 The cost table: Writing Board
ITEM PRICE Details Modified Price
Hex Bolts 0.52$ 1 per table 0.13$
Wooden Plank (9 x48 x 1) 9.98$ Only used 1 foot 2.50$
3M Fine Pro Grade Sanding Sponge 1.18$ Can be re-used many times miniscual
Zinc Fender Washer 1/4 '' 2.97$ 3 per table 1.00$
TOTAL 3.63$

27. Economics (Cont.)
 In comparison to existing products, the cost of our
prototype is significantly cheaper
 Individually, most writing gloves are $20-$30, and most
available angled writing surfaces are between $50 and
$60
 Our prototype, which offers both a writing glove and an
angle adjustable writing board, is under $15
 If this prototype were to be mass produced and, an
estimated price for one unit would be approximately $10

28. Results & Conclusions
 John’s occupational therapist has worked
with him extensively, and he has
completed his exercises, such as tracing a
line or writing his name, with greater ease
and accuracy
 The prototype “worked beautifully”

29. Extensions & Improvement
 Writing glove
 Constructed from more durable and
professional materials
 Can be modified to prevent further
unwanted motions
 More straps on the compression glove to
induce the optimal amounts of
neuromuscular and proprioceptive
feedback
 Velcro in more optimal positions to
restrain unwanted motions

30. Extensions & Improvement
 Angle adjustable writing board
 Additional support, especially at the
corners of the wooden surface
 Angle adjusting and locking system can
be made less tedious, complicated, and
time consuming
 A varnish can be implemented to
address concerns regarding aesthetics

31. Acknowledgments
 The entire Mass Academy faculty
 Supervisors: Mr. David Ludt and Dr. Judith
Sumner
 Stitching: Mrs. Julia Wildfong
 Staff of Norrback elementary school for giving us
this opportunity to give back to the community and
engage in a rewarding experience
 Mrs. Nancy Sullivan (OT)
 Mrs. Orciani (assistant OT)
 And, of course, John himself
 Lastly, we wish to thank our parents