The document discusses the maker revolution and making "making" accessible. It outlines how do-it-yourself assistive technology (DIY-AT) can help address problems with current AT adoption rates by giving users control and customization. Rapid prototyping tools and online communities help enable DIY-AT. The document examines DIY-AT practices on Thingiverse and how most designs are for 3D printers. It also discusses efforts to make "making" more accessible through tools like VizTouch for tactile graphics and GripFab for customized hand grips. The talk concludes by considering opportunities and challenges for increasing accessibility of making and next steps in research.

1. The Maker Revolution:!
DIY Assistive Technology and
Making “Making” Accessible!
"
Dr. Amy Hurst"
Information Systems Department!
University of Maryland, "
Baltimore County"
NRI PI Meeting: 11/5/15"

2. I DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY
THAT WORKS SMOOTHLY
WITH HUMAN BEHAVIOR!
"
Habit! Preference! Ability!

3. Methodology: Collaboration with Users!
[ACM%Interac-ons%2014]%
Michele%Williams.%%

4. Methodology: Longitudinal Field Work!
[ACM%Interac-ons%2014]%

5. Prototyping and Deign Lab!

6. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

7. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

8. What is Assistive Technology?!
“any"item,"piece"of"equipment,"or"product"
system," whether) acquired) commercially)
off)the)shelf,)modified,)or)customized,"that"
is" used" to" increase," maintain," or" improve"
func6onal" capabili6es" of" individuals" with"
disabili6es.”!–!US!Access!Board!

9. SOUNDS GREAT, RIGHT? "
But… there is a problem

10. Assistive Technology Goes Unused!
29.3% overall AT abandonment rate
Common factors [Philips and Zhao, 2000]
1. Not considering user opinion in selection
2. Difficulty obtaining the devices
3. Poor device performance
4. Changes in user needs and priorities
DIY offers end users control which may
reduce abandonment rates

11. DIY is Not New in AT Practice!
Disabled!Village!Children!
David!Werner,!1987!
AT!Solu@ons!in!Minutes!
Therese!Willkomm,!2005!

12. Doing ItYourself is Less Expensive!
Commercial:!$110% DIY:!$2%
Made!with!4”!cut!off!lengths!of!3”!
diameter!PVC!pipe,!black!fiberglass!
rod,!and!brackets!from!PVC!scraps.!
workshopsolu@ons.com!
!
UUbolt!wheelchair!rail!mount!by!RAM!
from!1800wheelchair.com!
!
[ASSETS!2011]!

13. Test technology at
home, not the clinic
Digital fabrication has
fast turnaround
Customize design as
needs change
Doing ItYourself is Fast and Adaptive!
[ASSETS!2011]!

14. Doing ItYourself is Empowering!
Solve!problems!!
Build!confidence!!
Take!control!!
Independence!!
[ASSETS!2011]!

15. Doing ItYourself is Cool!!

16. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

17. Traditional “Making” Tools!

18. Accessible Making Tools!
“Personal-scale manufacturing tools enable people
that have no special training in woodworking,
metalsmithing, or embroidery to manufacture their
own complex, one-of-a-kind artisan-style objects”
--Lipson, Factory@Home
3D!Printed!Plas@c! Laser!Cut!Wood! CNC!Milled!Metal!

19. Great 3D printers available for $500!
Can’t afford one of your own?
Finding Accessible Making Tools!
Visit a local shop! Order it online!

20. Online Communities!
Enable users to share designs, modifications,
experiences, knowledge and inspiration

21. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

22. DIY-AT PRACTICES ON
THINGIVERSE"
What 3D-printable DIY-AT has been
posted to Thingiverse.com, who made it,
and why it was designed?

23. Sharing 3D Files with Thingiverse!
Pill%box%insert%for%Altoids%-ns%by%scanlime%
Share files ready to be manufactured
Open-source: users modify their designs
Users share images and experiences

24. Surveyed all AT posted to
Thingiverse since 2008
Under 1% was AT
(363 designs out of 100,000)
1. Traditional assistive technologies (6%)
2. Accessible media (11%)
3. Accessories for assistive devices (8%)
4. New assistive technology prototype (4%)
5. Prosthetic limbs (17%)
6. Medication management tools (36%)
7. Other design explicitly intended for
disabled or senior users (18%)
Assistive Technology on Thingiverse!
[CHI!2015]!

25. Construction Complexity!
!
[CHI!2015]!
1. 30%!were!only!1!part!(no!assembly)!
2. 40%!required!assembly!of!mul@ple!
printed!parts!
3. 28%!required!assembly!of!printed!
and!extra!parts!
Most!AT!was!!
designed!for!3D!
printers!
!

26. What AT is Popular?!
!
[CHI!2015]!

27. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

28. Designer Experience and Motivation!
Online Survey with 69 AT designers to
understand why they made and shared
the AT, and their experience
[CHI!2015]!
!
13% I%Made%This%for%Myself%)
24! I!Made!This!for!Someone!I!Know)
13! This!Was!a!Personal!Challenge!)
5! This!Was!Required!for!a!Class!or!Compe@@on!!
6! This!Was!Part!of!a!Research!Project!
8! This!Isn’t!Intended!for!a!Disability!)

29. Do ItYourself… For Someone Else!
Fast
Affordable
Customizable
empowering?
Consider changing habits,
preferences, abilities
How do we make “making”
accessible?[CHI!2015]!
!

30. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

31. EFFORTLESS 3D MODELING
WITH VIZTOUCH"
Automatically generates a mathematic
tactile graphic for tactile learners

33. VizTouch Interface!
[TEI!2012]!

34. VizTouch Equation Output!
[TEI!2012]!

35. VizTouch Excel Output!
[TEI!2012]!

36. EFFORTLESS 3D MODELING
WITH GRIPFAB"
Automatically generating customized
hand grips for therapists, teachers,
students, and anyone else.

37. Building AT with School Therapists!

38. [ASSETS!2014]!

40. [ASSETS!2014]!

41. [ASSETS!2014]!

42. [ASSETS!2014]!

43. Talk Outline"
Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT)
Problem with Current AT Adoption Rates
Rapid Prototyping Tools and Online Communities
DIY-AT Practices on Thingiverse.com
Do-It-Yourself vs. Do-It-For-Someone-Else
Making “Making Accessible”
Effortless 3D Modeling
“Making” in Special Education

44. Make abstract
concepts tangible
Support multi-modal
learning
Create Instruction Materials!
[ASSETS!2014]!

45. Learn High-Tech Employable Skills!
60% unemployment rate for adults with
Intellectual Disability
Making teaches valuable skills:
Problem solving, Physical design,
3D Printer operation, 3D Modeling
[Fab!Learn!2015,!ASSETS!2015]!

46. Encourage Student Collaboration!
[ASSETS!2015]!

47. OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES FOR MAKING
“MAKING” ACCESSIBLE"

48. Time is Most Expensive Resource!

49. Choose the Right Equipment!
[ASSETS!2014]!

50. Anticipate a Steep Learning Curve!
[ASSETS!2014]!

51. WHAT’S NEXT?"
Study impact of our software tools with
diverse populations
Continue studying evolution of “DIY”
culture and assistive technology

52. ThankYou! ! !!
To learn more: amyhurst.com
umbcpad.com isrc.umbc.edu
Thank you to all my students, collaborators,
participants and supporters.
Lisa Anthony, Scott Hudson, Shaun Kane, Anita Komlodi,
Ravi Kuber, Wayne Lutters, Jen Mankoff, Helena Mentis
Thank you to my funders:
NSF QoLT ERC, NSF EAGER, NIDDR DRRP, Toyota
Robotics, Microsoft Research, Nokia Research, and NIST