Overview
Taking the inspiration from Temple Grandin’s hug machine, Parkinson’s cutleries and Gyrogloves, I created a prototype of a tremor-detecting and relieving glove as part of an exercise with the Arduino UNO.
I wanted to explore health design and what I could do with a simple Arduino UNO. As I am also very focused in user-research and user-testing, this project allows me to develop my interests in my design practice.
Research
Taking the inspiration from Temple Grandin’s hug machine, Parkinson’s cutleries and Gyrogloves, I created a prototype of a tremor-detecting and relieving glove as part of an exercise with the Arduino UNO.
I also did user-research to find out which type of patient and tremor I was creating this glove for. I realized that there are different types of tremors, and I needed to narrow down the scope of this project to create a prototype that could fulfill the needs of the user.
Testing different motions with the glove to map out the input data of the tremor
Theory
I broke this glove down into 3 simple parts. By breaking the complicated project down, I am confident to say that: as long as you know how to light up an LED using an Arduino, you can do this glove.
Input: the tremors in the hand
Processing: the accelerometer collects the input, and transfers it to the Arduino board
Output: the air pump applies pressure on the hand through inflating the glove, dampening the tremor.
Prototyping & Troubleshooting
The engineering of this glove is quite simple. Piece by piece, I learnt how to use an accelerometer to serial print the input data. I then converted the data into a command, so if the accelerometer detects tremors it turns on the LED.
Connecting the Arduino UNO with the air pump was a different story. I did not know how to have the Arduino control an object that runs on a different power source, so I consulted a technician from the school and realized I needed a transistor.
Step by step, I filled in the holes of knowledge that I was missing. I learnt soldering, I learnt to test different versions of codes. I learnt to constantly do user-testing to figure out what was wrong with the codes, or the hardwares.
The most valuable lesson with this project for me was to be very patient with my own learning progress, and my user-testing process.
Not every line of code works, and sometimes you have to start again from version 3 although you're already at version....n+1. However, that is the nature of this health design project. No Internet resources can tell you how tremors can be translated into digital signals. You just have to prototype, user-test, and repeat! It's an arduous process, but very fun to do!
Future Plan
After one month of wrestling with wires, codes, and LEDs, I reached my current stage where my prototype can work in an isolated environment. If you sit on a table and you're having tremors, the glove will inflate and apply pressure onto your hand. However, my plan is to further analyze the data of the tremors and remap the accelerometer so that it can be functional in all circumstances.
