Intro by Luis
The idea behind the Assistive Tech library project started when Sabine and I met in the ETHOS lab. She was one of the Jr. Researchers and while we were discussing the usual small talk of how it is going with her project and such, we started talking about the 3D printer we have at the lab.
Sabine asked me about how hard it is to print or design something and I told her that printing can be quite easy, since you can download already made 3D models online. When I said this, she asked me if we could look for a case for her gyroscopic mouse, which is expensive and the manufacturer doesn’t provide one. They don’t even sell one!
So I went on the usual sites and sadly couldn’t find one. But then I asked what that case would really look like, because maybe we can reutilize one that is already modeled. Sabine then showed me how she carried her mouse, which was in a wristwatch box with some soft padding. Sabine mentioned that ideally, if we were to find something it would be best if the top of the case could slide.
I think that was the moment were it all started, because we took measurements and then found a “travel UNO card box” 3d model with a sliding top which seemed like it could work well. Over the course of the next 8 (?) weeks, we met to see if any of these prototypes we printed worked. I must clarify here, that at the time I had close to 0 experience doing any 3d modelling, in fact, I still consider myself quite ignorant about it! That didn’t stop us from making something that was useful and that we believe any two people with enough interest can do.
Sabine’s experience
As a person with a physical disability, I have needed many types of assistive technology throughout the years. Through this experience, I have noticed three aspects of assistive technology which widen the barrier toward accessibility:
First of all, It is really hard to know if an assistive device works for you before trying it. Disabilities are so idiosyncratic that the assistive technology fitting to the individual will vary a lot. I have before been convinced that a specific tool would be helpful, just to find out that some small detail actually made it impossible for me to use. This could be because of physical restrictions such as weight, required grip strength, and so on, but specific standards could also play a role. For example, we tried to print a handle for my keys to make them easier to turn in a lock. However, the print-model did not accommodate the type of key often used in Denmark.
This plays into the second aspect; cost. Technology related to disabilities often comes with a large price tag. In my case, the gyroscopic mouse I use to control my computer cost me more than a completely new computer would. The same gyroscopic technology is used in gear such as VR headsets, but they are a fraction of the price. The same concept goes for smaller physical tools. A shirt button helper is five times the price of a more “normal” gadget made of the same materials, such as a pair of scissors. The reason? One can only guess. A popular theory within the disabled community is that there exists an expectation that you get funding from the state on institution for assistive devices, incentivizing companies to hike up the prices. However, as anyone who has tried that type of application would know, funding is far from assured.
This kind of embedded ablism is not just present in pricing, but also in the products themselves. In this context, the third issue is that people with disabilities are not always included in testing products made for them. Even more rarely are they included in the actual design process. This leads to products with gaps in usability and forgotten features. Using my gyroscopic mouse as an example again, a large issue arose every time I had to bring it with me outside my house. This device, crucial for me to be able to use my computer, did not come with a carrying case. Every time I wanted to do e.g. schoolwork at my university, I had to pack it inside improvised boxes stuffed with toilet paper. It was almost like no one thought about the fact that a disabled person would have to use their computer anywhere outside their home. These three aspects work together to create significant barriers to obtaining assistive tools that are effective and sustainable for the person using them.
This need for a carrying case became the starting point of this whole project, as Luis and I worked together to co-create a solution using the 3D printer. It meant a lot for the final result and usability of our product that we were able to make iterations with improvements throughout the process. For the opening mechanism, I personally needed the lip to be taller, so that I could open the box more easily. But I wouldn’t necessarily have known this, if I wasn’t able to test it first. Even something as simple as the size was hard to get right first.