In order to help our friend Elizabeth, the team engineered two devices to fit her needs. The team first designed an extended clamper that hooks onto fishnet-like bags that would hold her clothing in the washing machine. The process would be quite simple: she would place her clothing in these fishnet type bags, place them in the washing machine and when they are complete, scoop out the bags using the clamp that hooks onto the strings of the bag easily. Secondly, the team designed a prototype that would aid Elizabeth when utilizing a hot oven. They created a rollable table that would sit in front of her oven and she could slide her hot objects onto the table, allow them to cool, and avoid burning herself entirely. This device could also be stored away easily due to the rollable wheels and collapsible design.
The challenge is to create a device that aids Elizabeth when she is loading and unloading the laundry and oven as they are out of her reach. When utilizing the top-loading washing machine, she cannot grab the items at the bottom of the barrel. In addition, Elizabeth has trouble reaching into the hot oven and pulling out heavy dishes, therefore she is forced to balance herself from the side of the oven at awkward angles. While trying to avoid falling, burning herself and causing any damages to her surroundings, cooking has proven to be a difficult task for Elizabeth.
Our need-knower, Elizabeth Campbell is 24 years old and was born with Achondroplasia which is the most common form of skeletal dwarfism. In America, there are 1 in 40,000 cases of dwarfism a year. She is 3’10” and has arms and legs disproportionately shorter than her torso and body which makes it difficult for her to access objects beyond her arm expansion.
An open-source assistive technology project shared free by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.
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