PLEASE READ - Mathew and His family were kind enough to allow Vince and I to take pictures of him. Please be respectful and contact me for permission to use any photos of this project. You can email me at Ryanwoelkers@gmail.com
Cord management was incorporated into the design for fiber optic cables that are not already installed into the chair. This can potentially save costs for the family.
Finger groves keep the hand in the correct position without being restrictive.
Mathew has two Sensors on his left armrest so that he can operate the chair in four directions and move it forward and reverse.
The current armrest being used by the family is a standard wheelchair rest with a lifted back for support. each one costs $250.
Recreated Mathew's setup in the studio.
Isolated the needs in the wrist and hand.
Studied the natural lay of the hand to find where the thumb lays comfortably.
Moved on to concept development
Requested family to send me measurements of Mathew's hands.
Flocking, used in many brief cases and jewelry boxes, is a type of fabric coating that can cover a variety of shapes without the need of sewing on fabric. This process allows the memory foam to be cut in many ways without restrictions. It also can be mixed with an antibacterial coating so as to make it safe and clean. The whole object is machine washable.
The project was debuted at Philadelphia University's Occupational Therapy / Industrial Design review in the fall of 2011. Occupational Therapist, Vincent Lau stands next to their posterboard awaiting the review board.
Mathew drives out of the performance space on his own and goes home with his new handrests.
