LipSync

OVERVIEW

In 2016, upwards of 1.6 billion people in the world are using smartphones. Smartphones are becoming a staple piece of technology for many citizens in North America and around the World. Smartphones and touchscreen devices enable users to navigate around their city better, to communicate with others more freely, and to operate applications which can promote happy and productive lives. Currently, there exist a limited number of practical devices for quadriplegics to use touchscreen devices - this is where we step in.

The LipSync is an electronic device which allows quadriplegics the ability to use compatible touchscreen and computer devices without the use of their hands. The user is able to manipulate a cursor on their device screen using a mouth-operated joystick with integrated sip and puff controls to simulate the actions of "tap" and hitting the back button, respectively. With longer sips and longer puffs, additional secondary features are enabled including a "tap and drag", "long tap and drag" and the possibility of more specialized functions as per the user's needs.

The LipSync is design specifically for portable devices, it does not require AC power, but it will work with any device including desktop and laptop computers that support mice through a universal serial bus (USB) or the Bluetooth connection.

The LipSync is an open-source hardware project where all of our 3D printer files, component lists and microcontroller code are made public. In the spirit of accessibility, our housing can be 3D printed, the electronic components are readily available and the assembly is as straightforward as possible.

The LipSync was envisioned as a holistic solution that takes in to consideration not only the interface but how the system is to be mounted on the user’s wheelchair. The actual electronics of the device is on part of the implementation. There are no standardized methods to which wheelchairs are designed. Wheelchair manufacturers can use round or square tubing. They often also use tubing which is not compatible with other manufacturers so that customers must buy accessories from them. As a result, there is not a standard location or clamping mechanism to mount assistive technology on the chair.

Wheelchairs are also customized to the user, including the height, width and seating position of the user. The seating on the wheelchairs are customized to minimize the incidents of pressure sores. As a result, the mounting system for assistive technology such as the LipSync also has to be customized. In addition to the instructions to assemble a LipSync, we have included instructions on how to mount a LipSync. A combination of off-theshelf and custom 3D printed components are provided in order to help makers create a fully integrated and customized solution for the user.

Now the maker community and disability community can meet, collaborate and work together constructing a LipSync over a period not much longer than a weekend. We hope these new relationships will continue spurring innovation within the maker community.

There are 3 main aspects we will be addressing in our project:

Developing an easy to build, but robust electronics assembly that novice to experienced makers can build;
Developing a device housing which can be 3D printed by makers either at home or at dedicated facilities;
Creating mounting options for a variety of wheelchairs with 3D printed parts and/or commercially available components.

SMARTPHONES AND ACCESSIBILITY

Smartphones, by their very nature, are intended to be used while on the go. Traditional assistive technology designs for the desktop and laptop computer are not portable in nature, so they cannot be easily applied to smartphones. While single and dual input systems exist for smartphones, they are slow and frustrating to use for users with more capabilities of movement. Single and dual input switches are appropriate for users that can only make one or two movements consistently. The LipSync is...

Upcoming Events in the US
Chad • 09/20/2018 at 16:47 • 0 comments
Over the next couple weeks, we'll be hosting and attending a range of buildathons, maker faires, and workshops in the United States. Each of them offers an opportunity to have fun and learn new things while working together on solutions to benefit people with disabilities.

Student makers working on LipSyncs at a prior buildathon
We hope you’ll join us at an event or two if you’re in the area. Click on each event link to learn more and register:
- World Maker Faire New York: September 22nd - 23rd
- LipSync Buildathon at NY Designs: September 24th
- LipSync Buildathon at NYC Resistor: September 24th
- LipSync Buildathon at Open Works Baltimore, MD: September 26th
- Open Source AT Workshop in Washington, DC: September 26th and 30th
- AT Makers' Fair in Concord, NH: September 29th
We look forward to seeing you!
AT Makers' Fair
Chad • 09/12/2018 at 22:03 • 0 comments

On September 29th, Makers Making Change will be in Concord, NH for the AT Makers’ Fair. This AT-dedicated fair brings together makers of all abilities to share ideas, develop new skills, and enhance innovations for people with disabilities.

The fair will feature talks by AT maker movement leaders, hands-on workshops, an AT Invention contest, a Make AT Café makerspace, and more.

The Make AT Café is a particularly cool space. Participants can make and take home a variety of AT devices using various plastics, wire, specialty tapes, and basic hand tools. Many of the devices address specific challenges; these include low vision devices, holding and gripping devices, toy adaptations, communication access devices, and more.
In addition, Chad Leaman, Director of Innovation, will be facilitating a workshop called Connecting to Makers and Quality Open AT Projects. The workshop will explore a range of freely available open-source assistive devices and resources, as well as community groups that can help in designing and making assistive devices.
Register now for the AT Makers’ Fair. The deadline is September 14th. We look forward to seeing you there!
We're Hiring a Regional Coordinator in Calgary
Chad • 09/04/2018 at 17:46 • 0 comments

Are you actively involved in the maker community in Calgary?

Are you an electronics and 3D printing whiz?

We are looking for a Regional Coordinator who will work to integrate Makers Making Change within the community. You’ll love this role if you are a maker who is actively involved in maker culture – someone who is passionate about creating in all aspects of life. You'll interact and work with diverse groups of people, including people with disabilities, organizations, and disability professionals.

Makers at a prior LipSync Buildathon, soldering away

As a Regional Coordinator, you'll help integrate our work into makerspaces and hackspaces, whether at libraries, universities, for-profit or community-run spaces, or schools. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to develop curriculum for middle and high school students, utilizing “design thinking” methodologies.

Read more about the opening. We look forward to connecting with you!
Maker Faire New York
Chad • 08/23/2018 at 20:39 • 0 comments
Exactly a month from now, we will be at World Maker Faire New York. You can meet us at our booth throughout the weekend of September 22–23. Learn more and get your Maker Faire tickets here: https://makerfaire.com/new-york/

At Maker Faire, I will also be on a panel centred on making assistive technologies for people with disabilities. I'll be joining these brilliant makers:
- Jon Schull of e-NABLE, a network of volunteers creating free open-source 3D printed prosthetics for children and underserved populations
- Holly Cohen of DIYAbility, which empowers people to not only to make access solutions for people with disabilities, but to also help people with disabilities be makers
- Liz Arum of Ultimaker, who is 3D printing resources for blind students
We’re interested in organizing a small LipSync Buildathon or two in the week after Maker Faire in the New York area and on the East Coast. If you’d like to be involved, please email me at chadl@neilsquire.ca.

We look forward to seeing you there!
Testing, Testing...
Chad • 08/09/2018 at 22:17 • 0 comments

We're having a busy and fun time doing a lot of backend work here at Makers Making Change. One of our projects: testing and fixing a whole bunch of LipSyncs to make sure they are functioning brilliantly before being sent to people who need them.

We are glad to have Fawzan’s help in testing these LipSyncs. As you may remember, Fawzan is a high school student who, along with his student group, 3D-printed assistive devices from our library for people with disabilities. Read more about Fawzan’s work.
You won't hear from us as often in the next few weeks while we work on these projects. In the meantime, you can always give us a shout or get involved on our website. Have a bright rest-of-the-summer!
Sign Up On Our Website
Chad • 08/02/2018 at 20:30 • 0 comments
What AT Can Help Students with Disabilities?
Chad • 07/19/2018 at 17:45 • 0 comments

We are currently working on expanding our open-source assistive technology library by adding devices that can help youth. We have some questions for teachers to help us get started.

The key turner, a popular low-tech AT device from our library
What disabilities do your students have? Are there any assistive devices you can think of that would be a valuable addition to your classroom? If your students are already working with some assistive technology, click a photo of the device and send it to us!
You can reach out by contacting Zee Kesler, Makers Making Change Project Manager, at zeek@neilsquire.ca. Thank you for your help!
We Fixed 40 LipSyncs
Chad • 07/16/2018 at 22:26 • 0 comments

On Thursday, July 5th, Makers Making Change was at Vancouver Hack Space to repair a few LipSyncs. In just a few hours, around 12 volunteers helped us troubleshoot and fix 40 LipSyncs. We can now send these completed LipSyncs to people with disabilities who need them. Thank you to everyone who came out to help! Above: Makers Making Change staff and volunteer makers working on LipSync parts Above: Our Research and Development student, Shaemus, soldering Above: A whole bunch of completed multi-coloured LipSyncs
Dementia-Friendly Music Player
Chad • 07/09/2018 at 21:16 • 0 comments

At Makers Making Change, we believe in collaborating to make even more effective assistive solutions. On that note, we want to introduce two makers: Ross Porter, a Seattle-based maker who created the dementia-friendly music player, and Trey Bagley, who made the 3D-printed design.

The laser-cut design of the music player

This music player was Ross’s first maker project. He set out to create something that would bring joy to his father, who had dementia. The project is completely open-source, with the initial model consisting of a laser-cut case.

“My dad could no longer operate a CD player or iPod,” says Ross on his website, DQMusicBox.org. “But he could use the music player that I designed and made for him, because it operates like a familiar two-knob radio. I was inspired to make this by the documentary Alive Inside which shows the profound joy felt by some people with dementia when listening to their favorite music.”

The 3D-Printed Design

The stained 3D-printed cathedral-style design

Ross was now looking for a 3D-printed version of the case, so that the project would be more accessible to potential makers. We connected him to maker Trey Bagley, who worked with Ross to create an elegant cathedral-style shell. The filament is made of 40% sawdust and can be stained to make it appear closer to wood. The design stays just as simple to use.

“If you imagine someone with dementia, they gradually forget the present, but their old memories are strong,” explains Ross. “Particularly, memories formed before the age of 21. Thus, Trey went about creating something that someone, even if their memory does not expand past the 1950s, would still recognize – something that they have experienced as a child.”

“I thought it was a very interesting design challenge,” says Trey. “We did a lot of research, pulled up some specific examples, mostly from people on EBay selling antiques and vintage collectibles. The wood filament and the staining brought out a ton of detail. The filament can replicate the wood grain on a flat surface.”

An Easy and Fun Project

These are all the parts you need. Get making!

At the Seattle Mini Maker Faire in September 2017, Ross provided some participants the required materials to build a device then and there. “I did get seven people to sign up and make the device – and all seven succeeded in making it. It takes an hour and fifteen minutes on average.”

Do you know anyone in your life or in your community who could benefit from this music player? You can easily order the parts online and get either a laser-cut or 3D-printed shell. As Ross says, a 13-year-old can build it!

You can find the instructions for both models or request the project on our website. If you have questions or suggestions about the music player, contact Ross at rosswesleyporter@gmail.com. If you have ideas about the existing 3D-printed shell or find any errors, contact Trey at tbornottb@sbcglobal.net.
Fix a LipSync
Chad • 06/28/2018 at 17:54 • 0 comments

Next week, we’ll meet our old friends at Vancouver Hack Space (VHS) to repair and complete a bunch of LipSyncs. Not every device is finished at our buildathons, and we periodically organize fix-it nights so community members can help us complete them.

By volunteering to troubleshoot a LipSync, you help a person with a disability (who may be quadriplegic or have limited use of their hands) gain access to a touchscreen device. Plus: around 6pm, we'll get pizza for our volunteers.

Luke, a director at VHS, during a Fix a LipSync event in December 2017. We had fixed 67 LipSyncs at that time!

RSVP on Eventbrite. Come any time, for as long as you are able.

When: Thursday, July 5th, 1pm - 8pm
Where: Vancouver Hack Space, #104-1715 Cook St Vancouver, BC V5Y 3J6

PS: Do you have a chronic condition/disability or care for someone who does? The UBC Health Mentors Program is looking for Health Mentors to share their medical expertise with healthcare students. Mentors meet students twice a semester over a 16-month term, and share their expertise on living with a chronic condition.
Applications are open till August 13th, 2018. Learn more about being a Health Mentor on the UBC website.