Quiz 30.5B
Quiz 30.5b: Design and Development of the First Exoskeletal Garment to Enhance Arm Mobility for Children with Movement Impairments
ABSTRACT: Children with a variety of diagnoses have impairments that limit their arm function. Despite the fact that
arm function is important for early learning and activities of daily living, there are few tools to assist
movement for these children, and existing devices have challenges related to cost, accessibility, comfort,
and aesthetics. In this article, we describe the design process and development of the first garment based exoskeleton to assist arm movement in young children with movement impairments: the Playskin
LiftTM. We outline our design process, which contrasts with the traditional medical model in that it is
interdisciplinary, user-centered, and addresses the broad needs of users, rather than device function
alone. Then we report the results of field-testing with the initial prototype with respect to our design
metrics on a toddler with significant bilateral arm movement impairments. Finally, we summarize our
ongoing development aimed at increasing comfort, aesthetics, and accessibility of the garment. The
interdisciplinary, user-centered approach to assistive technology design presented here can result in
innovative and impactful design solutions that translate to the real world.
Completion of all required components earns .2 IACET CEUs.
Price: $45.00
Member Price: $32.00