Toy for Disabled ChildTheresa Carr

Adrienne DulaAdvisor: Ms. Reesi Davis

Biomedical Engineering Design 273

April 18, 2002

Abstract An educational toy targeting disabled and preschool-

aged children was designed and fabricated . This toy was intended to be entertaining for the child while improving their visual tracking skills (eye pursuit movements). The visual tracking skills of the child were tested before and after exposure to the device using the Insight 2 InColor software. The results of these tests indicated the potential of the toy to improved the visual tracking skills of the subject.

Motivation

Roughly 2% of pre-school and school-aged children in the United States are mentally handicapped and also suffer from visual deficiencies

(McNeil, 2001)

4% of non-handicapped pre-school aged children also exhibit deficiencies in their visual tracking skills

(Nelson & Dimitrova, 1993)

GoalTo design and fabricate a toy which (is): Safe Keeps child entertained (fun) Improves visual tracking skills Durable Utilizes other skills (fine motor

skills/reasoning) Affordable

Problem Formulation

Schematic of Proposed Toy

Schedule

Circuit Schematic

Counts to 212 = 4096

Freq = 250 Hz

Cost Tubing $ 18.00

Base/Frame $ 15.00 Connectors $ 14.00 Circuitry $ 34.00

Material/Foam $ 10.00 Decorations/Balls $ 14.00

TOTAL: $ 105.00

Safety Concerns

Problem Solution

Tipping Sturdy wide base

Sharp edges Foam padding and material protection

Electric shock Secured and inaccessible circuitry

Choking 3" Diameter balls

Disconnection of components Reinforced attachments

Jonathon

Teresita

Testing InSight 2: InColor

Visual search task that utilizes a choice reaction time procedure

Subject presented with 36 arrays of 2,8, and 32 stimulus items and must accurately decide whether the target stimulus is present or absent (press “P” or “A” on keyboard)

ResultsPre- and Post-Reaction Times

3 children: (12 trials at each stimulus level)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

0 10 20 30 40

Number of stimuli on screen

Rea

ctio

n Ti

me

(sec

)

Pre-exposurePost-exposure

Paired t-test:# stimuli P value

2 .246 8 .084232 .0376

Conclusions Statistically significant decrease in reaction time for

arrays of 8 and 32 stimuli after exposure to toy. Though limited sample size, data indicates toy could

provide potential increase in visual tracking skills

Future Work Present finalized prototype to children at Thomas Joy

Elementary School. Additional testing to ensure effects and necessary

exposure time

Acknowledgements Reesi Davis Dr. Galloway Steve Gebhart Jack Virostko HomeDepot/Lowes/Eddie Warner/Micheal’s Who ever invented duct-tape and hot glue guns?