Self-Help Device for Keyboard Operation Without Interfering with Trackball Mouse Operation, for a Person with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury—TA-05

For (With Whom)

A person with a cervical spinal cord injury (C5/C6) who has difficulty moving the fingers and wrist joints, and who operates a computer with an orthosis on the wrist.

Why

The person began working remotely, but because they could not operate the keyboard with the left hand, problems arose such as inefficient input and difficulty pressing keys simultaneously. To improve work efficiency, it was necessary to make keyboard operation possible with the left hand without interfering with mouse operation by the left hand.

How

When we assessed how the user operates the computer, we found that they operated the keyboard with a touch pen held between the fingers of the right hand and the trackball with the left hand. Given the effect of finger paralysis, we found that making a short touch pen usable by attaching it to the left thumb would allow both the mouse and the keyboard to be operated. Separately from operation, it was also important that the user could put on the self-help device by themselves. Taking these into account, we repeatedly prototyped the angle of the touch pen and a shape that is easy to attach to the thumb and hard to come off.

Outcome

It became possible to operate the keyboard with the left hand as well, without interfering with mouse operation. As a result, remote work can be done more efficiently than before.

Materials Used

Body: TPU

Approximate 3D Print Weight

7g

Print Settings Overview

Body: Nozzle diameter=0.4mm, Layer height=0.1mm, Infill=20%, Temp=220°C, Speed=30mm/s, Support=None

Everyday Items Included

The touch pen used is the shortest one sold at a 100-yen shop.