Keyboard Typing Aid, Three-Finger Pinch Type—TA-04

For (With Whom)

People with upper limb impairment due to cervical spinal cord injury or similar conditions

Why

When a person with a cervical spinal cord injury used a three-finger pinch-type self-help device for keyboard typing, they could type with the forearm pronated, which improved their operating posture and made typing with both hands possible. Based on this background, we made a three-finger pinch-type keyboard typing aid.

How

It is designed so that inserting the thumb and index finger forms an opposed three-finger pinch. The typing part is set at a length and angle that make typing easy, and a urethane soft cushion is attached to the tip so that typing is possible without slipping. Three sizes, M, L, and LL, are available to accommodate different finger thicknesses.

Outcome

A person who had been typing with one hand while hooking the other hand on the wheelchair push handle to maintain posture was able to type with both hands by using this three-finger pinch-type device. As a result, typing speed improved.

Materials Used

PLA

Approximate 3D Print Weight

Size M pair: 40g, size L pair: 44g, size LL pair: 48g

Print Settings Overview

Body: Nozzle diameter = 0.4mm, Layer height = 0.2mm, Infill = 50%, Temp = 240°C, Speed = 40mm/s, Support = Yes

Accessory Information

A hemispherical urethane soft cushion is attached to the tip.