Augmentative Manipulation in the Classroom
By Cook, Albert M.; Bentz, Brenda; Card, Cheryl; Kim, Hae-Young; Meng, Max; CSUN Technology and Persons With Disabilities Conference - 2002,Publication Date: 2002
Research project conducted to determine the effectiveness of a robotic arm for children with severe physical disabilities when used for environmental exploration and social interaction. Ten children ranging in age from five to twelve with severe physical disabilities participated in the study. The participants used the Rhino XR-4, which is a robotic arm that can rotate around its base; bend at the shoulder, elbow and wrist; and rotate its wrist. The device can also open and close its two-fingered gripper. The user can control the Rhino XR-4 via the Rhino Mark IV Controller, which can be programmed to allow the device to perform a wide variety of movements. The Mark IV can also be used to interface with control switches, which it is also connected to a laptop that allows researchers to tailor the Rhino XR-4 to meet children’s individual needs. The participants were evaluated when performing three tasks with the Rhino XR-4: (1) dump macaroni from a glass, (2) dig an object from a bowl of macaroni and dump the macaroni and object, and (3) position the arm independently before repeating the second task. Each session was videotaped for analytical purposes. The extended use of the Rhino XR-4 was found to boost the children’s participation levels in the classroom, and had a positive effect on their overall classroom conduct. Implications for future research are discussed.
Published by: Center on Disabilities at CSUN (Website:http://www.csun.edu/cod/)
Link to text: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/2002/proceedings/325.htm
