Adæpt is designed for people with cerebral palsy to access the digital world without limitations.

Individuals with cerebral palsy live in a world that is not designed for them. Even simple tasks, like holding a computer mouse, can be a challenge. It's the objects we design that create these barriers for them. Adæpt wants to help by designing a computer-accessible tool that enables people with cerebral palsy to freely and independently access the digital world.

Adapt focuses on helping people with cerebral palsy who face challenges with lack of fine motor control. Its goal is to address computer accessibility issues for this user group.

Context & Problem

Through research, I discovered that the majority of their daily activities revolve around computer usage, which is primarily for socializing, entertainment, and work purposes.

However, existing input devices don't allow them to navigate independently in the digital world. As a result, they need assistance from their caregivers every few minutes, which can be incredibly frustrating for them.

The underlying issue causing this problem is the mismatched interaction between their hands and physical input devices, as well as the mismatch between their motor skills and the design of computer navigation methods.

Key Insight

Individuals with Cerebral Palsy have difficulties in using computers independently because the interaction mismatching exists between them with both hardware and the software. Being able to use the system independently is extremely important for them that they feel dignified.

Design Challenge & Solution

While trying to address the mismatched interaction on a hardware level, I discovered that each individual with CP has a unique ergonomic situation. Their hand is contracted into various unique gestures due to the involuntary muscle contractions often associated with Cerebral Palsy.(It can lead to clenched hands or fingers contracted in fixed positions.) This poses a challenge for Adæpt project, which aims to adapt to each user's differences in motor skills, hand gestures, and preferences.

Keeping this challenge in mind, multiple rounds of ideation and testing were conducted to find a suitable method of physical interaction. It turns out that every CP user, regardless of their ergonomic situation, can find a "Point" on their hand or foot to touch other objects. This critical discovery made "touchpad" an ideal physical input device.

While the "touchpad" addresses the issue of physical interaction, there is still a gap on the digital side. To eliminate mismatched interactions between software and the user, Adæpt introduces a focus indicator to replace the cursor for navigation. By grossly moving their hand on the Adæpt device, users can control the precise movement of the focus indicator on the screen. Building on gesture navigation, Adæpt offers multiple modes to meet diverse scenarios (work; social; entertainment) with each mode tailored to efficiently achieve a specific goal. Users can easily switch between modes by toggling the mode button on the physical interface.

Benefits & Value

With these features, individuals with cerebral palsy are able to freely explore the digital world, feel independent and dignified.

In addition to the primary user, this project also enables caregivers to provide remote assistance to cerebral palsy users using their phone App. This feature can save a significant amount of time and allow caregivers to enjoy some personal time.

While this product is primarily designed for individuals with cerebral palsy, it can also be beneficial for those with limited control over their fine motor muscles.