Leena Al Sallakh Design

DNH603 Recommended Reading  The first reading to be researched and explored is Emerging frameworks for tangible user interfaces by B Ullmer and H Ishii.  Notes from Article: Relating "the role of physical and digital representations, physical control, and underlying digital models" through a model for identifying tangible user interfaces Graphical interfaces, input devices, keyboard and mouse as controls and output devices, monitors and head-mounted displays - human interaction with computational systems Urp - physcial interaction; turning of the hands of a clock tool to control position of the sun rotation, physical movement, to minimise intershadowing "tangible interfaces give physical form to digital information" the mouse isn't significant as it can be replaced with a digitizer pen for example, its function is important, it gives the user control. 3 key characteristics in the article;  "Physical representations (rep-p) are computationally coupled to un...

 From the primary and secondary research my group has done, I have created two personas as a result that focus on their goals anf frustrations. I have created the two personas to be quite different with two different strength and independence.

  " Modification not Renovation " This quote came directly from an interview that I did this week with Aunt Tina. These words have never been so profound before until she said them a couple times throughout the interview.  It made me think about what it means to create an assistive device for someone with a spinal cord injury. How a simple design, a slight modification will make all the difference. We aren't designing something technical and complex to assist them but rather we're looking at basic essentials to aid them in their home that would allow them to easily cook for example. 

User Interview with Tina The next interview that was completed for our primary research was with Tina. Tina is an incomplete paraplegic due to an accident when she was 16-17 years old. She has been in the wheelchair for 40 years.  The interview with Tina provided us with many insightful key points and numerous opportunities: "I had two OT’s down here, yesterday, helping me design a bed cause the bed I’m sleeping on is an airbed and the mattress is too hard and I have to keep getting up every hour so that my side doesn’t hurt me, s o its doesn’t start stinging and aching ." Tina is looking for a roho mattress like below that she can replace her current mattress with to help with the pain when she sleeps as well as to still maintain stability for her transfer "I always carry a bottle of water on the back of my wheelchair that just comes with me constantly , because if I get thirsty I know when I’m out I wont be able to use, unless its one of those water bubblers that h...

OT Interview with Usamah As our chosen theme focuses on people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), part of our research was interviewing an Occupational Therapist (OT) that could provide us with some insights to how they interact with SCI users and what they are looking for when they complete assessments. Basically, as an OT, how do they help or enhance people with spinal cord injuries daily life? The interview with Usamah provided us with insightful key points: There are so many needs for people with disabilities that is just not getting met at all.  OT's focus on functional engagement; divided into three categories. self-care, work and leisure For comfort he also mentioned pressure cushions such as the one below that help people in wheelchairs to prevent pressure sores on their glutes.   "there's new technology coming out all the time...there was a wheelchair that allows airflow through it. So, you're not getting so hot and sweaty in your wheelchair." "there...

Using the same example from previous exercises in Tech Workshops, the fading light example, I tried to re-code it using two different inputs.  The first was with a temperature sensor that turned the light on when it ranged between 50 to 55. The second attempt was using the same input with the potentiometer, but coding so that when the potentiometer is turned within a certian range the light will turn on.  I tried to create proximations to make this work. It was through the serial printer that we checked that it was possible as it depended on the room temperature.                                                         The second exercise was to try and find a differnt piece of code and use different sensors to test. In the following videos I followed an example to make the fan work. However, I found an issue w...

Personal Experience - Observational Data Kim borrowed a wheelchair so that we as a group, before class on Monday, could each experience for a couple hours different scenarios as a wheelchair user. In this video, you can see how I struggle to navigate with the chair, to control the directions I wheel in. This video shows the effort it takes for me to go on a slight incline. I'd also like to point out my posture and how I keep bending forward. From the video it looks as uncomfortable as it felt. In this video, when I'm going downhill, it was a lot easier but I was scared of going to fast so constantly had my hands on the wheel as breaks to slow myself down. I'm using the ramps that are available for wheelchair users, the incline was slightly more steep than I expected but the overall experience was alright it was however near the end slightly more difficult as I started to get tired.  When going into the lift, I had to wheel backwards, I was a bit lost on how to complete a u-...