Our team of four was tasked with crafting a solution that could make an impact on the day-to-day experiences of individuals. We were assigned two clients with vastly different conditions: one grappling with impaired vision due to diabetes, and the other struggling with multiple sclerosis and its debilitating impact on motor skills and mobility. To ensure that our solution was tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients, we invested significant time and effort in consulting with them. Through a series of in-depth meetings, we gained valuable insights into their daily lives and routines, which informed our design decisions and helped us develop a comprehensive plan for our solution.
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The first concept sketch for our design depicts two objects, one with a track meant to attach on the handle of a pan, the other being a slotted puck to slide on the first attachment, this design was meant to help our client facing visual impairment pour liquids into a pan without spilling
“Design a mechanism that safely allows the clients to go through the process of cooking a healthy meal. The clients face difficulties in completing everyday tasks due to their immobility and visual impairment; this will allow them to gain some independence back in their daily life”
In the final demonstration of our finished product, we showcased its functionality through a video. The video depicted a measuring cup filled with water being placed on the sliding platform, which was then smoothly and steadily slid to the end of the track. Thanks to the precision and stability of the design, the water was successfully poured into the pan without any spillage, demonstrating its effectiveness.
Throughout the course of this project, I had the privilege of taking on the role of coordinator. As coordinator, my responsibilities included creating detailed logs of our progress, documenting feedback and critique, and translating this information into actionable items for improvement. This experience taught me the importance of taking notes and keeping track of changes and improvements, as it allowed us to see the evolution of our designs and make informed decisions.
This project was unlike any other I have worked on before, it was more open to creative freedom, as well as working with real clients and having the opportunity to make a positive impact on their lives. Through this experience, I gained a deeper appreciation for the ways in which engineering can help people and the importance of conducting ourselves ethically and professionally when interacting with clients. I truly learned how design process iteration can make a major impact on the development of projects. These skills as well as lessons learned along the way will be transferred onto my future projects and work to help me constantly improve.
Looking back on this experience, I am proud of what we accomplished and excited to continue exploring the ways in which engineering can make a positive impact on the world. I often think about how different this project could have turned out if I started with a different initial idea or changed the route I took from a mechanical approach to an electrical one. There were so many ways that I could have helped improve my clients’ lives or even aimed to help them both at once. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this project and to have had the chance to work with such a talented and dedicated team.
These four photos provide a visual timeline of the evolution of our design, from the initial low-fidelity prototype to the final working product. By presenting the images in chronological order, we are able to clearly illustrate the iterative design process that we undertook. With each iteration, we made significant improvements based on user feedback and our own design evaluations. They showcase the evolution of our design thinking as well as problem-solving skills.
Introducing the talented team behind this remarkable project! From left to right, we have Aditi Dhaka, Navya Tirumalapuram, Colby Schwartz (myself), and Dennis Jiepeng Cao. Together, we collaborated to create an innovative and effective solution to a real-world problem.
In order to thoroughly test and validate our final design before fabrication and client testing, we created a virtual simulation that showcases its functionality and performance. This simulation allows us to make any necessary adjustments to the design, ensuring that it meets all our objectives and criteria.