I am currently part of an ongoing research project through UW that is focused on the gamification of stroke rehabilitation. Gizmo is line following robot that will be used by occupational therapists to facilitate rehabilitation activities for stroke patients who are regaining their motor control. We will be conducting our first research study later this year, in which we will study patient interaction with our solution using healthy test subjects. Based on our study, our team will continue prototyping and iterating solutions.
Participating in a research project has allowed me to grow as a designer and an academic. Previous to this project, I had not been part of a design project that was expected to last longer than a year. This project allows me to experience the full design process from initial concept and prototyping to testing and hopefully implementation in the real world. I have found this project to be fulfilling as a designer due to the direct improvement it could potentially have on user's lives. This project has shown me I have a strong interest in the design of medical technology, and I hope to continue exploring this field in the future.
A 3D model of Gizmo's outer shell I created in collaboration with my teammates can be seen below.
