In STEM II, we make assistive technology devices under the guidance of Dr. C. My group, The B Team, focused on creating a device to assist people with motor impairments in the use of zippers.
.Individuals with medical conditions that impair motor function such as Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome struggle with using zippers. Using a zipper requires great precision, which is problematic when the client’s medical condition causes them to lose control in their hand, affecting strength and accuracy.
Create a device that aims to help people with impaired fine motor functions in their hands engage a zipper by reducing the strength and precision required to connect the two ends of the zipper.
Zippers are commonly used in a variety of clothes and have remained an efficient way to bring together two parts of an article of clothing. Zippers are made of many small, intricate parts to ensure their functionality. The action of attaching both ends of the zipper together to be pulled up seems simple and straightforward to most people, but it requires precision and strength that many people with motor impairments may lack (Jeevaniyam, 2022). Prerequisite skills to operate a zipper include the ability to do a pincer and tripod grasp, use fingers independently, having bilateral and hand-eye coordination, and using both hands in the midline. These fine motor skills can be difficult for people with medical conditions (Lumiere, 2017). For instance, people with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy (CP) and dyspraxia may have shaky or paralyzed hands, making a task that requires some degree of precision incredibly difficult. Many other conditions like brain injuries, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Developmental Delay, Down Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Muscular Dystrophy, Rett Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Spina Bifida can also create similar difficulties with fine motor skills and, ipso facto, zipper operation (SBCC, 2024). Previous assistive zipper products that are currently on the market or have been patented help the user pull the zipper up once it is secured. However, the act of putting a zipper together is equally important and can be even harder to execute than pulling the zipper up for individuals who have impaired motor skills. Previously, many devices have been implemented to assist the motion of pulling the zipper up. There exists a variety of devices that use hooks that serve as extensions of the zipper, making the slider easier to pull up (Fanwer, 2018; Harris, 2015). However, not many devices have addressed the issue of connecting the two sides of a coat and starting the zipper. It is imperative that this process is executed smoothly so that the user is properly enabled to pull the zipper up. Currently, MagZip–a magnetic zipper device that redesigns the slider and insert pin–exists, is required to be sewn into the clothes to replace the old zipper if individuals want to use the zipper for articles of clothing that are not what the company offers, making the product impractical for a wide variety of coats and jackets (Active Hands, n.d.). Our device aims to help people with impaired fine motor functions in their hands engage a zipper. Because of their various conditions, control over hand and grip strength are reduced, making it difficult to grasp and maneuver small mechanisms. We hope to reduce the strength and precision required to connect the two ends of the zipper, making it accessible for people who lack this strength and precision.