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Colorado AgrAbility Project You want to do what?. Jason Beck, Rehabilitation Technologist. Assistive Technology. How do you match a client with AT? Look for new ways to complete tasks Can you change how client must complete tasks?
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Colorado AgrAbility ProjectYou want to do what? Jason Beck, Rehabilitation Technologist
Assistive Technology How do you match a client with AT? • Look for new ways to complete tasks • Can you change how client must complete tasks? • Look for commercially available products designed to complete tasks • R&D has been done, product will do what it says • Look for commercially available products that you can modify to complete tasks • Always easier to modify than to design • Design and fabricate a unique device • Most expensive, largest risk, sometimes only option
Unique solutions • PTO Jack • Automated Irrigation Gate • Portable Ladder/Staircase • ATV Throttle • 3D VR model with students
PTO Jack • Client was paraplegic • Family member had to hook-up PTO shaft from tractor to baler • Difficult for family members to support and couple shaft at same time • Jack used to support weight of shaft so that helper only had to worry about coupling
PTO Jack • Materials: • Scissor style car jack • Half of irrigation PVC pipe • Bungee cord to hold PTO shaft • Fasteners to bolt together • Cost • $50
Automated Irrigation Gate • Client was paraplegic • Unable to control water level for irrigating by himself • Family member (wife) had to manually insert 2”x4”s to dam up water
Automated Irrigation Gate • Materials: • Steel channel frame • AC geared motor w/brake • Chain to turn jackshaft • Steel jackshaft • Sheet metal reinforced w/angle iron to dam water • Climbing webbing to attach sheet metal to jackshaft • Cost • About $700
Portable Ladder/Staircase • Client suffered from chronic back pain and arthritis • Irrigated his land by siphon from concrete ditch • Ditch at the bottom of very soft dirt slope
Portable Ladder/Staircase • Materials: • Aluminum angle for structure • Raised expanded metal for stair treads • Steel pipe for handrail • Aluminum scrap for outriggers • Receiver hitch • Fasteners to bolt together • Cost • About $200
ATV Throttle • Client had severe crush injury to right forearm • Could not operate thumb throttle on ATV • Modified throttle to twist type and moved to left side
ATV Throttle • Materials: • Help from Colorado Powersports • New throttle cable attached to carburetor • Twist throttle control attached to throttle cable • Moved to left side of ATV • Cost • $175
3D VR Model with Students • Transfer from tractor lifts into tractor cabs not always safe or efficient • Work with students from the University of Colorado to model JD 4440 tractor cab • Use 3D virtual reality to determine placement and types of devices to help transfer from lift into cab