Introduction: Assistive Adaptable Computer Controller

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I created this controller as part of a class project focused on making accessible computer controllers. The controller I made is a modular, 3 part controller designed for people with cerebral palsy or other movement restricting conditions. All of the part should be relatively simple and cheap to create at home, and they are easy to connect and use. I stress tested all of them, so if build correctly, they should be very durable.

Supplies

most of these can probably be found for much cheaper at a local hardware or craft store

Step 1: Basic Button Part 1

The first part, and the most basic, is this very durable 2 button box.

In this step, you will create the base for the button box, as well as the buttons.

  1. Take a piece of thin foamcore and cut it to the size that you want the box to be
  2. Take a piece of thick foamcore and cut it to the same size.
  3. Cut out the shape that you want for your buttons; I chose a triangle but its doesn't really matter which shape you choose. Glue the thick foamcore directly onto the thin bottom foamcore layer.
  4. Cut the same shape but slightly smaller out of thin foamcore, then hot glue small springs to each corner. Make two of these. The exact size of the springs depends on how thick your foamcore is. I chose to clue small sections of a wooden dowel into the springs, as you can see in the picture for added stability, but it is not necessary to do so.
  5. Take a section of the copper wire, and poke it through the side of the foamcore. This will serve as the ground wire for the circuit. It should look something like in the picture

Step 2: Basic Button Part 2

In this step, you will add a wire pad to the bottom for the buttons to connect to.

  1. Take a section of the copper wire, and twist it up into a spiral like shown in the picture. Leave a long tail on it, as it will need to be poked out of the box's wall.
  2. Take the tail, and poke it through the foamcore, out the same side as you did for the ground wire.
  3. Repeat for both button slots.

Step 3: Basic Button Part 3

In this step you will attach your buttons to the ground wire, and glue them to the base.

  1. Bend the ground wire that is in the middle up so that it forms sort of a U shape.
  2. Take a rectangle of aluminum foil and wrap half of it around the ground wire. Glue it on if necessary, but make sure there is adequate connection between the foil and the wire. Flatten the other half of the foil.
  3. Glue the flattened half of the foil, and part of the ground wire, onto the bottom of the button. Make sure that the button lines up with the button shaped hole before you glue it on.
  4. Once the glue has dried, bend the ground wire back into shape, and mark where the springs touch the base when the button is fully in place.
  5. Put hot glue where you marked, then hold the button in place so the springs become glued onto the base.
  6. Repeat for both buttons.

Step 4: Basic Button Part 4

In this part you will add the finishing touches to the basic button box.

  1. Cut another piece of thin foam core in the same size, then cut holes in it in the shape of your buttons.
  2. Glue this piece to the top of you box.
  3. You should have 3 wires sticking out of the side of the box, 1 in the center which is the ground, then 1 on each side which are for the buttons.
  4. Bend all 3 wires to the side, making sure they don't touch. Then make a little loop at the end of each one to make it easier to clip into with your alligator clips.
  5. Cover all the edges with duct tape to make it look nice.

Step 5: Side Buttons Part 1

In this step you will create the base for the side buttons.

  1. I choose to make this out of wood for added stability, but you could also make it with thick foamcore or probably even cardboard.
  2. Create the U shape you see in the picture out of your chose material.
  3. Make sure it is wide enough to fit you button box into if you plan to use them together.

Step 6: Side Buttons Part 2

In this part you will create the buttons for this. This button design will be used for the shoulder buttons as well.

  1. Cut out a square of foamcore or another similar material. In my case I used some kind of very strong cardboard.
  2. Glue springs to 2 adjacent corners. Using the conductive copper tape, put a section of it on the side with the springs, then make sure the line of tape goes to one of the sides of the square.
  3. Cut a small ramp out of foam core, about the same size as the copper tape. You may need to experiment with the size and incline of this ramp depending on which springs you use for the button.
  4. Glue the ramp on where you want the center-ish of the button to be.
  5. Put copper tape on the ramp, and make the tape path go off to the side of where the button will be.
  6. Glue the spring onto the base, so that the copper tape on the button and the copper tape on the ramp will fully touch once the button is pushed.
  7. Once the springs are glued to the base, use duct tape to tape the other edge of the button to the base. This should form a sort of hinge.
  8. Repeat for the other side.

Step 7: Side Buttons Part 3

In this step, you will connect the buttons and the ground wires.

  1. Connect the two copper tape paths you have that are connected to the ramps. This will be your ground wire.
  2. Make the path go to the edge of the base, as you see in the picture.
  3. Using copper wire, make a little loop, and glue it onto the base at the edge. Put the main tape trail over part of this loop, making sure there is plenty overlap.


Step 8: Shoulder Buttons Part 1

In this step you will create the base for the shoulder buttons.

  1. Using the thick foamcore, cut out a half circle, as shown in the picture. This should fit comfortably around the front of the user's neck, with the ends resting on their shoulders.


Step 9: Shoulder Buttons Part 2

In this step you will create the buttons for the shoulder button part.

  1. Cut a section of foamcore about the size of the buttons that you want, then glue it at a slight incline onto the base.
  2. Follow steps 1-8 of the side buttons part 2


Step 10: Shoulder Buttons Part 3

In this part you will make the part that holds it onto your head, and connect the ground wires.

  1. You will need some way to secure this part where its supposed to go on the user, so that it doesn't just slide off.
  2. I chose to use thick copper wire and a cut section of a pool noodle.
  3. Other options could be:
  • Two velcro strips that link behind the neck
  • Two strings that are tied together behind the neck
  • Something heavy on each side of the base that hang down behind the user
  • You could connect this to a chair or something similar as well.

Using an alligator clip, connect the two ground sections of copper tape that are on the base.

Step 11: Wiring Everything

For the Basic Button Box:

  1. Connect one alligator clip to each of the three wire loops
  2. One will be the ground, and the other two will be whichever buttons you like.

For the Side Buttons:

  1. The ground wire should be clipped to the small wire loop connected to the lines of copper tape
  2. The two other buttons should be connected by clipping the alligator clip to the side of the buttons, where the copper tape is.

For the Shoulder Buttons:

  1. The ground wire should be clipped to the other alligator clip that connects the two ground sections of copper tape.
  2. The two other buttons should be connected by clipping the alligator clip to the side of the buttons, where the copper tape is.


Step 12: Test Controllers

In order to test that everything is working, go to this scratch website that was used to demonstrate the functionality during the video. https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/749414579/

If you would like to remap your makey makey, here is the website with the intructions: https://makeymakey.com/blogs/how-to-instructions