Assistive technology, oral controller, digital fabrication, DIY assistive product
Abstract
In recent years, the development of assistive products has significantly improved the lives of people with disabilities. However, for those who are paralyzed or have reduced limb mobility, there are few assistive products on the market that allow them to interact with computers. Existing mouth-controlled devices are often complicated to operate, expensive, and not widely popularized. This paper proposes a low-cost mouth-controlled device called “Oralpunk” that aims to simulate the function of a mouse for people with full body paralysis or limited limb mobility. The device controls the computer through the movement of the user’s tongue, teeth, and airflow. This paper details the design, development, and iterative improvement process of Oralpunk, including the control mechanism, motherboard integration, and support structure. The device was experimentally tested for effectiveness and its functions, material texture, ease of operation, and precision of operation were evaluated. The results show that although the cursor movement function performs well, some functions still need to be further optimized. This study shows that Oralpunk is expected to provide a more economical, practical, and flexible solution for people with disabilities to promote their wider participation in social activities through assistive technology.
