Connexion

 

Speech therapists need a keyguard with a removable key button that fits on their speech learning system, to help assist speech-impaired individuals with forming simple sentences. The keyguard must fit around the iPad, lining up with the specific dimensions of the app. The button must interact with the touchscreen, as a finger or stylus, as well give physical haptic feedback, and make an audible mechanical clicking sound.

Our proposed solution is a 3d-printed/laser cut keyguard/case, as well as a 5-piece 3d-printed cylindrical button with a 3d-printed spring, which uses a wire and stylus tip for capacitance through the human finger when the button is pressed. The button frame attaches to the keyguard using a friction twisting mechanism with a slot to insert locking tabs on the button frame into the mechanism. The tacticle feedback is achieved with two glued-on plastic tabs which come into contact with the button to create a clicking sound and feeling.

Cost: ~$5.94

Possible struggles while duplicating the design may include low precision printers which may poorly print the button so that it does not function smoothly, as well as printers which are too small to print the keyguard.