Identifying Need

Our group knows multiple people who have had issues with their hands, specifically, the reduced capability of their thumb. We recalled many of the issues that these people faced, as we have heard and observed them. They are:

• Dealing with door handles (and the many types)

• Opening bottles

• Opening soda cans

• Opening a regular can

• Holding bags

• Turning key s

• Brushing teeth

• Plugging charging cord into cellphone (or any cable into something)

• Tying shoelaces

• Typing on a keyboard/phone

• Turning pages in a book

Additionally, we noted a few struggles that we have witnessed that are related in any way to the Covid pandemic. Much less exhaustively, we found:

• Wheelchair-bound people have to touch crosswalk buttons with their hands, while other people can use elbows/feet

• If you count needing glasses as a disability, then fogging up glasses when wearing a mask

From this list, we decided to move forward with an assistive device for people with thumb issues (no thumb or reduced ability) to open pull-tab cans (soda and normal). This will likely be narrowed down to a specific disability and type of can as we create designs.