Regan Buckner

Title of Work: 

3D Printed Assistive Writing Device for People with Functional Impairment

Abstract:

During my time in Spain, I worked in an Artifacts lab. In this laboratory we work with 3D printers and create devices for people with functional diversities. My work with my peers at Artifacts was an opportunity to develop my language and cultural skills, as well as to work with many different software programs and devices. During the internship, I created a writing support device with the help of a colleague in the lab. This device is a writing aid for people who have functional diversities, especially problems with control of the arms, hands, or shoulders. Working with my colleagues from Spain helped my language skills, especially the phonetic part of the language. Also, my collaboration with other people in general helped to develop my cultural knowledge and cultural experience because it allowed me to learn more about many other cultures and about myself.

Title of Work (IGP Language):  

Dispositivo de Apoyo en la Escritura Impreso en 3D para las Personas que Tiene una Diversidad Funcional

Abstract (IGP Language):

Durante mi tiempo en España, trabajé en un laboratorio de Artefactos. En este laboratorio trabajamos con las impresoras 3D y creamos dispositivos para personas con diversidades funcionales. Mi trabajo con mis compañeros en Artefactos fue una oportunidad para desarrollar mis habilidades lingüísticas y culturales así como para trabajar con muchos programas de software y dispositivos diferentes. Durante la pasantía, creé un dispositivo de apoyo para la escritura con la ayuda de una compañera en el laboratorio. Este dispositivo es un soporte para la escritura para las personas que tienen diversidades funcionales, especialmente problemas con el control de los brazos manos u hombros. Trabajar con mis compañeros de España ayudó a mis habilidades lingüísticas especialmente la parte fonética de la lengua. También mi colaboración con otras personas en general ayudó a desarrollar mi conocimiento cultural y mi experiencia cultural porque me permitió aprender más sobre muchas otras culturas y sobre mí misma.

Elevator Pitch Video

Elevator Pitch Transcript: 

I want you to take a minute and think about how almost all of you probably have the opportunity and ability to pick up a pencil and write down your name on a daily basis. This may be an interesting thought, and not something you consciously think about when you do it. However, some people do not have the same opportunity. Hi, my name is Regan Buckner, and I am currently a fifth-year student here at Northern Arizona University. I had the opportunity to study at Alicante, Spain this past year at the University of Alicante. During this experience I was able to secure an internship in a laboratory on the university. This laboratory was called Artifacts. Artifacts is a lab that strives to awareness and create alternatives for health technology and accessible support products. In order to do both of these things, collaboration, technology, and innovation are essential. Their main goal is to improve the quality of life for people with functional adversities. These diversities focus on those who may not be able to use their hands, arms, or shoulders properly because of a birth defect or an accident that may have occurred throughout one's lifetime. During my time in this laboratory, I worked with a 3D printing software called Fusion 360. This software is where you create the 3D models that will be printed.

For 4 months that I worked on creating and enhancing a writing support device. This device goes around some one's hand and has an area for a pencil or pen. It allows someone with a functional diversity that cannot grip a pencil on their own, to be able to write without much strength.

My goal was to make this device as comfortable and ergonomically sound for the human hand as possible. With the help of a colleague and many modifications later, I believe that this device is very versatile and comfortable for many different people. I really enjoyed my time in this lab, and I know that this is something that will be benefiting many people in the future, which is part of why this work was so valuable and important to me.

My time in Alicante was an incredible experience, not only for this work in the laboratory, but for my cultural and linguistic growth as well. I had the opportunity to visit several different countries while I was there and converse with people from all over the world. These interactions allowed me to dive into cultures I had never learned about before, and learn about people that come from very different backgrounds than me. Also, my Spanish linguistic skills increased tremendously by communicating with different people on the streets, my roommates, and my colleagues in the lab. I think that my colleagues in my laboratory really helped my linguistics improve because they helped me understand new vocabulary words, different sounds, and phonetics of the Spanish language, and different ways to say words. Without these interactions on a daily basis my Spanish skills would not have developed as much as they did. Overall, I'm super grateful for these opportunities of growth and different experiences during my time abroad in Alicante.

Thank you so much for listening, and I hope to see you at the summit.

Digital Poster