Dongwoon Hyun, Robert Dodson, Victor Lieu (Duke University)
ABSTRACT
Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina’s nature center program provides opportunities for adults with disabilities to express their own creativity in nurturing plant life (1), however complications with planting detract from their experiences. This project seeks to alleviate these issues and to make the participants in the nature center program more successful and independent. This report seeks to describe the situation and needs involved prior to a full description of how those needs are met by our final product. The steps involved in the project design, development, and evaluation are described in the perspective of meeting the needs and desires of our clients.
BACKGROUND
Our clients are individuals who require assistance in a greenhouse at Goodwill Industries. They perform a variety of tasks involved in the planting of seeds at the greenhouse, and the resulting produce is donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. There are a number of disabilities represented in the client group, making these tasks more difficult. Both developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries, involving cognitive and physical impairments, are represented in the client group. Traumatic brain injury(TBI) is an acquired disability that may cause physical problems with loss of coordination and cognitive problems with loss of memory and concentration (2). People with developmental disabilities often have problems with language, mobility, and learning (3). Consequences of these disabilities in our client group are loss of fine motor control and visual and tactile difficulties.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The people at Goodwill Industries want a system designed to help our clients plant successfully. The disabilities of our clients manifest in difficulties with perception, dexterity, and focus. Some clients are unable to pick up the seeds, distinguish a seed from its surroundings, or keep track of what has and has yet to be seeded, though the difficulties vary individually. Planting seeds is most often done in seed flats with 12 trays of 2×2 cells for a total of 48 cell packs per flat. There are two client groups, each with regular attendance around 5-8 clients. Each client often seeds between 2-3 flats per day, so the number of seeds planted can be quite high. The seeds are often quite small and difficult to discern from the soil. Too many seeds may be used or may not be planted correctly, if planted at all. As a solution, staff members spread seeds on a Styrofoam plate and then roll them into the clients’ hands. The clients then place the seeds in the seed packs.
However, this method is very imprecise, tedious, and doesn’t cover the entire breadth of client needs. Handheld seeders, including the Landware Pro Seeder and Luster Leaf Rapiclip Mini-Seedmaster #805, are available commercially but often require greater dexterity than is available to our clients, and do not dispense seeds reliably. When they do partially succeed at meeting the physical needs, they fail to keep track of position. An optimum solution should help our clients overcome their disabilities, while maintaining their sense of independence. The end product should aid in the act of dispensing a single seed or only a few seeds to minimize waste and improve the ability of our clients to achieve and recognize success.
Disassembled, top, and bottom views of seed dispenser
Template in relation to and on top of seed flat
DESIGN
Our final design is composed of two main components. One is a template to be placed over the seed flat. It is exchangeable between flats and will generally only need to be used by the clients. The second component is a seed dispenser, which will require some setup by the Goodwill staff and will dispense only a few seeds at a time.
Each template is composed of two 11”x22” sheets of acrylic with a sheet of colored neoprene sandwiched in between them. The acrylic sheets have a series of cut holes to line up over each of the 48 seeding spots. There are also vertical and horizontal slits cut into the neoprene at each hole, which will hold the seed until it can be recognized by the client. The whole template is then bolted together. Acrylic L-brackets attached underneath the template serve as guides to line up the holes properly.
The seed dispensers are a bit more complex. A length of PVC pipe is cut lengthwise in half, with a loading hole drilled in on one side. A piece of acrylic 0.220” thick is glued along the length of the half-pipe, creating a chamber in which to hold seeds. It has an extended tip on the side opposite of the loading hole to allow for simple aiming. A thinner, narrower, and longer piece of acrylic, which is called the slide, is placed inside the chamber so that it slides atop the thicker acrylic along the inside of the half-pipe. The chamber is then sealed on both ends using another small piece of acrylic, so that only the slide can pass through. A small hole is drilled into the slide such that a couple of seeds can fall into the hole, loading the slide. When operating, the slide will be pushed along so that the hole in the slide will exit the chamber, releasing the seed onto the extended acrylic base after which it rolls onto a hole in the template.
The slide is operated using a small spring that is held in place by a rubber stopper, which is attached to the slide. The client simply presses the rubber stopper to dispense. Slides are interchangeable, and hole sizes are matched appropriately to accommodate different seed sizes. After every hole is seeded, the clients poke the seeds through the valves using their fingers.
Seed dispenser being used with template
DEVELOPMENT
Upon consultation with the clients, the motion involved in using a syringe was the overwhelming favorite. The clients intuitively understood how the syringe worked, and immediately mastered the motions involved, leading us to pursue this method further. The most important issue to address was how to dispense a reasonable number of seeds (1 to 3 seeds) per push consistently.
In order to control the number of seeds released, we chose to use a hole placed near the end of the slide rather than a groove, so that only a few seeds could exit the loading chamber at a time. Additionally, the hole was beveled in such a way that a seed could not cause a jam. Another problem encountered was that the exit hole in the slide was constantly in motion as it emerges from the loading chamber, making it difficult for the clients to predict where the seeds would dispense. To combat this issue, a guide was developed. The guide is an extension of the acrylic base of the loading chamber onto which seeds fall and slide down. This provides a consistent and effective way for the clients to aim their seeds.
For our template, neoprene was chosen because of its durability and elastic behavior. It provides the proper resistance to creep and a good contrast with the seeds, provided that the proper colors are chosen. To avoid having seeds leak out into the sides and get irretrievably caught between the acrylic and neoprene, two sheets of acrylic were used.
EVALUATION
As previously stated, the purpose of this project is to aid in the physically and mentally demanding aspects of planting. We performed rigorous testing in a total of nine client meetings, two advisor meetings, and in fourteen weeks of laboratory experimentation in order to optimize functionality of both the template and the dispenser. Final testing of product functionality focused both upon design parameters and client feedback, and occurred via direct testing of the device with the clients. The specific features tested include: secure fit of the template on the flat, ease of removing and replacing the device, limited but consistent dispensing of seeds, regular passage of seeds through the template valves, and high levels of seed-template contrast for recognition of success. Video recordings of client interaction with the devices served as a primary means of evaluation and verification of functionality.
In accordance with the high level of client interaction with the device, evaluation of each criterion first focused on client’s success and then on the empirical data collected regarding that success. The secure fit of the template on the flat, with proper matching of template valves to desired seed locations, was absolutely successful with all clients. No significant deflection or translation of the template occurred. One client was asked to pick up and replace the template on the flat. In a single attempt with no prior instruction, the client could remove and replace the template in 12 seconds. Another client was given the dispenser to test its mechanism, using a size 40 hole, which had been previously optimized through lab testing for kale (a type of cabbage) seeds. Kale seeds, being one of the smaller seed types used, serve as an ideal test case for the device. He was able to dispense kale seeds into over 90% of the holes, with no holes receiving more than two seeds. After prompting by a staff member, the client was then able to use the device to successfully seed all missed holes. Once the seeds had been placed, the client was then able to successfully push every seed through the template for successful planting. Likewise, a third client was able to independently plant holes on a preseeded template, with a staff member able to recognize the few missed holes and thereby help the client to an eventual 100% success rate. Contrast between the seeds and template was evident in both client and staff recognition of seeding during the preceding tests.
Client feedback was all positive. Several clients noted how they liked the “feel” of the device. One client noted his appreciation of the coloration of the device, and another was eager to see the alternative colors that will be provided upon final product delivery. Subjective measures of attitude were positive. Kimi Dew, Goodwill Nature Center Coordinator, expressed her pleasure and satisfaction with the device.
DISCUSSION
The combination of seed dispenser and template successfully improves the success rate of our client group and reduces waste in terms of both seeds and time. It can easily be extended to a larger client group with similar needs, or be put into use by the general public. The dispenser is more reliable than other seed dispensers on the market, although less convenient in terms of seed optimization. Our template fits a more niche need, but can be used for recognizing success with any small seed type on a standard flat.
Due to the nature of dealing with a group of clients instead of an individual, not all features were available to all clients. Certain clients would not be able to lift the template or independently operate the dispenser. Our devices ease the burden on the Goodwill staff in such cases, allowing for recognition of successful seeding, so that aid may be applied where necessary. More precision in the application of assistance reduces the total need for outside help and increases client independence.
Final product delivery will occur by May 12, 2010, when eight copies of the template and dispenser combination will be provided to the Goodwill Nature Center. Four different colors of neoprene, white, red, blue, and orange, will be used in the templates, two of each. A User Manual and individual lab manuals will be available for instruction and any necessary maintenance.
Cost Analysis
Let it Grow’s budget was limited to $400 for the completion of this project. The costs of acrylic, neoprene, and bolts for the templates yield a final cost of just under $40 per template. Scraps from these materials and other projects allowed for the manufacture of the dispensers essentially free of charge. With the cost of eight templates, the purchase of testing materials, and other miscellaneous factors, we have a final cost of $401.18, bringing us just above budget. This slight overage was approved by our professors.
REFERENCES
1. GCF Nature Center Program. Goodwill of Eastern North Carolina. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.goodwillenc.org/naturecenter.html
2. Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm
3. Developmental Disabilities, NCBDDD, CDC. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from the Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Our sincerest gratitude goes out to all those who have helped us in this project. We have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help others and perhaps bring more joy into their lives. In particular, we would like to thank Kevin Caves and Richard Goldberg, our BME 260 instructors, for all their valuable input and suggestions. Steve Earp, who runs the machine shop, was important for advice in how to get things done without ruining our materials. Our advisor, Kimi Dew, the Goodwill Nature Center Coordinator, was absolutely critical for client input and testing. Funding for our project came via NSF grant # 0118558. As a final note, we would like to thanks all our clients for their cooperation, patience, and ready smiles. Thank you!
ABSTRACT
Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina’s nature center program provides opportunities for adults with disabilities to express their own creativity in nurturing plant life (1), however complications with planting detract from their experiences. This project seeks to alleviate these issues and to make the participants in the nature center program more successful and independent. This report seeks to describe the situation and needs involved prior to a full description of how those needs are met by our final product. The steps involved in the project design, development, and evaluation are described in the perspective of meeting the needs and desires of our clients.
Keywords: planting; seed dispenser; seeding template
BACKGROUND
Our clients are individuals who require assistance in a greenhouse at Goodwill Industries. They perform a variety of tasks involved in the planting of seeds at the greenhouse, and the resulting produce is donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. There are a number of disabilities represented in the client group, making these tasks more difficult. Both developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries, involving cognitive and physical impairments, are represented in the client group. Traumatic brain injury(TBI) is an acquired disability that may cause physical problems with loss of coordination and cognitive problems with loss of memory and concentration (2). People with developmental disabilities often have problems with language, mobility, and learning (3). Consequences of these disabilities in our client group are loss of fine motor control and visual and tactile difficulties.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The people at Goodwill Industries want a system designed to help our clients plant successfully. The disabilities of our clients manifest in difficulties with perception, dexterity, and focus. Some clients are unable to pick up the seeds, distinguish a seed from its surroundings, or keep track of what has and has yet to be seeded, though the difficulties vary individually. Planting seeds is most often done in seed flats with 12 trays of 2×2 cells for a total of 48 cell packs per flat. There are two client groups, each with regular attendance around 5-8 clients. Each client often seeds between 2-3 flats per day, so the number of seeds planted can be quite high. The seeds are often quite small and difficult to discern from the soil. Too many seeds may be used or may not be planted correctly, if planted at all. As a solution, staff members spread seeds on a Styrofoam plate and then roll them into the clients’ hands. The clients then place the seeds in the seed packs.
However, this method is very imprecise, tedious, and doesn’t cover the entire breadth of client needs. Handheld seeders, including the Landware Pro Seeder and Luster Leaf Rapiclip Mini-Seedmaster #805, are available commercially but often require greater dexterity than is available to our clients, and do not dispense seeds reliably. When they do partially succeed at meeting the physical needs, they fail to keep track of position. An optimum solution should help our clients overcome their disabilities, while maintaining their sense of independence. The end product should aid in the act of dispensing a single seed or only a few seeds to minimize waste and improve the ability of our clients to achieve and recognize success.
DESIGN
Our final design is composed of two main components. One is a template to be placed over the seed flat. It is exchangeable between flats and will generally only need to be used by the clients. The second component is a seed dispenser, which will require some setup by the Goodwill staff and will dispense only a few seeds at a time.
Each template is composed of two 11”x22” sheets of acrylic with a sheet of colored neoprene sandwiched in between them. The acrylic sheets have a series of cut holes to line up over each of the 48 seeding spots. There are also vertical and horizontal slits cut into the neoprene at each hole, which will hold the seed until it can be recognized by the client. The whole template is then bolted together. Acrylic L-brackets attached underneath the template serve as guides to line up the holes properly.
The seed dispensers are a bit more complex. A length of PVC pipe is cut lengthwise in half, with a loading hole drilled in on one side. A piece of acrylic 0.220” thick is glued along the length of the half-pipe, creating a chamber in which to hold seeds. It has an extended tip on the side opposite of the loading hole to allow for simple aiming. A thinner, narrower, and longer piece of acrylic, which is called the slide, is placed inside the chamber so that it slides atop the thicker acrylic along the inside of the half-pipe. The chamber is then sealed on both ends using another small piece of acrylic, so that only the slide can pass through. A small hole is drilled into the slide such that a couple of seeds can fall into the hole, loading the slide. When operating, the slide will be pushed along so that the hole in the slide will exit the chamber, releasing the seed onto the extended acrylic base after which it rolls onto a hole in the template.
The slide is operated using a small spring that is held in place by a rubber stopper, which is attached to the slide. The client simply presses the rubber stopper to dispense. Slides are interchangeable, and hole sizes are matched appropriately to accommodate different seed sizes. After every hole is seeded, the clients poke the seeds through the valves using their fingers.
DEVELOPMENT
Upon consultation with the clients, the motion involved in using a syringe was the overwhelming favorite. The clients intuitively understood how the syringe worked, and immediately mastered the motions involved, leading us to pursue this method further. The most important issue to address was how to dispense a reasonable number of seeds (1 to 3 seeds) per push consistently.
In order to control the number of seeds released, we chose to use a hole placed near the end of the slide rather than a groove, so that only a few seeds could exit the loading chamber at a time. Additionally, the hole was beveled in such a way that a seed could not cause a jam. Another problem encountered was that the exit hole in the slide was constantly in motion as it emerges from the loading chamber, making it difficult for the clients to predict where the seeds would dispense. To combat this issue, a guide was developed. The guide is an extension of the acrylic base of the loading chamber onto which seeds fall and slide down. This provides a consistent and effective way for the clients to aim their seeds.
For our template, neoprene was chosen because of its durability and elastic behavior. It provides the proper resistance to creep and a good contrast with the seeds, provided that the proper colors are chosen. To avoid having seeds leak out into the sides and get irretrievably caught between the acrylic and neoprene, two sheets of acrylic were used.
EVALUATION
As previously stated, the purpose of this project is to aid in the physically and mentally demanding aspects of planting. We performed rigorous testing in a total of nine client meetings, two advisor meetings, and in fourteen weeks of laboratory experimentation in order to optimize functionality of both the template and the dispenser. Final testing of product functionality focused both upon design parameters and client feedback, and occurred via direct testing of the device with the clients. The specific features tested include: secure fit of the template on the flat, ease of removing and replacing the device, limited but consistent dispensing of seeds, regular passage of seeds through the template valves, and high levels of seed-template contrast for recognition of success. Video recordings of client interaction with the devices served as a primary means of evaluation and verification of functionality.
In accordance with the high level of client interaction with the device, evaluation of each criterion first focused on client’s success and then on the empirical data collected regarding that success. The secure fit of the template on the flat, with proper matching of template valves to desired seed locations, was absolutely successful with all clients. No significant deflection or translation of the template occurred. One client was asked to pick up and replace the template on the flat. In a single attempt with no prior instruction, the client could remove and replace the template in 12 seconds. Another client was given the dispenser to test its mechanism, using a size 40 hole, which had been previously optimized through lab testing for kale (a type of cabbage) seeds. Kale seeds, being one of the smaller seed types used, serve as an ideal test case for the device. He was able to dispense kale seeds into over 90% of the holes, with no holes receiving more than two seeds. After prompting by a staff member, the client was then able to use the device to successfully seed all missed holes. Once the seeds had been placed, the client was then able to successfully push every seed through the template for successful planting. Likewise, a third client was able to independently plant holes on a preseeded template, with a staff member able to recognize the few missed holes and thereby help the client to an eventual 100% success rate. Contrast between the seeds and template was evident in both client and staff recognition of seeding during the preceding tests.
Client feedback was all positive. Several clients noted how they liked the “feel” of the device. One client noted his appreciation of the coloration of the device, and another was eager to see the alternative colors that will be provided upon final product delivery. Subjective measures of attitude were positive. Kimi Dew, Goodwill Nature Center Coordinator, expressed her pleasure and satisfaction with the device.
DISCUSSION
The combination of seed dispenser and template successfully improves the success rate of our client group and reduces waste in terms of both seeds and time. It can easily be extended to a larger client group with similar needs, or be put into use by the general public. The dispenser is more reliable than other seed dispensers on the market, although less convenient in terms of seed optimization. Our template fits a more niche need, but can be used for recognizing success with any small seed type on a standard flat.
Due to the nature of dealing with a group of clients instead of an individual, not all features were available to all clients. Certain clients would not be able to lift the template or independently operate the dispenser. Our devices ease the burden on the Goodwill staff in such cases, allowing for recognition of successful seeding, so that aid may be applied where necessary. More precision in the application of assistance reduces the total need for outside help and increases client independence.
Final product delivery will occur by May 12, 2010, when eight copies of the template and dispenser combination will be provided to the Goodwill Nature Center. Four different colors of neoprene, white, red, blue, and orange, will be used in the templates, two of each. A User Manual and individual lab manuals will be available for instruction and any necessary maintenance.
Cost Analysis
Let it Grow’s budget was limited to $400 for the completion of this project. The costs of acrylic, neoprene, and bolts for the templates yield a final cost of just under $40 per template. Scraps from these materials and other projects allowed for the manufacture of the dispensers essentially free of charge. With the cost of eight templates, the purchase of testing materials, and other miscellaneous factors, we have a final cost of $401.18, bringing us just above budget. This slight overage was approved by our professors.
REFERENCES
1. GCF Nature Center Program. Goodwill of Eastern North Carolina. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.goodwillenc.org/naturecenter.html
2. Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm
3. Developmental Disabilities, NCBDDD, CDC. Retrieved March 23, 2010, from the Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/
Acknowledgments
Our sincerest gratitude goes out to all those who have helped us in this project. We have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help others and perhaps bring more joy into their lives. In particular, we would like to thank Kevin Caves and Richard Goldberg, our BME 260 instructors, for all their valuable input and suggestions. Steve Earp, who runs the machine shop, was important for advice in how to get things done without ruining our materials. Our advisor, Kimi Dew, the Goodwill Nature Center Coordinator, was absolutely critical for client input and testing. Funding for our project came via NSF grant # 0118558. As a final note, we would like to thanks all our clients for their cooperation, patience, and ready smiles. Thank you!