Vibrating Case with iPod Touch Enclosed
Jakub Dmochowski, Michael Millard, Sergio Olivas, Bradley Brown (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
ABSTRACT
The On-Task Timer was designed to enable a person with autism to transition between tasks at work, resulting in an increase in productivity and independence. Using visual and tactile cues, the device provides an effective way to shift attention from the task at hand to the user’s remaining schedule. The On-Task Timer consists of two primary components: an iPod application with an intuitive, user-friendly interface and a vibrating case to house the iPod Touch. After initial testing, the device successfully alerted the client to stop his current activity without interfering with the performance of his tasks. This report provides a complete description of the research, design, development, and feedback of the On-Task Timer.
BACKGROUND
Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina is NISH-affiliated non-profit organization that is dedicated to “providing jobs and job training to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities and disadvantaging circumstances” (1). Through Goodwill Industries’ placement services, our client, a 20-year-old male with autism, is currently employed at Logan’s Trading Company, a plant nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina. Currently, the Goodwill job coach supervises the client at work on a daily basis. The characteristic behaviors associated with autism have limited our client’s efficiency in the workplace.
Autism is a neurological disorder that is characterized by impairment in social interaction, difficulties with communication, and unusual behaviors. Some individuals with autism exhibit repetitive behavior and “behavioral difficulties associated with changes in routines” (2). As a result of these behaviors, transitioning between tasks is difficult. However, the ability to transition is essential for a person to establish autonomy not only in the workplace but in a community setting.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
At Logan’s Trading Company, our client is assigned a set of specific tasks each day ranging from folding boxes to garden chores, such as shucking bulbs and deadheading flowers. At home, the client is also responsible for various household chores. While independently performing each of his assignments, our client has difficulty transitioning between tasks because he becomes engrossed in his current activity and is driven to finish it.
Our problem statement is:
The client requires a device that will improve his ability to transition between tasks, furthering his independence in the workplace and at home.
RATIONALE
The nursery staff and Goodwill job coach have attempted several different transitional triggers but none have been successful. A conventional watch with timers was first implemented but could only be programmed for certain times of the day with a limited number of alarms. The system was ineffective because our client became quickly desensitized to the noise, turning the watch alarm off while continuing to perform his current task. The staff at the nursery also tried making announcements over the loudspeaker system instructing our client to move on to his next task. While acknowledging he heard the announcements, our client still chose to ignore the instructions and failed to transition. To utilize the fact that our client is a visual individual, a picture album of tasks was developed by his Goodwill job coach. Currently, at the start of each work day, a supervisor at the nursery arranges the picture album in the order of tasks he is to complete. However, the picture album has no transitioning cues and can therefore be ignored by the client. Since no effective transitioning system has as yet been developed besides having the occupational therapist follow our client around telling him what to do, we need to develop a portable tool that provides visual instruction and a persuasive trigger that he will not ignore.
The work environment creates several limitations that need to be considered in the design process. Located next to active train tracks, the trigger must alert our client over the occasional sound of a passing train. This limits the effectiveness of auditory stimuli and may have played a role in the failure of the previously attempted solutions. Spanning over half an acre, the nursery also requires our client to constantly be on the move from station to station, creating a need for a portable device.
With the help of our client’s Goodwill job coach, we determined several other project requirements and specifications. The most important requirements were safety and maintaining the client’s mobility during tasks. Additionally, the device must have three alarm settings: work for a specified length of time, work until a certain time of day, or work until completion of task. Finally, due to the fact that our client works outdoors, the device must be durable.
The main specifications were cost, size, weight, and ease of use. The maximum budget allotted was $400, including all supplies for prototypes and final device. To make the device as unobtrusive as possible, we wanted to make the size small enough to wear on his arm or hip and weigh less than one kilogram. Finally, we wanted to make sure that our client and his supervisors could use the device without extensive instruction.
METHODS
In designing a device to help our client transition from task to task, we developed an application for an iPod Touch®. The iPod Touch® is a professionally made device by Apple® that provides several advantages for our project. It is relatively small and has a large touch screen for displaying images and user interaction. On the downside, the iPod Touch® is relatively expensive and does not have a source of vibration for providing tactile cues. In order to fasten the device to the client and provide a vibration stimulus, we designed a vibrating case that straps to the user’s forearm. As a result, our project is divided into two major portions: the iPod Touch, with a custom software application, and a vibrating case.
iPod Touch Application
The primary design considerations for the software involved an intuitive interface that includes large buttons and pictures. The application was divided into two modes: the task scheduling mode for the supervisor and the operational mode for the client. In the task scheduling mode, the supervisor can enter new tasks and arrange them into a schedule for the day. A screenshot of the task scheduling mode is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Screen shots of the Schedule Editor (left) and Task Editor (right)
The task scheduling mode allows a supervisor to create a new task to enter into the device’s memory or create a schedule from a list of already entered tasks. In creating each task, the supervisor can include descriptive text and a picture. The supervisor can also choose from the following alarm settings: work for a specified length of time, work until a certain time of day, or work until completion (i.e. until entire stack of boxes are folded).
The operational mode executes the schedule for the client to follow their set of tasks for that day. Because this is the client’s user interface, it has a simple layout with a single large button, an image of the current task, and instructions entered by a supervisor. For the alarm settings that are time-dependent, there is a progress bar. When time expires, the client is alerted by vibrations from the case. This instructs him to press the button, making a check mark appear and turning off the vibration. If the task is done to completion, the client is not prompted by vibration; instead he must independently press the button when finished. A new screen displaying a picture of the next task will then appear. The client must then press the BEGIN button to indicate he has started the next task. This process will continue until all tasks set for the day are completed. A screenshot of the operational mode is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Screenshot of the Operational mode seen by the client.
The iPhone Software Developer Kit and a device simulator were used in the development of the application. A video demonstrating the features of the application is accessible here: http://www.unc.edu/~jdmochow/On-TaskTimerPresentation.swf.
Vibrating Case
To complement the application, a custom vibrating case was constructed to provide tactile cues. The design of the case was separated into two main sections: electronics and structure. Electronic circuitry was constructed to receive inputs from the iPod Touch® and activate three pager motors to vibrate alerting the client. A low frequency tone was created in MATLAB® software in order to control the pulsing of the vibration motors. The audio file was saved as a song on the iPod Touch®. When it is time to alert the user to transition, the application plays the audio file. The low frequency tone, sent through the audio port, turns the vibration motors on and off at the pulsing frequency using a comparator to amplify the signal. A lithium-polymer rechargeable battery, with a power capacity of 1000 mAh, was used to power the electronics. With the use of a low-power comparator, the fully charged battery is capable of powering the electronics for approximately two weeks assuming daily use of four hours. A MAX1555 microchip was used to charge the battery.
The structure of the case was designed with two compartments. The top compartment houses the iPod Touch®. To prevent the client from exiting the program by pressing the home button of the iPod Touch®, the external surface of the case was made to only display the screen. A hinged lid, secured shut by a pair of rare earth magnets, allows for the iPod Touch® to be easily inserted and removed while securing it firmly in place. The second compartment was constructed to isolate the electronics and fix them in place with screws. Holes were made for the battery charger ports and the audio outlet of the iPod Touch®. Silicone foam was attached to the bottom of the second compartment with an adhesive film to provide a medium to embed the motors and a comfortable surface for the client’s arm. Finally, adjustable Velcro straps were used to secure the case onto the client’s forearm. A picture of the finished case is shown below in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Open vibrating case with the iPod Touch enclosed.
The case was modeled using Solidworks®, computer aided design software, before being constructed out of ABS thermoplastic on a fused deposition modeling (FDM) system. ABS is a lightweight, durable material that will not limit the client’s movement while being able to withstand environmental conditions. To ensure the client’s safety, edges of the case were rounded.
EVALUATION
The device was tested with our client in the presence of his mother and Goodwill job coach to verify that all requirements and specifications were met. We had the Goodwill job coach and the client’s mother program in tasks and arrange a short schedule with minimal instruction. The device was then easily secured onto the client’s arm and used to complete a short list of tasks. The client did not express any discomfort with the device and was able use the touch screen. For the time based tasks, he responded to the vibration by stopping his current task and referring to the device. Below are comments we received from the client’s mother after the initial testing:
“The size and weight of the device are perfect–the device is large enough to be easily read, yet small enough to fit comfortably on the wrist area so it does not interfere with the worker’s ability to complete a task. The weight is not cumbersome so again it won’t distract from the manual work to be done. After watching a trial run of the device, the vibration was clearly effective in capturing the worker’s attention. The fact that it is worn on the forearm like a watch makes the vibration noticeable and effective.”
DISCUSSION
We were able to design and build a safe device that showed initial success in alerting our client to transition tasks independently. Although assistance was necessary in the first trial run, the Goodwill job coach was confident that with time and experience the device would allow the client to work independently, increasing his overall productivity. The device was light, durable, comfortable to wear, and did not restrict movement. The supervisors were able to easily enter tasks and arrange the client’s schedule.
The On-Task Timer is a programmable electronic organizational device that is universal, marketable, and low cost. The device could be applied to a large population of people who find it difficult to transition in the workplace. With the benefit of Apple’s iTunes Store®, the program has the potential to be widely distributed and acquired by anyone with an iPod Touch® or iPhone®. The final cost of our custom case, excluding the iPod Touch, was under $100.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank Dr. Richard Goldberg and Professor Kevin Caves for their guidance and support, Ms. Gena Brown and Ms. Debra Ratliff for their suggestions, and NSF Grant # 0453339 for funding.