Hack a Toy

Engineering Good

16 January 2023

Problem Statement: Tools to increase engagement in various types of play

Innovative toys that teach cause and effect, social skills and functional abilities such as throwing. Activities include playing with balls, musical instruments, and blowing bubbles.

Nature of Problems

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

Communication and Social Skills

Functional Abilities

Leisure Activities

User Groups

Autism

Children

Down Syndrome

Intellectual Disability

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Solution

Play can become much more accessible for children with disabilities by attaching a larger push activation switch, through the addition of a parallel branch to the original one. Typically, the switch connects to the toy via a 3.5mm mono jack. This allows the switches and toys to be interchangeable – each switch can be disconnected and used with other toys, and vice versa, to be able to mix and match toys and switches to suit each child's abilities. The modification procedure will thus be described in two parts: from the toy to the jack, and from the jack to the switch.

Link to instruction video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QBV9JvARwDicXlGNDNGJ99xIsIrCVm67/view

The switch has a large surface and requires less force to push it down. This helps children with disabilities to push the switch down easier, closing the circuit in the toy allowing them to activate it. — Adapted push switch

When the switch is pressed down, the circuit of the toy is closed, activating the toy to encourage children to play. However, as soon as the force is removed from the switch, it goes back to its original position, resulting in an open circuit. This further encourages children with disabilities to exercise their muscles in their hands and fingers to activate the toy. — Adapted spring-loaded rocker switch

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Engineering Good