Document Type

Restricted Campus Only

Publication Date

4-25-2023

Abstract

The Book and Tablet Team (B.A.T.T.) looks to design a device that simplifies reading from a tablet to assist those with dexterity issues in their hands and arms. The team’s main objectives for this project are to design a device that may be used in a functional and useful fashion, construct said device, and finally test the device. This report will consist of an overview of our device and its five subsystems and an evaluation of the final design with respect to the project requirements. The five main subsystems are as follows: the mount, the stand, the tablet holder, the remote controller, and the page turner. The mount, stand, and holder focus on making sure the tablet is in the ideal reading position. These systems only contain mechanical components. Alternatively, the controller and the page turner incorporate electromechanical systems that focus on the actual turning of the page on the tablet.

The design constraints for this project were to protect the safety of the target audience and to stay within the budget provided for the team. The safety of the target audience was addressed by creating three main safety requirements, while also focusing attention on safety applications when considering design changes. The safety requirements look to prevent the following: pinch hazards, sharp edges, and possible falling components. By creating preventive design solutions for these requirements, the team was able to successfully meet the user safety constraint.

The B.A.T.T. team fulfilled all the specific functional and non-functional requirements for their project except for the tablet rigidity requirement. The functional requirements include making the device easily movable, having an adjustable height for optimal reading in various positions, accommodating most tablet reading devices, and allowing page switching with minimal error. Non-functional requirements were also considered to enhance the user experience and make the device safe for the target audience. Tablet size and weight were considered to make the device applicable to more users. The interface of the device and the tablet was also considered by having requirements to keep the tablet in a rigid position, make sure it was not damaged, and the eBook is not blocked by the device. Safety measures were also taken to protect potentially injury-prone users, such as minimizing sharp edges, reducing pinch risks, and installing safety catches for moving components.

The prototype for the tablet holder can perform most of the tasks outlined in the project plan but falls short of meeting one requirement for holding tablets in a rigid position due to the springs being too large for the smallest tablet size. The design team has identified potential solutions to address this design flaw and may need to modify the holder and conduct further testing to ensure all requirements are met. A temporary solution is to mount eh smaller tablet size in a vertical position, where the width of the smallest tablet is the height. For a more permanent solution, the team looks to implement a spring stopper to prevent the springs from losing rigidity, providing more tension. Overall, the prototype is functional and can accommodate a variety of tablet sizes while allowing users to turn pages without physical contact with the device.

Comments

Dr. Emma Treadway, Team Adviser

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