Quadriplegic & Diplegia Assistive Video Game Controller

As the culminating 1st quarter project for my As Engineering for Social Good Class we were tasked with creating an accessible and affordable video game controller for individuals with quadriplegia or diplegia. Using a few materials for each add-on and a makey makey I created adaptive controllers that were more usable for quadriplegics and paraplegics. My goal was to build and design a controller that could be modified to fit anybody and could easily be transformed to perform any keyboard commands based on the user's needs.

How it works:

The Quadraplegic add-on is an adjustable pool noodle neck rest with a foam bridge that functions as the keyboard for the player. The controller uses a foam mouthpiece with conductive material on one end. Using your jaw, mouth, or neck the user can hit inputs on the foam bridge with the mouthpiece to perform certain keyboard commands. Both the foam bridge and pool noodle can be modified with ease to perform nearly any keyboard command by adding conductive inputs to the bridge and remapping the makey makey. The controller can also fit any person comfortably by adjusting the middle dowel which holds both ends of the noodle together.

The Diplegia add-on features spring loaded joysticks. These jumbo-joysticks are much bigger than a traditional joystick that you would control with your thumb or finger. This adaptive controller is for individuals with shaky hands or limited finger movement. I’m using the program scratch to test out the controls and provided the link below. The arrow key commands move the cat left, right, up, and down, and the space and click commands spin the cat.

Scratch Link to Test Controls:

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/749421865

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpcDuTH74nk

Supplies:

Quadriplegia Controller

• Makey Makey
• Alligator clips
• Foam-core or cardboard
• Pool noodle (Try to find a small one around 30 inches or cut with scissors)
• Copper tape or aluminium foil + hot-glue
• Wooden dowels
• Zip-ties
• Foam Tubbing

Dowel CAD file (This is for 3D printing, but you can also use an extra wooden dowel)

Diplegia Controller

• Makey Makey
• Alligator clips
• Foam-core or cardboard
• Aluminium foil
• Breadboard Jumper-wires
• Electrical tape
• Mini stainless steel Springs (I can only find these in assortment wholesale boxes like the amazon link I provided, but all of the larger ones in this kit are perfect for this build)

Step 1: Cut pool noodle to a comfortable size and drill holes all the way through the noodle. These holes should be slightly smaller than the width of the foam tubeing.

Step 2: Cut off 4-8 inches of the foam tubing (whatever length is most comfortable for the mouth piece), and add conductive tape or aluminum foil to one end. Leave 2-3 inches of foam. Add the conductive tape or aluminum foil to the remaining foam tubing. Make sure that there is space in between each piece so each section of conductive material can be hooked up to a separate alligator clip.

Next I built a foam core container for the Makey Makey that was adjustable. The container dimensions were about 3 x 2 inches, but you should measure your Makey Makey to account for different versions/ models. Cut a piece of foam core the that will stretch the length of both ends of the pool noodle, mine was 12 inches. Make sure that it is long enough to connect to both ends of the pool noodle with a comfortable fit overhead. Cut Slits in the foam core for the wooden dowels that we will attach to both sides of the noodle. Hot glue the foam core Makey Makey container to the adjustable foam core piece you just made. Add the dowels to the noodle, attach the container, and use zip ties to hold it together.

Final Step: The last step to building this controller is wiring. Before attaching the Makey Makey to the container you just made add a slit to the bottom of the container for the USB wiring. I also recommend using zip ties to hold the alligator clips together. Attach the ground wire alligator clip to the mouth piece and each other alligator clip to a separate piece of conductive material on the foam bridge.

You can test the controls of your controller with this scratch program:

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/749421865

I've also added the link to my youtube video on how to setup this controller:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpcDuTH74nk

And finally if you'd wish to remap your Makey Makey's inputs do so here:

https://makeymakey.com/

Cut two 4 x 7 inch rectangles out of your foam core. This will be the base for the space & click buttons.

Hot glue two 2 x 4 inch side panels to one of the bases.

Cut two 1 inch diameter circles out of the extra foam core and cut 1/2 inch diameter holes equidistant from the center of the unused base. Also cut 2 x 7 inch bases, and hot glue one to the bottom of the base with the side panels.

Hot glue the second 2 x 7 base about 1/2 inch below the top of the side panels and hot glue the springs. Next hot glue the 4 x 7 Base on top of the side panels with the springs popping out through the holes your previously cut. Then hot glue aluminum foil facing the springs on the side that is still open. Additionally, make sure the springs aren't touching the aluminum foil.

Finally cover the foam core circles with aluminum foil and hot glue them to the springs.

For the next part of the Diplegia controller cut two 4x4 inch foam core squares, and three 2x4 inches for side panels.

Hot glue the pieces of foam core together, except for one of the 2x4s, and cut a 1/2 inch diameter hole in center of the top base (4x4). Additionally glue the extra 2x4 1/2 inch below the top of the side panels. This will be for the springs. Then cut a 3 inch diameter foam core circle.

Cover the bottom of the foam core circle in aluminum foil and hot glue 5 springs to the 2x4 panel beneath the hole in the top base. Then tape an Alligator clip or jumper wire to the foam core circle (make sure it is secure and touches the conductive foil), and feed the other end of the wire through the hole. Then hot glue aluminum foil to the corners of the top base (It may help to label the foil with arrows so you know which piece is going to do which input).

Lastly hot glue the foam core circle to the springs. For wiring, cable management is really important, I used a different color alligator clips for each input and connected alligator clips to the same colors. Connect new alligator clips to each of the aluminum conners, properly manage, and organize them through the front so you can easily connect the alligator clips from the Makey Makey. For the ground wire (the alligator clip or jumper wire that connects to the foam core circle), I covered the tip in foil so the Makey Makey Alligator clip would connect easier and labeled it G for ground.

You can test the controls of your controller with this scratch program:

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/749421865

I've also added the link to my youtube video on how to setup this controller:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpcDuTH74nk (Skip to 1:15)

And finally if you'd wish to remap your Makey Makey's inputs do so here:

https://makeymakey.com/