Team Corgi

Lauren Barker, Allison Rugg, Eric Walter-Grant

Our Client• Our Client is Tewksbury Hospital Equestrian (T.H.E.) Farm,

which uses horse-back riding as occupational therapy. They seek to make a Sensory Trail which will stimulate the riders’ five senses.

• Users of the trail include: the those suffering from visual impairment, autism, learning disabilities, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, etc.

• Statement of Need: Our clients need to improve their balance, posture, mobility, coordination, cognitive ability, and strength.

Project RestraintsOur project must be:

– Safe– Weatherproof– User-friendly– Easily constructed in 1.5 months– Large enough for use while on horseback– Powered outdoors– Cost-effective– Energy-efficient– Durable– Aesthetically pleasing– Natural look– Not too flashy

Musical Pairs

Musical Pairs Diagram

•Flashes an LED, corresponding to a musical note. •Rider then presses corresponding note by finding matching colored button•“Reward” (ie. chasing lights or an appealing noise) signifies a right answer•Plays a tune using a few notes played sequentially•Memory game

GO

Off

Musical Pairs

Pros of Musical Pairs

• People generally like music • Visually and mentally stimulating with colors

and different musical notes• Child will enjoy hearing a familiar tune

Cons of Musical Pairs

• The game would not work if an LED went out. • Could make the client frustrated because of

trouble memorizing• Arguably too complex

Animal Sound Matching

• The rider will press a “go” button, and a random animal sound will be played.

• The rider will then press the matching animal-shaped button. • A correct choice will be rewarded with flashing lights and

sounds.

•The animal names will also be written in Braille beneath their respective buttons.

• This activity is similar to the popular “See ‘N’ Say” toy.

Pros of Animal Sound Matching• Simple • Compatible for blind and sighted people • Good for young children • Fun and easy to use • Sound is stimulating • Can be educational, teaching Braille/reading for younger

children • Relevant to THE Farm; patients probably like animals • Client liked this idea most• Inexpensive

• We can use the laser cutter to make animal shapes

Cons of Animal Sound Matching

• We need to figure out how to randomize it • Unoriginal• Not very stimulating• Too simple for higher-developed patients

Whack-A-Mole

Whack-A-Shape•Use popup critters or shapes•Use moles represented by red, yellow, and green LEDs•Tap the illuminated LED with mallet•Touch sensor on each mole so that it makes a noise when hit

Pros of Whack-A-Mole

• Fun • Familiar game • Made of simple materials• Good for all ages• Physically stimulating• Pertinent to a farm because moles are animals

Cons of Whack-A-Mole

• If an LED went out, the game would not work so well.

• Leaves/pine needles could build up in the holes

• Would entail more power• Much more complicated to construct (more

mechanics)

Musical Pairs Function

Press GORandomized outputs

1 of 6 Musical Notes plays

LED that matches with note lights up

Multiple times to play tune?

Patient presses colored button that matches corresponding LED color

Client presses GO after sequence guess

New musical sequence will play

Game shuts off automatically after 1 min of no use

Patient chooses wrong note. Note plays and failure sound effect plays

Patient chooses correct note. Note plays and cheers sound plays.

Animal Sound Matching Function

Press GORandom Animal sound plays

Client presses the animal button that matches

If correct, animal sound plays again

If wrong animal pressed, cute voice says “try again”

repeat until

Correct animal sound is pressed and sound plays

Is the game in use? Yes

NoHas it been inactive 1 min?

No

Yes

Power off

Whack-A-Mole Function

Press GORandom Mole pops out

Has mole been hit?

Yes

No Has it been 3 seconds? No

Yes

Another mole pops out while the first one goes back in

Has game been inactive 1 min?

No

YesPower off

Mole says “ouch” and goes back in hole

Final Decision

• Revised Animal Sound Matching• Looks like Whack-A-Mole diagram but has 5

different stationary (farm) animals• Random animal noise plays• Patient responds by hitting the corresponding

animal (button)

Final Decision

• If patient hits wrong animal, “try again” voice• New animal sound every couple seconds

unless animal is pressed• If correct animal is pressed, new sound

immediately• If inactive for 12 seconds, game shuts off

Parts List• Plastic panels - $0-55• 3-4 Panel legs - $27-36• Randomizing chip - $0.50• Components(speakers) - $30• Voice recordings – $20• Plastic animal shapes from laser cutter - $0• Mallet - $0-7• 6 touch sensors - $10• Circuit board - $0• Amplifier – $0