Disabled students able to design 3D objects with their eyes

See the film here: https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads/3557a0e934b680df9d86416f3466d3dd20140623214720/e919caef677a30adf15c40f7e66d693d20140623214720/00a69e%3e

SHIVA (Sculpture for Health-care: Interaction and Virtual Art in 3D) is a 3D design and printing project which allows disabled people to design an object or sculpture in 3D, which is then printed as a 3D model.

Initiated in 2010, SHIVA was designed by a group including Mark Moseley (Assistive Technologist at Victoria Education Centre), Dr Leigh McLoughlin and Professor Alexander Pasko and his team at the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University in the UK. They were also helped by researchers from the University of Lille.

The technology was tested at and is now used by Victoria Education Centre (VEC), a school for children with physical disabilities, which is part of the national disability charity Livability http://www.livability.org.uk/

How does it work?

Some disabilities can make interacting with a touchscreen interface a challenge due to varying levels of dexterity and control.  The team needed to create an interface that was highly customisable for a variety of disabilities.

–          First, the interface is set to suit the particular user’s needs. They may not be able to use a touch screen, for example, so they may require an eye-gaze system instead. Eye-gaze technology then tracks where a user is looking and translates it into screen coordinates so that on screen cells or buttons can be selected.

–          The user is then able to build an object of their choosing using the program. They do this by selecting a number of objects and placing them onto a single stick, like a totem pole. These objects can be modified and rotated to suit their design preferences.  Students can select shapes using their interface of choice and combine it with other shapes, manipulate the scale, and even remove portions of the shapes. The stick is also completely removable if the users or educators have no use for it.

–          You can find out more about SHIVA at the Applied Shapes website http://www.appliedshapes.com/?q=research/shiva

o   This is the company that will support and distribute SHIVA when it is made fully open to the public.

What are the benefits to disabled people?

SHIVA allows a variety of disabled people to engage in creative design projects in ways which they may not previously have been able to. It breaks down the barriers between art and ideas and provides a new passage for creation and design.

–          Coordination and muscular control: The SHIVA program can be customised depending on the specific needs of the individual. The eye-tracker function benefits some disabled people who have issues with coordination and muscular control, alleviating the problem of using ones hands on a design or artistic project.

–          Visual impairment: The display is also customizable, so cells can be rearranged to suit different disabilities. The screen colours and cell size can be adjusted in order to assist people who are visually impaired, for instance it could have a black background with yellow controls, making it easier for someone with a visual impairment to see.

–          Any settings that have been tailored to a specific individual can be saved and easily retrieved at the start of each session within the program.

–          Professor Pasko thinks that it helps to ‘give children the tools for creativity’ because they ‘have great imaginations but almost no tools to express themselves.’ He says, ‘a piece of software which can help someone create something independently, or make them proud of what they have created is going to build self-esteem, that’s going to make them feel better and have fun.’

Results at VEC

The project has enabled young disabled students at VEC to design digitally and print in 3D. The models have been 3D printed to give the children tangible models of their creativity – “it brought the whole thing alive”, says Professor Pasko.

–          The software will continue to be used, and it is hoped that funding will be acquired so that the software can be further developed.

–          To date, around fifteen pupils with varying levels of disability have used the software and many models have already been produced. Professor Alexander Pasko said, ‘Suddenly the entire school realised “Wow it’s a different world now.”’

–          The software has been used for a project inspired by artist Andy Goldsworthy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Goldsworthy

Who created it and who funded it?

–          SHIVA was designed by a team of people including Mark Mosely (Assistive Technologist at Victoria Education Centre) Dr Leigh McLoughlin, and Professor Alexander Pasko (National Centre for Computer Animation of the Media School at Bournemouth University in UK).

–          They were assisted by researchers from the University of Lille and the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth University.

–          It was funded by INTERREG IVA 2 Seas Programme (http://www.interreg4a-2mers.eu/en/) an international organisation that supports cross border cooperation between schools, charities and businesses from England, France, Belgium-Flanders and the Netherlands. They help fund projects that involve economic development, environmental issues and quality of life issues.

–          Many from VEC were involved, especially the Speech and Language Therapy Department. Mark Moseley was VEC’s technical lead for the project and was the primary consultant for accessibility. He created the user interface designs which were later implemented by BU. Mark worked closely with Sarah Gilling (Head of Speech and Language Therapy at VEC) who helped define how the software would be used and what aspects of therapy it could be linked to.