Dynavox i-15
PROBLEM:
The current adjustable mount for the Dynavox, a rolling floor stand, is cumbersome and difficult to maneuver with one hand, which is necessary when simultaneously transporting a student and the Dynavox. In addition, the stand’s large footprint makes for a tight squeeze through narrow doorways and hallways. In order for the student to use her assistive device in a wider range of situations, thus stimulating learning, a more wieldy method of transporting the Dynavox is required.
Current Mount
SOLUTION:
Our design, called the Dynaframe to go along with its intended cargo, is a height-adjustable frame with a storage bin for a base.
Dynaframe
It is mounted on four wheels, two of them omni-directional, to provide maneuverability without being difficult to control. The two main vertical poles telescope, allowing for height adjustment. These poles are held together at their tops by a flat plate, to which a flexible gooseneck is attached. This gooseneck, looped through the Dynavox’s pre-existing mounting clip, allows for additional adjustment of the Dynavox’s angle, since the device must be looked at straight-on for it to be effective.
The Dynaframe’s design satisfies the following criteria uncovered during client interviews and user testing sessions:
Be maneuverable, but not too maneuverable
The existing rolling floor stand has four omni-directional casters, leading to unpredictable and difficult-to-control motion when it is operated with one hand, as our client has to do when guiding a student. To solve this problem, the Dynaframe has two casters and two fixed wheels, allowing for easy turning, but avoiding a tendency to move in unwanted directions.
Provide storage
The base of the Dynaframe is a wooden storage bin that provides 0.75 cubic feet of flexible storage, which can be used to hold snacks, books, school supplies, or other personal items.
Be height adjustable
Our user uses the Dynavox in a variety of situations, including seated classroom settings and standing in the hall. This necessitates that the Dynavox be able to move between 3 feet off the ground and 5 feet off the ground, accounting for future growth. The Dynaframe accomplishes this by including two telescoping poles with two feet of extension.
Hold the Dynavox
The Dynavox weights about 8 lbs. It is vital that the design be able to hold this weight without failure, given the Dynavox’s $16,000 MSRP. The gooseneck used for this purpose on the Dynaframe is rated for 144 oz, or about 9 lbs, at a distance of six inches. On the Dynaframe, this gooseneck is actually looped through a hole in the Dynavox mounting clip and is secured at both ends to the mounting plate, doubling the load capacity.
