Adaptive Game Controller for Diplegia and Quadriplegia

I created the Adaptive Game Controller for Diplegia and Quadriplegia because there was a lack of affordable adaptive game controllers on the market for people with Cerebral Palsy. My goal in creating this is to make playing video games a more inclusive and accessible experience for everyone. I hope that replicating these adaptive controllers will be an easy and cost-effective solution to this problem.

There are three attachments for this project: the diplegia hand attachment, the quadriplegia neck attachment, and the quadriplegia foot attachment. The quadriplegia neck and foot attachment can be used simultaneously. These attachments are an adapted version of the up, down, left, right, click, and space keys. Make sure to read the notes at the end of each step carefully because they include tips and important information about how to assemble the pieces. Attached is a sample video of how to connect and use the attachments.

Supplies

• 12 inch ruler
• 1/8 inch foam core
• 1/2 inch foam core
• alligator clips
• aluminum foil
• brass metal fasteners
• copper tape
• duct tape
• Exacto knife
• hot glue gun
• hot glue sticks
• makey makey
• pencil
• pool noodle
• rubber bands
• sharpie
• velcro

Tools: 12 inch ruler, 1/2 inch foam core, pencil, Exacto knife, and copper tape

1. measure and cut a 12x12 inch square on foamcore
2. sketch and cut out four arrows and two rectangles (see picture for reference)
3. line the outer edge of the arrows and rectangles with copper tape

Notes: Leave a square of foamcore in the center for the 3D print, make sure the copper tape on the four arrows is a closed circuit (touching all points in the center), and save the arrows and rectangles you cut out for a later step!

Tools: 12 inch ruler, 1/2 inch foam core, pencil, Exacto knife, and copper tape

1. measure and cut a 12x12 inch square on foam core
2. sketch and cut out four arrows (see picture for reference)
3. line the outer edge of the arrows with copper tape

Notes: This will look similar to the diplegia base, minus the two rectangles. Leave a square of foam core in the center for the 3D print, make sure the copper tape on the four arrows is a closed circuit (touching all points in the center), and save the arrows you cut out for a later step!

Tools: 12 inch ruler, 1/8 inch foam core, pencil, Exacto knife, hot glue gun, hot glue sticks

Adaptive Hand Joystick

1. measure the width from the outside of one arrow on your diplegia base to the other
2. cut two identical circles using the diameter found in step 1
3. measure the radius of the circle and use the formula 2πr to find length of outer strip
4. cut out a rectangle using the length calculated in step 3 and a width of 1-1.5 inches
5. mark lines 1 inch apart and score along the surface so it is capable of bending
6. glue the outer strip onto the two circles

Adaptive Foot Joystick

1. measure the width from the outside of one arrow on your quadriplegia base to the other
2. follow steps 2-6 above to make an adaptive foot joystick

Notes: The adaptive foot and hand joysticks should look identical (other than their sizes).

Tools: aluminum foil, copper tape, brass metal fasteners, Exacto knife, hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, rubber bands, 3D printed center disks

1. line the front face of the arrows and rectangle with aluminum foil
2. glue the arrows back into the slots leaving a 0.25 inch gap at the top
3. glue the 3D printed center disk in the center of the arrows
4. using brass fasters and rubber bands, attach the joystick to the base
5. line the outer bottom edge of the joystick with copper tape so that it completes the ground and button connection when the joystick is used

Notes: If you don't have access to a 3D printer to print the center disks, you can use a tennis ball cut in half

Tools: pool noodle, copper tape, duct tape, 1/8 inch foam core, 1/2 inch foam core, hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, brass metal fasteners, velcro, aluminum foil, Exacto knife

Pool Noodle

1. wrap the center of the pool noodle with copper tape
2. score the outer edge of the pool noodle so it's capable of bending in an oval shape
3. puncture the copper tape lined pool noodle with a brass metal fastener
4. cut out a small rectangle the width of the U shape neck rest and cover with velcro

Neck Rest

1. cut out a 1/8 inch piece of foam core 6 inches long x 2 inches wide
2. cut out two 1/8 inch pieces of foam core 3 inches long x 2 inches wide
3. cut out two 1/2 inch pieces of foam core 3 x 3 inches
4. cover and glue the 1/2 inch foam core squares with aluminum foil
5. optional: wrap the foam core base in duct tape to cover any rough edges
6. assemble the 1/8 inch pieces into a U shape using hot glue (this is where your neck will rest)
7. glue the two aluminum foil squares onto the sides of the U shaped neck rest
8. glue two pieces of velcro to the outer edge of the U neck rest

Attaching the Pieces Together

1. attach the U neck rest to the pool noodle using the velcro

Notes: Make sure the brass metal fastener touches the copper tape because this will be your ground connection.

Tools: makey makey, alligator clips, duct tape, hot glue gun, hot glue sticks

Connecting to the Diplegia Adaptive Controller

1. attach a piece of copper tape to the front of your buttons around to the back of the base
2. using more copper tape, glue the alligator clips onto the piece of copper tape
3. clip an alligator clip onto the copper tape that lines one of the arrows (this will be ground)
4. connect each button and ground to the corresponding sections on the makey makey
5. label the buttons and the alligator clips using duct tape and a sharpie for a quick and easy installation

Connecting to the Quadriplegia Adaptive Foot Controller (same as above, minus the two rectangular buttons)

1. attach a piece of copper tape to the front of your buttons around to the back of the base
2. using more copper tape, glue the alligator clips onto the piece of copper tape
3. clip an alligator clip onto the copper tape that lines one of the arrows (this will be ground)
4. connect each button and ground to the corresponding sections on the makey makey
5. label the buttons and the alligator clips using duct tape and a sharpie for a quick and easy installation

Connecting to the Quadriplegia Adaptive Neck Controller

1. clip two alligator clips onto the blocks of aluminum foil on either side of the U neck rest (this will serve as click and space connections)
2. thread an alligator clip through the pool noodle and clip onto the brass metal fastener located on the copper tape (this will be the ground)
3. connect each button and ground to the corresponding sections in the makey makey
4. label one side click and one side space for quick and easy installation

Note: Check that all of your wires are labeled correctly and connected to the buttons they're associated with. Additionally, there is a CAD file to 3D print tubes to organize the wires if desired.

Verify that the buttons on each attachment work using the sample game here.

Here is another link for the user to remap their makey makey.