X-MAX Gaming System

The Need

Max, an 18-year old boy has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to move around. He has limited upper body movement, and speaks with the help of assistive technology. He enjoys playing video games, but currently can only play with the help of an adult. The goal of this project is to develop a system that allows him to play video games independently.

The Project

The selected design mimics an Xbox controller with an adjustable button system. There are left and right joysticks that are separate from the rest of the controller, each large enough to be easily used without fine motor control in the fingers. A switch mechanism, located on the wheelchair’s head support, replaces the four main controller buttons. He controls it with his head. This design is much cheaper to produce than existing solutions and more comfortable for users.

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Current Status

An initial prototype was completed and tested, and the team is revising it based on feedback.