Resume

SteadySpecs

Glasses That Adapt Empower Ur Life

**For the best experience, please view this case study on your laptop.

Role:

ID Researcher & Designer

(Individual)

Client :

Georgia Tech

(Class Project)

Industry:

Assistive Technology

Duration:

Jan- Feb 2023

(6 Weeks)

The Problem Overview

Challenge of shaky hands

1

Struggles with Daily Activities

Struggles with daily activities like wearing glasses

Individuals with Essential Tremor (ET) find everyday tasks, like wearing glasses, challenging.

2

Fragility of Glasses

Multi-part glasses are fragile

Multi-part specs often break easily, leading to frustration and dependency.

3

Impact on Confidence & Independence

Shaky hands lower confidence

Shaky hands make everyday tasks difficult, lowering self-confidence and impacting independence.

The Solution

Specs that accommodate shaky hands

SteadySpecs cater to the essential tremor community, offering eyewear that accommodates shaking hands by featuring glasses that:

1

Shockproof Frames

Single-part assembly prevents breakage

Single-part assembly ensure impact resistance & prevent breakage from drops.

2

Flexible Hinges

Slitted hinge design allows smooth handling

Slitted hinge design allows smooth handling and accommodates tremors, ensuring durability.

3

Enhanced Grip and Stability

Custom-fit temples minimize slippage

Custom-fit, parametric temples provide a secure fit, minimizing slippage during tremors.

The Impact

Empowering lives, one frame at a time

SteadySpecs is a revolutionary eyewear solution designed to empower people with Essential Tremor. These glasses feature:

Restoring Independence

Restoring confidence to perform daily tasks

Empowering individuals with ET to perform daily tasks with greater ease and confidence.

Improving Quality of Life

Boosting self-esteem, reducing eyewear hassles.

Enhancing self-esteem and reducing frustration associated with traditional eyewear.

Let's Dive DeepeR

The Detailed Case Study

The Problem

Overcoming the challenges of everyday life with essential tremor

1

Struggles with Daily Activities

Struggles with daily activities like wearing glasses

Individuals with Essential Tremor (ET) find everyday tasks, like wearing glasses, challenging.

2

Fragility of Glasses

Multi-part glasses are fragile

Multi-part specs break easily, causing frustration & dependency. They don't account for tremors, leading to feelings of helplessness & reduced confidence.

3

Impact on Confidence & Independence

Shaky hands lower confidence

Shaky hands make everyday tasks difficult, lowering self-confidence and impacting independence.

The User's Needs

A design brief for empowerment

Design considerations to address the needs of individuals with ET:

Considerations to address the needs of individuals with ET:

1

Durability and Shock Resistance

Shock Resistance to prevent from breakage on drops.

To prevent breakage from accidental drops.

2

Flexible and Responsive

Flexible & Responsive frames To accommodate tremor

To accommodate varying levels of tremor.

3

Enhanced Grip and Stability

Enhanced grip for comfortable wear and removal.

Ensure secure and comfortable wear and removal.

The Constraints

What we had to consider?

Design constraints defined by the professor:

1

Eyewear Requirements

The design must function as eyewear customized to meet the specific needs of our chosen target audience.

Must function as eyewear

2

Parametric Modeling

The glasses should be tailored and customizable at an individual level using tools like Rhino and Grasshopper, despite the lack of prior experience with these tools.

Glasses should be customizable at an individual level.

The Approach

How did we design it?

We brainstormed, prototyped, and used parametric modeling to create durable, flexible, and comfortable glasses, tailored for individuals with Essential Tremor.

We brainstormed, prototyped, and used parametric modeling to create durable, flexible, and comfortable glasses, tailored for individuals with ET.

Starting with Ideas

What were the initial concepts?

1

Glasses with Retractable Temples

Retractable Temples to prevent drops

To prevent breakage from drops.

2

Helmet-Style Frames

Helmet-Style Frames for easier wear

Bypassing ear alignment for easier wear.

3

Shockproof Frames

One-piece designs to prevent breakage

Flexible, one-piece designs to absorb impact and prevent breakage.

Quick Mockups

How did we visualize the concepts?

I began by creating rapid prototypes to explore:

Hinge mechanisms for improved flexibility.

Hinge mechanisms for flexibility.

Temple grips for added stability.

Features to prevent drops and breakage.

Prevent drops and breakage.

Easy identification to prevent losing glasses.

Easy identification of glasses.

Split Hinge

Temple Size ~ Hand Grip

Headband Integration

Foldable Hinge

Retractable Glasses

Collapsible Frame

Customization

How is parametric design used?

Using Rhino and Grasshopper, I introduced parametric modeling to customize the glasses:

1

Adjusting Frame Dimensions

Adjusting frame dimensions for custom fit

Models were parametrically generated to fit different face shapes.

2

Specs Grip Size

The stems of the glasses were designed to match hand grip sizes for easy wear and removal.

The stems fit hand grips for easy use.

3

Glass Folds

Experimented with different fold concentrations and dimensions to optimize the design for a seamless, one-part hinge.

Tested with folds & dimensions for one-part hinge.

Exploring Glass Folds

What folding mechanisms did we consider?

I explored pleated hinge designs, creating them in Grasshopper, assuming they would offer compactness and ease of storage.

1

Rectangular fold

2

Triangular fold

3

Semi-rectangular fold

Outer flexibility,

inner movement

restriction

Movement restricted

due to dense folding

Outside pattern &

concave shape

limit folding

Prototyping with Materials

Unveiling design flaws of pleated hinge

I 3D printed prototypes to test materials for the rectangular fold design:

PLA: Brittle, minimal movement

PLA

PLA was brittle, and the design limited movement, preventing folding.

Material brittle; minimal movement

Resin: Flexible, limited inner movement

Resin

Although resin is flexible, the design's concave shape limited its inner movement.

Flexible but limited by design

TPU: Flexible, cleaning issues

TPU, though flexible, couldn't be tested due to cleaning issues with 3D-printed parts.

Identifying Design Flaws

What went wrong with pleated hinges?

Failed: Form and mechanism mismatch hampers functionality.

1

Curved Grips

These interfered with hinge movement, limiting flexibility.

Curved Grips interfered with hinge movement.

2

Pleated Hinges

Non-functional due to their concave shape, failing stress tests.

Pleated hinges failed due to their concave shape.

New Mechanism Exploration

What hinge solutions did we explore after pleated hinges?

I experimented with split hinge mechanisms after pleated hinges failed to address form and mechanism mismatches.

Final Form

Triangular Form

Semi-circular

Mechanism 2: Slitted Hinges

Mechanism 1: Semi-cut Hinges

Finalizing the Mechanism

What Is the winning material with the split hinge?

We 3D-printed split-hinge spectacles, experimented with materials, and adjusted cut-out concentrations.

We 3D printed iterated hinge mechanisms for spectacles and experimented with different materials and cut-out concentrations.

PLA Works great with the revised design.

Spaced-out

Concentrated

Testing: PLA

Works great with the revised design.

Testing: Resin

Becomes a little too soft for durable use.

Inner free, outer limited: ideal for specs

Inner movement limited, outer free: not ideal for glasses

Final Design

How SteadySpecs empower those with shaky hands?

SteadySpecs is a revolutionary eyewear solution designed to empower people with Essential Tremor. These glasses feature:

1

Shockproof Frames

A single-part assembly prevents breakage from drops.

Single-part frames prevents breakage from drops.

2

Flexible Hinges

Slitted designs for smooth wearing & extended motion.

Slitted hinges allow smooth wearing and motion.

3

Enhanced Grip and Stability

Snug-fit to face and parametric grip temples provide a secure fit, minimizing slippage during tremors.

Snug-fit & grip prevent slippage during tremors.

Our Impact

Empowering independence with SteadySpecs

SteadySpecs is more than just eyewear—it’s a tool for restoring independence and dignity to individuals with Essential Tremor. This project demonstrates how empathy and iterative design can create meaningful solutions to real-world challenges.

SteadySpecs is more than just eyewear—it’s a tool for restoring independence & dignity to individuals with Essential Tremor. Project demonstrates how empathy & iterative design can create meaningful solutions to real-world challenges.

How It Solves the Problem

Ease of Handling

With a one-part assembly, it reduces the chance of breakage, even with tremors.

User Comfort

Hinge design supports tremors by allowing movement beyond 90° without being too flexible.

Hinge design supports tremors by allowing movement beyond 90° but not too flexible.

Tailored Fit

The personalized grip size and concave stem improve the ease of wearing and removal.

Comments for professors

Professor Rodger: “Loved it! This design is near-ready for production.”

The Reflection

What I learned from tackling parametric modeling

Starting from Scratch

I had no experience with parametric modeling at the beginning, so I had to invest a lot of time learning it.

With no experience with parametric modeling, I invested a lot of time learning it.

Defining the Design

After the early design concept, parametric modeling took the lead and defined the first iteration of the design.

After the early concept, parametric modeling took the lead & defined the first iteration.

Ongoing Development

I am still figuring out how to make the second concept possible with parametric modeling.

Key Takeaways

How did this project help me grow?

How did project help me grow?

The Power of Prototyping

Iterating taught me to adapt quickly, such as exploring hinge alternatives when the design failed.

Iterating taught me to adapt quickly. Exploring hinge alternatives when the design failed.

Experimenting with Materials

Testing different materials enhanced my understanding of how material choice impacts usability.

Testing materials enhanced my understanding of how material choice impacts usability.

Designing for Individuals

Balancing personalization with scalability was both challenging and rewarding.

The Future

What’s next for SteadySpecs?

Collaborate with Parkinson's and ET specialists to gather real-world feedback and conduct broader tests to refine the design for diverse user needs.

Resume

Resume

SteadySpecs

Glasses That Adapt Empower Ur Life

The Problem Overview

Challenge of shaky hands

1

2

3

The Solution

Specs that accommodate shaky hands

1

2

3

The Impact

Empowering lives, one frame at a time

Let's Dive DeepeR

The Detailed Case Study

The Detailed Case Study

The Problem

Overcoming the challenges of everyday life with essential tremor

1

2

3

The User's Needs

A design brief for empowerment

1

2

3

The Constraints

What we had to consider?

1

2

The Approach

How did we design it?

Starting with Ideas

What were the initial concepts?

1

2

3

Quick Mockups

How did we visualize the concepts?

Customization

How is parametric design used?

1

2

3

Exploring Glass Folds

What folding mechanisms did we consider?

1

2

3

Prototyping with Materials

Unveiling design flaws of pleated hinge

Identifying Design Flaws

What went wrong with pleated hinges?

1

2

New Mechanism Exploration

What hinge solutions did we explore after pleated hinges?

Finalizing the Mechanism

What Is the winning material with the split hinge?

Final Design

How SteadySpecs empower those with shaky hands?

1

2

3

Our Impact

Empowering independence with SteadySpecs

How It Solves the Problem

Comments for professors

The Reflection

What I learned from tackling parametric modeling

Key Takeaways

How did this project help me grow?

How did project help me grow?

The Future

What’s next for SteadySpecs?

Let's innovate together! Join me in creating wonders.

Email

Let's innovate together!
Join me in creating wonders.

Let's innovate together!
Join me in creating wonders.

Let's innovate together!
Join me in creating wonders.

Let's innovate together!
Join me in creating wonders.