The BusyBeeBand

The BusyBeeBand is a wristband that encourages a more inclusive learning environment for students with special needs while holding them accountable for their school-related assignments. Using sensory stimulation in the forms of buttons, a switch, various vibration and light patterns, and instant positive audio feedback and messages, this wristband will achieve its goals.

 

Fall 2020 Design Process 

Check out the video summarizing our design process of the BusyBeeBand to date here.

 

Main Objectives:
  1. To prioritize focus
  2. To motivate students
  3. To ease student-teacher and student-student interactions
  4. To encourage physical activity.

 

  • To help motivate students, the LCD screen allows for a reward system to be used while also giving an instantaneous reward upon completion of a task.
  • For promoting interactions between students, partner activities and class challenges will be available.
  • For student-teacher interactions, progress tracking, a “hand raise” button feature, and wristband audio for out-loud reading and pre-recorded positive messages are supported by this device.
  • To maximize student focus during the school day, when the student appears distracted or unfocused, the teacher will have the ability to send a focus ping in the form of a vibration directly to the student’s wristband. A coinciding message on their wristband will appear reminding them to refocus.

 

Overall Product Functional Decomposition

 

Function Decomposition of 3 Main Wristband Components

 

Metrics & Constraints

 

Integrated Teacher Web App Interface

By clicking the image above, a walkthrough of how the teacher can set tasks, goals, focus pings, message, and manage the students progress and rewards through the web app is displayed.

 

LCD Display Prototype

Ex] Assigned task with attached audio
Ex] Stopwatch and timer in Rest Mode
Ex] Brain break displays
Ex] Task with reminder
Ex] Task with message from teacher
Ex] Task with 2 minute timer display

   

 

Current Design 3D Renderings

Below you will see the 3D rendering of the band straps using silicone as the intended material to provide a comfortable wear for the student which simultaneously allows for water resistance. The 3D rendering of the band face featuring a switch that controls the band’s mode, 3 control buttons to navigate tasks, the LCD screen, and an LED strip surrounding the LCD and speaker which will serve as components of the integrated reward system is also below.

   

 

Current Prototype

Check out the prototype in action below, currently being controlled with buttons on an Arduino workbench!

 

Next Steps

  • Connect speaker & play tones
  • Connect vibration motor & begin coding vibration patterns
  • Continued FSM implementation

Updated Specification Table

 

Specification Value Justification Design Effects
1 Power Consumption/

Battery Life

 Rechargeable 3V lithium ion battery The rechargeable 3V lithium ion battery will allow for maximized battery life for the student. The battery life will last for five days to allow for the student to have in-class and out of class use for the length of a school week. This will affect the design as the housing of our components must be large enough to include the rechargeable battery and charging port.
2 LCD Screen Size 40 mm The LCD screen should fit comfortably on the student’s wrist. The interface will be simple and easy to use for an elementary-aged student. The impact of the LCD screen determines the ideal dimension of housing for the remaining components. In addition, the LCD size determines the size of the connection for the wristband.
3 Band Size Adjustable in increments from 4.7” to 7” The band will be sized appropriately so that it may be adjusted to fit the wrist of the child ages 5-12. The band adjustment increments will determine comfortable placement of the housing on the student’s wrist.
4 Button Size 6 mm X 6 mm X 5 mm  The button size is to be maximized to allow for applicability to a range of fine motor skills which will be reassessed upon testing. The size of the button impacts the width of the housing along with the ease of operation that is affected by the pressability of each button.
5 LED strip 150 mm LED strip The LED strip will surround the LCD screen which will provide an additional outlet of stimulation to the student. The LED frequency and color will be adjusted based on the student’s preference The purchased LED strip has the provided dimension to fit around the LCD screen.
6* Vibration frequency 2-3.6mv vibration motor The vibration motor will act as a mechanism to alert the student to refocus.  The purchased vibration motor will be within the housing of the band.
7 Safety Security of small components adhered to housing All electrical components are to be waterproof and child safe. Additional considerations will be made to ensure that the device does not present any choking hazards. This impacts the encasing of the wristband and the material of the wristband as it must protect all electrical components.

* Indicates items that are new this semester

Specification Dependencies