Research & Development
The Pushndraw® is the result of extensive research and development beginning in 2018 at the University of Delaware. This device was originally created by Professor Pigford in collaboration with many individuals and families who graciously participated in many rounds of iterative user testing.
Professor Pigford is currently involved in developing the next generation of the device as a device-software system. This includes collaboration with Professors Adam M. Wickenheiser (Mechanical Engineering) and Michele A. Lobo (Physical Therapy). This system includes the physical device connected to a digital tablet running custom software, enabling the child to engage with both utilitarian and artistic activities.
We are currenlty seeking children with physical disabilities to be involved in testing the next generation of the PushnDraw®. If you are a parent of a 5-10 year old child with hand or arm differences that affect their ability to write or draw, click here or the link below. Volunteers can earn $50 for participation in the study.
Below you will find documentation of user testing with various children that has significantly contributed to the current research project.
This is a previous version of the device being tested by Nicholas at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, New Jersey. Nicholas has arthrogryposis and is using a large marker to trace letterforms drawn on a paper.
This is a smaller, previous version being used by Judah who has arthrogryposis. Here you can see him tracing letters on a paper letter guide with a pencil. This version was designed to hold small pens and pencils and was sized for smaller hands.
Here is a young child testing a previous version with a neoprene pad and pencil holder. This was at a Nemours Hospital Family Fun Day.
Lily is a typical child without any motor limitations in her hands. It is helpful for us to test the device with many different children with many different conditions and abilities.
Here is Jamar attempting to write his name (for the first time). This was during a visit to the Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Jamar has arthrogryposis.
Eric was at the University of Delaware as a visiting designer at the time we were developing the very first prototype of the PushnDraw®. See his work at www.ericforman.com.
