B.V.Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering & Technology ‘s Electronics & Communication Branch students have taken up an exciting venture to use Electronics to help Physically/Mentally Handicapped children of USHAS Centre for Exceptional Children by developing games/devices/toys etc that will create excitement/interest in the children to play them & hence undergo physical/mental exercise which is prescribed to them to overcome their disability but normally tend to neglect due to lack of enthusiasm & interest.

Physical exercise such as muscle movement, limb movement, blowing/sucking actions, hand – eye coordination, eye movement etc & mental exercise such as imitation, response to quick stimuli, logical thinking etc are some of the outcomes of these projects.

These projects are funded by The Deshpande Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Sankalp Semiconductors private limited & B.V.Bhoomaraddi College.
3 Modules in the project are taken up with the following goals:

A) Walking Tutor – Leg Exercising Aid/Game

1) To slow progression of complications, avoid/delay contractures in
children having Muscular Dystrophy – by exercising their joints.
2) To bring joy and maximize the subject’s quality of life, bring respite to sick children – by making the system fun to use by incorporating fancy lighting and
music, make it look more like a game than like a course.
3) To improve eye-limb coordination in growing children.
4) To improve the Auditory and visual Reflexes.

B) Chitra Vallari – To enhance cognitive abilities

1) Enhancement of Visiuo motor coordination
2) Enhancement of cognitive function
3) speech training

C) Eye Rotator – Eye movement exercise

1) Improve eye fixation and eye tracking abilities
2) Train the cerebral palsy children

To obtain the above goals, Electronic techniques & devices such as Microcontrollers, Speech storage Integrated Circuits, Speakers, Touch sensors, lights, Music Integrated circuits, Stepper Motors etc have been.
The required circuitry has been designed , tested and soldered on silicon chips and implemented robustly. Algorithms have been formed for the above mentioned games, processes etc and have been coded in assembly language for the microcontrollers. The electronic circuits are interfaced with the required mechanical assemblies.

These projects are implemented and tested on the physically/mentally handicapped students of USHAS Centre for Exceptional Children (www.ushas.org ). Continuous feedback is being taken & changes/improvements are being done. The project is being carried out with the vision of mass production of these electromechanical modules for replicating/scaling at different locations.

Plan of action:

Month one:
 Week one – Visiting the students at USHA school (an institute for the disabled), Hubli.
 Week two – Detailed analysis & planning of the electronic aids to be developed.
 Week three – Designing the electronic circuit.
 Week four – making a prototype model.

Month two:
 Week one – Testing the materials for strength and durability.
 Week two – Making the unit a stand-alone system and troubleshooting if any.
 Week three – Implementing it in the school.
 Week four – Feedback analysis & modifications.

The modules of the project were developed in the year 2008 & Jan 2009. The were implemented & tested on Physically/Mentally Handicapped children of USHAS Center for Exceptional Children, Hubli (www.ushas.org ), continous feedback from the doctors & the tutors of these children is being taken & an effort has been triggered towards standardizing these modules for mass production so that they can be implemented/scaled at different locations with mobility.

These Projects are being used & enjoyed by the students of USHAS institute under the supervision of Tutors & doctors & they are finding it a good aid which is helping their work!

We are working closely with them by taking their suggestions & feedback periodically & improvising the system.