WNY P-TECH scholar Tyler Mathews of Fredonia and Steve Myers of Utilized Industrial Applied sciences of Falconer.
When Steve Myers’ stepson was in a motorbike accident a bit over a yr in the past, his final concern was to wonder if he’d ever have the ability to play video video games once more.
Fortunately, his stepson, Bryce Knapp, a Marine stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., is on the street to restoration; nevertheless, he’ll proceed to take action with out full use of his left arm.
“He was in a really dangerous motorbike accident and principally misplaced using his left arm from the shoulder down,” Myers mentioned. “Now, considered one of his favourite issues is enjoying Xbox along with his brother, Brayden, who’s again residence with us.”
After shedding the operate of his left hand, the brothers have been unable to play on-line video games with one another, however hopefully, that’s about to alter with some assist from WNY P-TECH scholar Tyler Mathews of Fredonia.
“Brayden was wanting on-line and located a design for an accessible controller and requested if there was some method to make this occur,” Myers mentioned. “My first thought was P-TECH as a result of they do all kinds of cool stuff right here.”
Submitted images
Pictured above is a 3-D printed Xbox controller mount that permits a participant to play video video games with one hand.
When Myers approached P-TECH in regards to the challenge, William Smock, principal of WNY P-TECH in Dunkirk, recognized Mathews as somebody who would settle for the problem.
“Tyler Mathews has all the time been our liaison for particular tasks like this,” Smock mentioned. “Tyler is all the time caught up on his work and goes past what anyone ever asks of them. He’ll pull different college students on to assist with tasks like this, however for probably the most half, he’s like a one-person machine.”
Using the open-sourced design, Mathews started 3-D printing the components for the controller modification.
“I put the mannequin right into a slicing software program which permits me to take this mannequin right down to a code that the printer can learn,” he mentioned. “Then all I needed to do was reassemble it. So there have been pins within the aspect that you just wanted for a hinge. So I simply put some welding wire in there, after which I noticed just a few spots that wanted a strap. So I made a strap out of some velcro. The velcro permits somebody to tie the controller to their wrist or their thigh.”
The prototype was a hit, however Mathews has already recognized some areas that may be improved, together with a reimagined analog lock design to maintain the gadget safe throughout longer video gaming periods.
“I feel a challenge like this embodies what we do right here at P-TECH,” Smock mentioned. “Neighborhood companions, companies, and other people simply on the lookout for assist with one thing can come to us. We are able to discover a answer and supply a free service to folks to make a challenge or an thought come to life.”
Tyler has additionally designed high-quality wall-mounted key holders for the P-TECH college and labored on manufactured measuring cups for quantity weight for Wells in Dunkirk.
“These are all of the enriching actions that we love doing right here as a result of that is the experiential studying that may generally be lacking in a conventional highschool atmosphere,” Smock mentioned.
“Being part of these tasks is admittedly cool,” Mathews added. “I get pleasure from making issues and designing issues which are helpful.”
