Modular One-Handed Controller With Rotatable Buttons for Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional controllers require precise motor control and simultaneous use of multiple hands, posing a significant barrier for individuals with arm/hand mobility issues or amputees, limiting their ability to interact with advanced technologies like video games, robotics, and aviation.
Innovation Solution
A modular controller system with a base and rotatable handle buttons, allowing for single-handed use, featuring interchangeable accessories and ergonomic design to accommodate left and right-handed users, and including a variety of input mechanisms such as push buttons, joysticks, and touchscreens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional controllers with multiple buttons and joysticks are used, then full control functionality is achieved, but accessibility for users with limited hand mobility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is divided into modular components: a base unit with essential controls and interchangeable accessory modules. Each accessory can be independently selected and attached, allowing the system to be segmented into functional units that can be customized for different user needs and abilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The base controller is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of accessories through standardized attachment mechanisms. This multi-functional design allows a single base unit to serve various user requirements by swapping accessories, making the system adaptable to different disabilities while maintaining a consistent core structure.
2Measurement precision
If traditional game controllers require precise motor control, then control precision is improved, but usability for amputees and individuals with mobility impairment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different accessories provide different types of controls optimized for specific user needs. Some accessories feature larger buttons for users with reduced dexterity, while others incorporate adaptive triggers or simplified input mechanisms. Each accessory has locally optimized controls that match the user's specific mobility capabilities while maintaining precise control where needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If controllers are designed for two-handed use, then full functionality is achieved, but accessibility for single-handed users is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The controller layout transitions from a traditional two-dimensional arrangement requiring both hands to a three-dimensional ergonomic design where accessories can be positioned at various angles and orientations around the base. This dimensional change allows single-handed access to all controls by arranging them in spatial configurations that match the user's hand anatomy and range of motion.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a hand-held controller configured to be grasped and operated with one hand. The hand-held controller serves as an alternative to standard two-hand controllers for giving input to videogames or other programs. The hand-held controller includes a plurality of input devices configured to be comfortably operated with the user's fingers when the hand-held controller is grasped. Advantageously, the controller base includes a plurality of rotatable buttons that can be positioned according to individual player comfort levels and disabilities.