Pseudoservice and the Shift Toward Real Impact

For years, my Design for Social Good class has focused on building assistive technology devices, specifically computer switches for people with disabilities such as quadriplegia, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. These projects have been meaningful for students, giving them the chance to learn CAD, 3D modeling, 3D printing, soldering, circuit board development, and coding. They have also helped students think about how design intersects with real human needs.

Much of our earlier work centered on creating instructions and publishing them online. For example, our work with Makey Makey was featured here. Students also published guides on Instructables that allowed caregivers and teachers to build simple switches. And for those ready to go beyond Makey Makey, we have an archive of Arduino Leonardo hub systems here.

​These projects were important, but they often stopped short of true service. Students were convinced they were helping by making instructions, but in reality they were not directly interfacing with the people who rely on these devices. Pairing students with individual users has not been sustainable either, since it depends on me connecting them to someone.

This year we are moving in a new direction. Instead of limiting ourselves to pseudodesign service, we are partnering with Makers Making Change. Through this organization, students can publish their switch designs to a community where real users can request devices. Makers are then paired with those requests. This adds a direct service element to our curriculum and allows students to see their work move from idea, to prototype, to something used by a person who needs it.

The concept of a switch may seem simple, but designing one that is user-friendly, durable, and creative opens the door to complex learning. Students practice soldering, electronics, coding, and design thinking while also considering the medical and human applications of engineering. From air pressure systems to joystick capacity, small design choices lead to big creative outcomes. ​ You can follow our past and current work through this link collection. It includes our websites, Instructables, and now our contributions to Makers Making Change. For a behind-the-scenes look at how ideas take shape in the classroom, you can browse our Google Photos album, which shows the iteration process in real time.The hope is that by building for real users, students will see their design work not only as practice, but as direct contribution.I’m always amazed by my students’ creativity.

​The image below shows a DIY "Sip-and-Puff" controller they built with custom 3D-printed parts and a MakeyMakey. Expect more posts on this project as we continue through the semester. I highly recommend introducing your STEM students to adaptive controllers and assistive technology in general. It’s rewarding work and such a natural way to put purposeful design into action.