Assistive Technologies
Essential Question: How can we use our understanding of forces in simple machines to improve accessibility of everyday tasks for people with disabilities?
Standards:
PS3C: Energy and Forces
PS4A: Wave Properties
ETS1B: Developing Possible Solutions
Photo: CT.gov
Because everyday tools and spaces are designed with a typically-abled person in mind, people with disabilities may face unique challenges when performing day-to-day tasks. As your NGSS students learn about forces, work, or simple machines, consider applying the lens of a person with a particular physical disability. Students may interview people living with disabilities and/or research particular conditions, then use understanding of simple machines to design an assistive tool that would be suited to meet the person’s needs. Higher-level students may complete some calculations, such as the force or work required to execute a task such as rolling up ramps of various angles or operating a pulley to transfer an individual from one seat to another.
Photo: FSU.edu
Glasses bend and focus light waves
For a variation, students studying various kinds of waves (eg. light, sound) can learn about existing technologies (eg. glasses, hearing aids) or develop new tools designed to aid individuals with vision or hearing impairment.
Image: Dr. Lars Baekgaard
Hearing aids amplify sound waves without changing frequency.
