辅助切割工具，专为单手使用设计

People with limited hand mobility often encounter challenges when tasks require the use of both hands. For example, in a school for students with physical disabilities, two students face difficulties participating fully in home economics classes.
Both students can only use one hand due to their motor limitations. Cutting fruits, vegetables, and other materials proves especially challenging for them. As a result, they struggle to maintain a grip on the produce while cutting, leading to rolling or slipping. This limits their ability to complete tasks and affects their participation in class.
A previously improvised cutting board with nails proved impractical and unhygienic, prompting the need for a functional cutting aid for the students.

The solution entails creating a 3D-printed cutting aid prototype customized to the individual needs of these two students. The prototype provides a stable platform for the fruits and vegetables, allowing for secure cutting while being straightforward to use with only one hand. By utilizing hygienic and easily cleanable materials, safe and sanitary usage is ensured. This cutting aid offers a practical solution to enhance the students' participation in home economics class and promote their independence despite their motor challenges and one-handed dexterity.

As this prototype is in its initial stages, there is room for further refinement. Subsequent iterations should consider the following enhancements:

a) Employ a material for the knife guides that is impervious to cutting, ensuring that no particles can inadvertently detach from the guide.

b) Incorporate a protective cutting board mechanism at the base to prevent the knife from penetrating the 3D-printed structure.

This innovative design was developed by students in the master's program specializing in special education with a focus on physical disabilities. It was created by Hannah Banneyer, Rahel Kling and Johanna Meiners.
We greatly appreciate their hard work and willingness to share their results.

Banneyer, H., Kling, R., Meiners, J., & Sponholz, J. (2020). Assistive Cutting Aid for Single-Handed Use. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6534191

Hi, I am Jakob. I am a research assistant at the University of Cologne in Germany. Back in 2018, my supervisor Professor Boenisch and I came up with the idea for a seminar focusing on designing 3D-printed assistive technology devices. Our students study special education with a focus on educating children and young people with physical disabilities in their master’s. This is how the seminar "Use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in special education with a focus on physical and motor development" was created.

The development of this design was part of the seminar: "Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Special Education with a Focus on Physical and Motor Development." At the start of each semester, our partner schools and institutions submit new challenges they face. Challenges could be scenarios like "A student wishes to play the trumpet but has only one arm" or "In PE, wheelchair users want to participate in catching activities."
Students select a challenge and work in small teams to design a custom solution by applying the Stanford Design Thinking approach. Throughout the project, they closely collaborate with the students, giving them the opportunity to participate in the development process and ensuring that efforts remain on track.

The designs developed during this seminar primarily aim to assist people with physical impairments and motor difficulties, but we also explore ideas that promote inclusive learning or address other life challenges. We'd love to hear how our designs have helped you or others.
Feel free to drop us a message!