using technology to heal disjuncture an innovative application of robotics to improving the fit...

Using Technology to Heal Using Technology to Heal DisjunctureDisjuncture

An Innovative Application of An Innovative Application of Robotics to Improving the Fit Robotics to Improving the Fit

Between Bodies and Between Bodies and EnvironmentsEnvironments

Stephen Gilson, PhDStephen Gilson, PhDsfgilson@astos.org

Liz DePoy, PhDLiz DePoy, PhDedepoy@astos.org

Disability As DisjunctureDisability As Disjuncture

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Figure in a Figure in a discombobulated officediscombobulated office

Disability as DisjunctureDisability as Disjuncture

Explains disability as an interactive “ill-fit” Explains disability as an interactive “ill-fit” between bodies (defined broadly) and between bodies (defined broadly) and environments (defined broadly) environments (defined broadly)

Brings us to query the universe of Brings us to query the universe of environmental design and symbol in environmental design and symbol in delineating the category of disability and delineating the category of disability and affixing the value of those who fit within it. affixing the value of those who fit within it.

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What is a body?What is a body?The body, its appearance and its experienceThe body, its appearance and its experienceThe sensory bodyThe sensory bodyThe cognitive bodyThe cognitive bodyThe social-emotional body The social-emotional body The spiritual bodyThe spiritual bodyThe economic body The economic body The productive body The productive body The body of ideas and meanings The body of ideas and meanings The body in multiple garb and spacesThe body in multiple garb and spaces

What is the “Environment?”What is the “Environment?”

The entire set of conditions under which one The entire set of conditions under which one operates including but not limited to:operates including but not limited to:PhysicalPhysicalSensorySensoryVirtualVirtualConstructed (political, economic, social, etc.)Constructed (political, economic, social, etc.)SpiritualSpiritualExpressiveExpressive IntellectualIntellectual

Full juncture Moderate or compliance juncture

Disjuncture

body

environment

environment

environment

body

body

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Graphic depiction of disjuncture and junctureGraphic depiction of disjuncture and juncture

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DisjunctureDisjuncture

Full Juncture Compliance DisjunctureEnvironmental,

space, and product design outcomes which take into account the full diversity of human bodies, ideas, experiences, preferences, contexts, aesthetics, and hold full participation as a value foundation (e.g., ambient environments, relevant technology, commercially available solutions).

Environmental, space, and product outcome which responds to compliance with minimal legal physical access standards (e.g., mobility accommodations, Braille signage).

Environmental, space, and product design outcome which does not account for access for diverse human bodies, preferences or experiences.

Our initial thinking about disjuncture Our initial thinking about disjuncture emerged from a conversation in a emerged from a conversation in a disability studies class in which we disability studies class in which we asked students to reflect on the current asked students to reflect on the current rationale for typical and accommodative rationale for typical and accommodative standards for built and virtual standards for built and virtual environments. The students indicated environments. The students indicated that they just took these environmental that they just took these environmental features for granted and had not features for granted and had not thought about why doorways, chair thought about why doorways, chair heights, computer access and so forth heights, computer access and so forth could not be reconceptualized could not be reconceptualized differently. differently.

We then consulted the literature and found the following:

Built and virtual environmental and product design standards for industrial and post industrial contexts are constructed around Enlightenment ideals of the human body, its balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm, and unity (Gilson & DePoy, 2007; Margolin, 2002)

Fields and disciplines informing and Fields and disciplines informing and teaching disjunctureteaching disjuncture

Political theoryPolitical theoryEconomicsEconomicsGeographyGeographyEngineeringEngineeringMedicineMedicineSociologySociologyBusinessBusinessEducationEducationLawLaw

ArtArtTechnologyTechnologyLiteratureLiteratureDisability studiesDisability studiesFolkloreFolkloreCommunications Communications PhilosophyPhilosophyProfessionsProfessionsComputer scienceComputer science

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Healing Disjuncture (Creating Healing Disjuncture (Creating Full Juncture)Full Juncture)

Change bodies, environments or bothChange bodies, environments or both

Eliminate binary categories of disabled/not disabledEliminate binary categories of disabled/not disabled

Eliminate segregationEliminate segregation

Provide multiple options in diverse venues (commercial, Provide multiple options in diverse venues (commercial, professional)professional)

Attend to aesthetics, context, complexityAttend to aesthetics, context, complexity

Map problems (DePoy & Gilson, 2008) to reveal Map problems (DePoy & Gilson, 2008) to reveal complexity and potential directions for healing disjuncturecomplexity and potential directions for healing disjuncture

Putting this thinking to workPutting this thinking to work

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Two body builders of different Two body builders of different heights and buildsheights and builds

Our viewpointOur viewpoint

Responses to disability must “take an Responses to disability must “take an intellectual and professional village”.intellectual and professional village”.

Multiple perspectives must be married Multiple perspectives must be married to design thinking and action to to design thinking and action to advance significant and lasting social advance significant and lasting social change for people with disabilities and change for people with disabilities and communities across the globe. communities across the globe.

So Now What?So Now What?

Using contemporary practices that Using contemporary practices that are aligned with larger powerful are aligned with larger powerful global trends typically not thought global trends typically not thought of as disability and human rights of as disability and human rights scholarship provides the scholarship provides the opportunity for significant change. opportunity for significant change.

2 Disjuncture Problems2 Disjuncture Problems

From where did they emerge? From where did they emerge?

Problem Map 1Problem Map 1

Problem Map 2Problem Map 2

Why Use Technology for Why Use Technology for Healing DisjunctureHealing Disjuncture

Definition: the branch of knowledge that deals Definition: the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.pure science.

Diverse in its scope Diverse in its scope

Diverse in its level (e.g. personal, corporate, Diverse in its level (e.g. personal, corporate, regional, national and international)regional, national and international)

Why use Technology for Why use Technology for Healing Disjuncture?Healing Disjuncture?

ContemporaryContemporaryRelevantRelevantViable to address the fit of diverse Viable to address the fit of diverse

mobility styles and environments mobility styles and environmentsSocially desirableSocially desirableIntegratingIntegrating

Servicebot builds on existing robotic Servicebot builds on existing robotic designs such as Segwaydesigns such as Segway

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Photo of Segway robotPhoto of Segway robot

Robotic Rowing Exoskeleton Robotic Rowing Exoskeleton (RRE) Science(RRE) Science

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2 photos 2 photos The photo on the left depicts a man rowing on a rowing The photo on the left depicts a man rowing on a rowing

machine monitored by sensors machine monitored by sensors The photo on the right depicts the sensor images The photo on the right depicts the sensor images

translated through computer softwaretranslated through computer software

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Drawing of a man using the the proposed robotic Drawing of a man using the the proposed robotic rowing exoskeleton on a rowing machinerowing exoskeleton on a rowing machine

Juncture=Juncture=

Science + design + Science + design + inclusioninclusion

ReferencesReferences

DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (in press) DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (in press) Studying Disability: Studying Disability: Multiple Theories and responses. Multiple Theories and responses. Thousand Oaks, Sage.Thousand Oaks, Sage.

DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (2008) DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (2008) Evaluation practiceEvaluation practice. . Boston, MA: Taylor and Francis.Boston, MA: Taylor and Francis.

Gilson, S.F. & DePoy, E., (2007/2007). Da vinci’s ill-fated Gilson, S.F. & DePoy, E., (2007/2007). Da vinci’s ill-fated design legacy: Homogenization and standardization design legacy: Homogenization and standardization International Journal of the Humanities, 4, International Journal of the Humanities, 4, http://www.Humanities-Journal.comhttp://www.Humanities-Journal.com

Margolin, V. (2002). Margolin, V. (2002). The Politics of the Artificial: Essays The Politics of the Artificial: Essays on Design and Design Studieson Design and Design Studies. Chicago: Chicago . Chicago: Chicago University Press.University Press.

Thank you!!!Thank you!!!

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