StepCare Scale
During my Design Thinking and Communication class at Northwestern, my engineering team and I worked with the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago to create the "StepCare Scale." This scale's main innovation is having a detached weight display and an LED ring that flashes when the weight on the scale is above a certain threshold set by the user.
Intended for patients with lower leg injuries, these features make it easier for them and their physical therapists to monitor the force on their injured leg, especially during rehabilitation activities where the focus may be elsewhere. In this way, the scale streamlines the rehab process as it allows users to focus on rebuilding leg strength rather than constantly looking down to check a scale to monitor the force on their injured leg.
Here's a more detailed rundown of the project:
Final Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xWy_D8X-jmlnUCVqvAiINSBv0AaLFwrpFfqCFTnndoE/edit
Additional Images:
Initial issue vs StepCare scale solution. Notice our scale's support is level with the scale and weight readings can be viewed on a table rather than the ground.
Mockup drawings of the StepCare scale (left) and scale screen case (right).
Process of putting together electrical components of the scale.