Flow. A Socially Responsible 3D Printed One-Handed Recorder.

Javier Esclapés,Almudena Gómez,Ana Ibañez

doi:10.3390/ijerph182212200

Abstract

The recorder is one of the most common instruments used during primary school in the formal education system in the EU. However, there are a percentage of students with only one functional hand. The existing one-handed recorders available for them to be able to play and perform in the same way as their peers are expensive and difficult to use. This study’s purpose is to document the development of Flow—a low cost one-handed recorder as well as the user’s assessment of the psychosocial benefits of the recorder. The methods used for fabrication were 3D modelling and additive manufacturing (AM) technology or 3D printing using the technique of stereolithography, and for the assessment of the product, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) questionnaire was distributed to 20 primary school users. The results show that the use of resins and Stereolithography is appropriate for wind instruments providing quality and strength at a fair price. Flow also proved to have a positive impact on the users and their inclusion in school. The main conclusions of this study underscore the adequacy of using AM for adaptations required for people with disabilities and the positive psychosocial benefits generated by the use of Flow in children.

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
People with disabilities have to face extra costs resulting from such disability, such as costs associated with medical care or assistive devices
Following initial interviews and taking into account the specific benefits of music for inclusion at schools [20,21,43,44] as well as the possibilities to produce customised instruments through additive manufacturing at a fair price [45,46], it was decided to start with the design and development of an adapted recorder to use at schools

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. People with disabilities have to face extra costs resulting from such disability, such as costs associated with medical care or assistive devices. As a result of those higher costs, people with disabilities and their households are likely to be poorer than non-disabled people with similar incomes [1]. In Spain, the incomes of families with members who have a disability are 29.2% lower than the average families [2]. There are a lack of alternatives and the cost-quality ratio of adapted technologies is unsatisfactory [1]

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Discussion

Conclusion