Team creates switch operated TV remote for boy with cerebral palsy

Easton is a wheelchair user but he uses switches and he is gaining the ability to do more.

“I have a five-year-old son with cerebral palsy and in the last five years, I have said “I know someone could make this a million times. The one thing that is a constant “wish he had” would be switch operated remote of some sort. I just want him to be able to turn channels between preselected stations so that he can make the choice of what he watches. I have researched this and spoken to multiple IT tech companies but this never seems to be something someone can figure out how to do”, Easton’s mother explained to the charity May We Help (an organisation that develops gadgets to increase the autonomy level of disabled people).

So Dave Barringer and Hannah Mattingly volunteers from May We Help, built Easton a switch operated TV remote. They used the following material: Arduino NanoLED (850 nm, Infrared), Resistor (180 ohm ¼ Watt), Diodes (3 - 1N4001 or equivalent), Relay (5V low current, Magnecraft W172DIP-5 or equivalent), Push Buttons (All Electronics LPS-5Bor equivalent ), a 9V battery and a battery clip.

The boy got the device in 2015.

“I can not thank you enough! Easton has changed the channel on me twice already this evening. I can never explain how much it means to me that you gave him the chance to be an ornery little boy. He is loving "picking" on his sisters and me already. I will try to attach photos so that you can see the excitement in his face as he is being a total boy in a house full of girls”, said his mother.

Adapted from: https://bit.ly/2MF6khU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elt-DNxux1s