Using Technology to Heal Disjuncture An Innovative Application of Robotics to Improving the Fit Between Bodies and Environments

Stephen Gilson, PhD Liz DePoy, PhD

Disability As Disjuncture

Text description Figure in a discombobulated office

Disability as Disjuncture Explains disability as an interactive “ill-fit” between bodies (defined broadly) and environments (defined broadly) Explains disability as an interactive “ill-fit” between bodies (defined broadly) and environments (defined broadly) Brings us to query the universe of environmental design and symbol in delineating the category of disability and affixing the value of those who fit within it. Brings us to query the universe of environmental design and symbol in delineating the category of disability and affixing the value of those who fit within it. 5

What is a body? The body, its appearance and its experience The sensory body The sensory body The cognitive body The cognitive body The social-emotional body The social-emotional body The spiritual body The spiritual body The 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 spaces The body in multiple garb and spaces

What is the “Environment?” The entire set of conditions under which one operates including but not limited to: The entire set of conditions under which one operates including but not limited to: Physical Physical Sensory Sensory Virtual Virtual Constructed (political, economic, social, etc.) Constructed (political, economic, social, etc.) Spiritual Spiritual Expressive Expressive Intellectual Intellectual

Full junctureModerate or compliance juncture Disjuncture body environment body

Text description of image Graphic depiction of disjuncture and juncture Graphic depiction of disjuncture and juncture 9

Disjuncture Full JunctureComplianceDisjuncture Environmental, 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 emerged from a conversation in a disability studies class in which we asked students to reflect on the current rationale for typical and accommodative standards for built and virtual environments. The students indicated that they just took these environmental features for granted and had not thought about why doorways, chair heights, computer access and so forth could not be reconceptualized 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 teaching disjuncture Political theory Political theory Economics Economics Geography Geography Engineering Engineering Medicine Medicine Sociology Sociology Business Business Education Education Law Law Art Art Technology Technology Literature Literature Disability studies Disability studies Folklore Folklore Communications Communications Philosophy Philosophy Professions Professions Computer science Computer science 13

Healing Disjuncture (Creating Full Juncture) Change bodies, environments or both Change bodies, environments or both Eliminate binary categories of disabled/not disabled Eliminate binary categories of disabled/not disabled Eliminate segregation Eliminate segregation Provide multiple options in diverse venues (commercial, professional) Provide multiple options in diverse venues (commercial, professional) Attend to aesthetics, context, complexity Attend to aesthetics, context, complexity Map problems (DePoy & Gilson, 2008) to reveal complexity and potential directions for healing disjuncture Map problems (DePoy & Gilson, 2008) to reveal complexity and potential directions for healing disjuncture

Putting this thinking to work

Text description Two body builders of different heights and builds Two body builders of different heights and builds

Our viewpoint Responses to disability must “take an intellectual and professional village”. Multiple perspectives must be married to design thinking and action to advance significant and lasting social change for people with disabilities and communities across the globe. Multiple perspectives must be married to design thinking and action to advance significant and lasting social change for people with disabilities and communities across the globe.

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

2 Disjuncture Problems From where did they emerge?

Problem Map 1

Problem Map 2

Why Use Technology for Healing Disjuncture Definition: the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science. Definition: the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science. Diverse in its scope Diverse in its scope Diverse in its level (e.g. personal, corporate, regional, national and international) Diverse in its level (e.g. personal, corporate, regional, national and international)

Why use Technology for Healing Disjuncture? Contemporary Contemporary Relevant Relevant Viable to address the fit of diverse mobility styles and environments Viable to address the fit of diverse mobility styles and environments Socially desirable Socially desirable Integrating Integrating

Servicebot builds on existing robotic designs such as Segway

Text description Photo of Segway robot Photo of Segway robot

Robotic Rowing Exoskeleton (RRE) Science

Text Description 2 photos 2 photos The photo on the left depicts a man rowing on a rowing machine monitored by sensors The photo on the left depicts a man rowing on a rowing machine monitored by sensors The photo on the right depicts the sensor images translated through computer software The photo on the right depicts the sensor images translated through computer software

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

Juncture= Science + design + inclusion

References DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (in press) Studying Disability: Multiple Theories and responses. Thousand Oaks, Sage. DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (in press) Studying Disability: Multiple Theories and responses. Thousand Oaks, Sage. DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (2008) Evaluation practice. Boston, MA: Taylor and Francis. DePoy, E. & Gilson, S.F. (2008) Evaluation practice. Boston, MA: Taylor and Francis. Gilson, S.F. & DePoy, E., (2007/2007). Da vinci’s ill-fated design legacy: Homogenization and standardization International Journal of the Humanities, 4, Gilson, S.F. & DePoy, E., (2007/2007). Da vinci’s ill-fated design legacy: Homogenization and standardization International Journal of the Humanities, 4, Margolin, V. (2002). The Politics of the Artificial: Essays on Design and Design Studies. Chicago: Chicago University Press. Margolin, V. (2002). The Politics of the Artificial: Essays on Design and Design Studies. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Thank you!!!