Robots for Humanity
Expanding My Capabilities with Stretch
Being part of the development process for assistive robotics and advocating for the disability community is a natural fit for me. Quite simply, it also benefits me as part of that community, so why wouldn’t I be involved?
Before I started using Stretch, I faced a constant, difficult barrier: movement. Whenever I wanted to do anything involving movement, even something as small as scratching an itch, I had to bother my caregivers. Because of this, I can’t imagine designing anything successfully without involving end users in the process. Based on my experiences of using every iteration of Stretch, from Stretch 1 to now Stretch 4, the immediate effect should be to increase my independence and to save a caregiver time. From 2021 to the present, here are a few of the many ways I have used Stretch to enhance my independence:
Moments of Awe
Even in these early stages, I have experienced moments filled with “awe” that have been truly life-changing. The first time I used a mobile manipulator (i.e. PR2) to manipulate my physical environment after 10 years of being paralyzed. Back then, I felt a huge sense of relief; I no longer felt completely trapped in my body.
There is a sense of liberation in the small things, too. It was incredible to send Stretch into the kitchen on the other side of the house to fetch a snack, bring it back to my room, and feed it to me. Every time we successfully “freestyle,” I am amazed at how nimble and flexible Stretch is, particularly given how unassuming it appears at first glance. Perhaps most importantly, it has changed my personal connections. It was astounding to see the immediate change in my toddler granddaughter’s attitude towards me when I used Stretch to play with her.
Thinking About the Caregiver
However, the success of this technology isn’t just about me; everything Stretch does needs to take the caregiver into consideration. If it doesn’t make their lives easier or better, in the long run, they simply won’t set it up. The best design is one which requires absolutely no caregiver involvement for either daily setup or use. In fact, the best designs don’t even have to be turned on every day, much like the Beam telepresence robot.
Ultimately, the goal is a tool that serves both the user and the care partner: creating a future where independence isn’t just a goal, but a daily reality.
Cheers,
Henry