Key Takeaways
- Punahou’s Assistive Technology Club earned recognition at the Kapiʻiolani Children’s Miracle Network All‑Partner Celebration for its student‑led engineering projects.
- The club showcased an Arduino‑based memory game, a 3D‑printed infant blood‑pressure cuff adapter, and a motorized wheelchair trainer with head‑movement sensors.
- Projects were inspired by the UH Mānoa MIND Hawaiʻi Program and aim to restore independence and joy to pediatric patients.
- Senior students Alex Woo and Liam Snyder led the presentation, with contributions from Ryder Kawachika, Max Shinno, Trevor Hirano, Julian Williams, Daniel Lin, Kalaʻi Kelekolio, and Tyler Wee.
- The club plans to refine prototypes, seek broader distribution, and continue integrating engineering skills with community service.
Event Recognition at Kapiʻiolani Children’s Miracle Network Celebration
On March 11, Punahou School’s Assistive Technology Club was honored at the Kapiʻiolani Children’s Miracle Network All‑Partner Celebration held at the Sheraton Waikiki. The annual gathering brings together healthcare providers, nonprofit partners, and student innovators who have contributed to improving the lives of children facing medical challenges. Being selected to present at this prestigious event underscored the club’s commitment to applying STEM knowledge in real‑world, compassionate ways. The recognition not only validated the students’ hard work but also amplified their message that engineering can be a powerful tool for social good when guided by empathy and community needs.
Student‑Led Presentation Highlights
Seniors Alex Woo ’26 and Liam Snyder ’26 took the stage to demonstrate three distinct projects developed over the past academic year. Their confident delivery combined technical explanations with heartfelt anecdotes about the children who inspired each invention. By pairing live demonstrations with video testimonials from clinicians and families, Woo and Snyder illustrated how each device addresses a specific therapeutic gap. The presentation highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the club’s work, blending electronics, mechanical design, software programming, and user‑centered testing to create solutions that are both functional and accessible.
Arduino‑Based Memory Game for Cognitive Rehabilitation
One of the flagship projects exhibited was an Arduino‑powered memory game modeled after the classic Simon Says format. Designed primarily for children recuperating from concussions or other cognitive impairments, the game presents a sequence of lights and sounds that users must replicate by pressing corresponding buttons. Difficulty levels can be adjusted via software, allowing therapists to tailor the challenge to each patient’s progressing abilities. Early trials conducted in partnership with local occupational therapists showed measurable improvements in short‑term recall and attention span after just a few sessions, underscoring the device’s potential as a low‑cost, engaging rehabilitation tool.
3D‑Printed Adapter for Infant Blood‑Pressure Cuffs
Recognizing a critical shortage of appropriately sized blood‑pressure cuffs for infants on Oʻahu, the club designed a 3D‑printed adapter that converts standard adult cuffs into a safe, reliable fit for neonates and small infants. The adapter features a flexible, biocompatible sleeve that securely grips the cuff while distributing pressure evenly to avoid bruising or inaccurate readings. Using PLA filament and a desktop FDM printer, the team produced several prototypes that passed bench‑testing for leak resistance and pressure accuracy. The design files have been shared openly with Kapiʻiolani Children’s Hospital, enabling rapid on‑demand production and reducing reliance on costly, back‑ordered supplies.
Motorized Wheelchair Trainer with Proximity‑Sensor Control
Perhaps the most ambitious undertaking was the motorized wheelchair trainer aimed at children with cerebral palsy who have limited upper‑body strength. The prototype integrates a small electric drivetrain with a proximity‑sensor array mounted on a headrest. By detecting subtle head movements—such as a tilt left, right, forward, or backward—the system translates these gestures into proportional wheelchair commands, offering hands‑free navigation. Safety features include automatic speed limiting, obstacle detection via ultrasonic sensors, and an emergency stop button accessible to caregivers. Initial user testing with two pediatric participants demonstrated increased independence in maneuvering through indoor obstacle courses, and the children’s expressed delight affirmed the project’s emotional impact.
Inspiration from UH Mānoa MIND Hawaiʻi Program
Alex Woo credited the UH Mānoa MIND Hawaiʻi Program and its director, Professor Scott Miller, as the catalyst for the club’s direction. Miller’s work on assistive technologies for neurodevelopmental disorders showcased how engineering could directly enhance quality of life, prompting Woo and his teammates to pursue projects that combined technical rigor with palpable human benefit. Woo recalled a specific moment when a child, after using the wheelchair trainer for the first time, laughed aloud and exclaimed, “I’m driving!” That experience solidified the group’s resolve to continue refining their inventions and to seek broader dissemination throughout Hawaiʻi’s healthcare network.
Team Contributions and Collaborative Effort
While Woo and Snyder served as the primary presenters, the success of the projects rested on a diverse team of upperclassmen. Ryder Kawachika ’26 and Max Shinno ’26 focused on mechanical integration and sensor calibration for the wheelchair trainer. Trevor Hirano ’26 and Julian Williams ’27 contributed to the Arduino programming and user‑interface design of the memory game. Daniel Lin ’26, Kalaʻi Kelekolio ’26, and Tyler Wee ’26 handled material testing, 3D‑printing optimization, and documentation for the blood‑pressure cuff adapter. The collaborative environment fostered cross‑disciplinary learning, with members frequently rotating roles to gain exposure to hardware, software, and user‑testing methodologies.
Gratitude and Future Directions
The club expressed sincere appreciation to Kapiʻiolani Children’s Miracle Network for its financial support, mentorship, and the platform that allowed student innovations to reach a wider audience. Looking ahead, the Assistive Technology Club plans to iterate on the wheelchair trainer by incorporating machine‑learning algorithms to better interpret nuanced head movements and to adapt the memory game for wheelchair‑mounted use, enabling therapy during mobility training. They also intend to partner with local makerspaces to scale production of the 3D‑printed cuff adapter, ensuring that hospitals across the island can access the device on demand. By maintaining a cycle of design, testing, feedback, and refinement, the club aspires to sustain a pipeline of assistive technologies that empower children to live fuller, more independent lives.