The HandShake Project

HandShake helps non-speaking people who cannot use standard button or joystick controls but can still make an intentional hand or arm movement. The system also works when worn on the knee and leg. The smart-watch (the T-Watch S3) detects an intentional shake using its accelerometer and sends a wireless trigger to a receiver (the T-Embed), which activates assistive technology switches - for example to drive communication software like Grid, or to operate environmental controls. HandShake is an AAC (assisted augmented communication) switch. The sensitivity, haptic feedback and audio confirmation are all adjustable to suit each user.

The project has gone through several hardware iterations, from home-made devices then micro:bits through to the current Lilygo-based T-Watch/T-Embed system. It’s been under long-term testing and use at a specialist college under the supervision of a Technologist and a Speech Therapist.

Read the full project write-up here.

About me

I re-purpose off the shelf hardware to create enabling technology. All of the project ideas come from the staff who work at specialist schools with the target end-users.

I used to spend about half of the year working at sea in marine geophysical survey or offshore construction but now mostly loiter at InfoLab21, Lancaster University.

My GitHub page is here.

I’ll be releasing the code for this project as open-source under the AGPL licence on Gitlab once it’s tested.