Why is the Lipsync DIY Sip and Puff Needed?

Using a DIY Sip and Puff device allows a person who is quadriplegic or who has little movement in the arms to access technology.

Approximately 67% of Canadians own cell phones, however many people with disabilities cannot operate or access these device due to a lack of appropriate assistive technology (AT). According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, an estimated 1,000,000 people in Canada and the United States have limited or no use of their arms—meaning they are unable to use touchscreen devices that could provide access to helpful apps and services. While solutions exist for desktop computers, they can cost up to $3,000 and are not portable, so they are not feasible to work with mobile devices. The LipSync can close this access gap by providing an innovative technology solution that enables access to all sorts of technology.

The Lipsync allows a user to access tablets, gaming consoles, tablets and smartphones. It is a 3D printed DIY sip and puff device; the first device created for the Neil Squire Society’s Makers Making Change open source Project Library. The Lipsync DIY sip and puff device costs only $200 in parts, when assembled by a local maker with basic electronic skills. This beats paying $2000 for a similar commercial device!

On March 20 2020, McGill students of Professor Stefanie Blain-Moraes course will participate in a Lipsync Buildathon! Students will learn to solder and assemble the DIY puff and puff device which will then be sent to rehab centres and  people with disabilities in Montreal who need it.