Assistive device designs provide accessible solutions

Fourteen innovative assistive device designs were awarded during the finals of an assistive device design competition held at Shenzhen Pingshan Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center on Wednesday.

The competition, which had collected 303 innovative works since May, serves as a brainstorming session to improve the quality of life of disabled people. The products and projects were submitted by higher education institutions, research institutions, enterprises and organizations from home and abroad.

Among the 37 designs showcased in the finals, two special prizes, two first prizes, four second prizes and six third prizes were selected. The two special prizes — one for a product and the other for a project — can receive subsidies of 60,000 yuan (US$8,270) and 40,000 yuan, respectively.

A guide dog wears a waist leash with lights and a recycle bag. (Inset) The guide dog waist leash. Shenzhen Evening News

One of the second-prize winning works was a guide dog waist leash. The designer tied lights to the waist leash, aiming provide light training for the visually impaired, because the light will follow the dogs’ moves. The leash also has a recycle bag installed, making feces collection more convenient. According to Huang Yuehong, a visually impaired contestant, the waist leash won’t get in the way of the dogs’ movement and is easy to put on. She hopes that this device can be used by every pet dog.

The other winning works include products specially designed for visually impaired people to read electronic books, bridging the communication gap for people who have speech impediments and assisting respiration for patients.