🎲 ACCESS FM: Deaf-Inclusive Strategy Board Game

A - Aesthetics

• Industrial/Tech Look: Use the natural contrast of charred laser-cut wood against bright, neon-colored 3D-printed filaments (like "Silk" or "Translucent" PLA).

• Visual Patterns: Use geometric patterns (engraved into the wood) to represent different zones or player territories, ensuring the board looks like a piece of art even when not in use.

C - Cost

• File Efficiency: Design 3D pieces to be "hollow" or use low-infill patterns to save on filament.

• Standard Sheets: Size the board to fit a standard $30\text{cm} \times 60\text{cm}$ (or $12" \times 24"$) sheet of birch plywood to minimize waste.

C - Customer

• Primary User: A deaf middle school student.

• Visual Communication: Since the player cannot hear "Your turn!" or a timer's beep, the game must communicate its state entirely through sight and touch.

• Social Inclusion: The game should be playable by both hearing and deaf peers without anyone feeling at a disadvantage.

E - Environment

• Lighting Sensitivity: Since deaf individuals rely heavily on visual information, ensure the board surface isn't too glossy (to avoid glare from overhead classroom lights).

• Portability: Middle schoolers move between classes; include a laser-cut box with 3D-printed "snap-fit" hinges to keep pieces secure.

S - Size

• Piece Ergonomics: 3D-printed pieces should be large enough to have distinct silhouettes (easily identifiable from a distance) but small enough to fit in a locker.

• Board Thickness: Use 6mm (approx. 1/4") plywood for the base to prevent warping over time.

S - Safety

• Filament Safety: Use PLA (it’s non-toxic and corn-based).

• Edge Sanding: Laser-cut wood leaves "soot" and sharp edges; the design must include a post-processing step for sanding and sealing.

F - Function

• Tactile "Lock-In": Instead of pieces just sitting on a flat board, the laser-cut wood should have recessed holes or "wells." This allows the 3D-printed pieces to "click" into place, providing tactile confirmation of a move.

• Visual Timers: Instead of a sand timer (which is hard to track while looking at the board), use a 3D-printed mechanical "stepper" or a visual slider to track turns.

M - Materials

• Hybrid Build: * Wood: Plywood or MDF for the structural board (easy to engrave complex rules/maps).

  • Plastic: PLA or PETG for the 3D-printed player tokens (allows for complex 3D shapes that wood can't achieve).

• Magnets: Consider embedding small neodymium magnets into the 3D prints and the board for a "snap" feeling.

Instructions:

What design specifications will make your end product or solution successful? Write your ideas down in the imperative form (i.e. it must do..., it has to include…).

Specifications to choose from: 

Here is a LINK to some generic specifications with descriptions and at the bottom of the doc some generally used testing methods (evaluation)

Here are some specific ideas for Specifications you may like to choose from:

1. The toy is educational

2. The toy uses a safe finish

3. The toy includes no choking hazard

4. The toy is painted or colored in order to be attractive

5. The toy is primarily made of either wood or plastic (both?)

6. The toy is fun to play with

7. The toy will aid the learning of a student

8. The toy is designed for young children (aged between ?) 

9. The toy does not promote anything negative

10. The toy does not use toxic materials

11. The toy is completely safe for use by a child

12. The toy has more than 2 parts to it.

13. The toy is aesthetically pleasing to look at.

14. The toy is durable

15. The toy is easy to play with