Abstract
This paper explores how hybrid manufacturing can support the development of adaptive assistive technologies for people with evolving needs, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a neuro degenerative condition that impairs muscular function and is characterised by rapidly changing symptoms. Assistive devices (ATs) are essential in supporting daily living for individuals with ALS, yet most are designed as static, general-purpose solutions that fail to account for the temporal, anatomical, and psychosocial complexities of the condition, leading to high rates of abandonment and user dissatisfaction. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and participatory design in India and Australia, this study presents the design and development of a bespoke neck support system for managing Dropped Head Syndrome – an under-addressed yet common symptom in mid-to-late stage ALS. The project integrates parametric modelling, 3D printing, and textile-based fabrication within a hybrid manufacturing workflow, enabling modular, personalised, and locally manufacturable solutions. Through iterative prototyping and close collaboration with clinicians, the work reveals new possibilities for the production of assistive devices at the point-of-care and highlights the value of clinician-designer partnerships, situated making, and contextual responsiveness in healthcare design. The paper argues for a reframing of assistive technologies as adaptive and evolving systems, not fixed products, and contributes to broader conversations on equitable, distributed models of care infrastructure.
Keywords
Assistive Technology; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Hybrid Manufacturing; Clinician’s Making
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.882
Citation
Bohre, Y., Page, R.,and Joshi, P.(2025) Adaptive by Design: Rethinking Assistive Technologies for ALS Through Hybrid Manufacturing and Situated Making, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.882
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 9 - Healthcare Design
Adaptive by Design: Rethinking Assistive Technologies for ALS Through Hybrid Manufacturing and Situated Making
This paper explores how hybrid manufacturing can support the development of adaptive assistive technologies for people with evolving needs, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a neuro degenerative condition that impairs muscular function and is characterised by rapidly changing symptoms. Assistive devices (ATs) are essential in supporting daily living for individuals with ALS, yet most are designed as static, general-purpose solutions that fail to account for the temporal, anatomical, and psychosocial complexities of the condition, leading to high rates of abandonment and user dissatisfaction. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and participatory design in India and Australia, this study presents the design and development of a bespoke neck support system for managing Dropped Head Syndrome – an under-addressed yet common symptom in mid-to-late stage ALS. The project integrates parametric modelling, 3D printing, and textile-based fabrication within a hybrid manufacturing workflow, enabling modular, personalised, and locally manufacturable solutions. Through iterative prototyping and close collaboration with clinicians, the work reveals new possibilities for the production of assistive devices at the point-of-care and highlights the value of clinician-designer partnerships, situated making, and contextual responsiveness in healthcare design. The paper argues for a reframing of assistive technologies as adaptive and evolving systems, not fixed products, and contributes to broader conversations on equitable, distributed models of care infrastructure.