Design for assistive technology oriented to design methodology: a systematic review on user-centered design and 3D printing approaches

This paper presents a systematic review whose objective is to map the design development of assistive devices through user's participation, use of design methodology and also 3D printing support. The development of multidisciplinary engineering design has increasingly demanded the need for effective participation of different stakeholders throughout product development cycle. Assistive Technology represents this multidisciplinary domain in the context of design for customization. This design approach requires the co-participation of the users, both occupational therapists and end users and also family members. This interactive process is fundamental in the early phases of the design and in the iterations to promote improvements between conceptual and functional prototypes. The research methodology is based on the three-stage systematic literature review, followed by a critical analysis grounded on content analysis procedures. The 30 approaches identified were classified according to their theoretical and practical characteristics (short descriptions, design development phases, design methods and techniques used and evaluation tools). The results point to the gap in the conceptual phase related to use of design methods and techniques, precisely the design early level where there is greatest potential to add value with innovation and functionality to the final product. This systematic review reinforces the increasingly importance of this integration between engineering and assistive technology, seeking to establish a systematization of the process of development of ADs that incorporates the qualities of both the areas: the technical knowledge, tools and development methodology and the user-centered approach together with the knowledge of therapeutic needs and occupational performance.