Fleo

What it does

Fleo is a stabilizing pen designed to help in writing and drawing for people with Parkinson’s tremors. It has innovative self-stabilizing components which reduces the impact of tremor, facilitating a more confident and efficient writing.

Your inspiration

An estimated 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease. It is a progressive neurodegenerative illness with no cure. Parkinsonism typically occurs in people over the age of 60, but there has been an increase in young adults suffering from it. Most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease is hand tremors. Tremors takes a toll on people’s everyday life. Although there are products available in the market for daily activities there is no solution for writing/drawing. So the activity of writing and drawing is completely ceased. Fleo is designed to help in this, so people can follow their passion and bring back confidence.

How it works

Fleo utilizes gyroscopic principles to stabilize and reduce tremor impacts, facilitating a more confident and efficient writing/drawing. The construction of the pen contains a copper ring rotor attached to a motor with a battery. Once it’s on, it acts as a gyroscope and tries to remain in its original axis of rotation. So when the pen is switched on the gyroscopic effect of the rotor provides resistance to any undesirable vibration of the pen. Thus it helps maintain control without taking away the personality and individuality of a person’s writing/drawing. It is wireless, handy and with an easy click it starts its stabilizing effect. It’s rechargeable and refillable which increases convenience. The switch and the LED is placed keeping easy access in mind. The form of the pen offers good ergonomic support and a confident grip.

Design process

Empathy is very important when designing for special needs. Throughout the design process of Fleo, users were involved. This communication was very significant in directing the project at every stages of process from finding opportunity to user testing. During such interactions, I met people who loved to draw and write but had to completely stop after they were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This was the key inspiration. Initial process involved research through case studies, recording experience of the subject while doing a task, role playing, questionnaires etc. The insights from this research was collected and synthesized to define the considerations and constraints. Ideation phase involved rapid prototyping from sketches. Many crude prototypes were made and tested to determine the type of intervention possible like grip, base support, counteract, steadiness etc. Based on the feedback more functional prototypes were made next. From these, the concept based on gyroscope was proven successful. This then went through further iteration to make more prototypes with different placement of rotor to finalize the best placement and configuration of gyroscope and pen grip. User feedback and reactions were crucial during the development including the color, form & other features.

How it is different

People with Parkinson’s disease often spent a lot of time alone. Therapies involving dance, art and music are often part of their treatment. Products are available in the market for helping in daily routine, but there are very few options in area of writing/drawing. Fleo caters to this need that is often looked past. It gives people with Parkinson’s tremors freedom to draw, write and occupy themselves. The unique self stabilizing effect of Fleo filters out only unwanted vibration caused by the tremors keeping personality and individuality of a person’s writing/drawing. It aids and does not restraint. So people can continue writing and drawing and bring back confidence in their lives.

Future plans

Results have shown increase in the accuracy and efficiency in writing. The current results can be treated just as a proof of concept. Further improvement and optimizing the internal components can bring greater accuracy, lightness and efficiency. Next steps would be to make it manufacture ready. For this I would like to work on the material use, affordability and overall sustainability of the pen.

Awards