An industrial designer crafting intentional, inclusive solutions that balance function, empathy and aesthetics.
Every part of Handmony is designed to feel natural, familiar and supportive for older users. The following pages break down the key features that make daily finger practice safe, comfortable and simple to use at home.
The core experience: guided finger training on Handmony. The interactive screen leads users through gentle piano-style exercises, activating stiff fingers safely before playing or as daily mobility practice.
Ergonomic, foldable design. Handmony adapts to home use with a slim, stable base and adjustable tablet stand, keeping hands aligned comfortably for extended sessions.
Compact when not in use. Handmony folds flat for easy storage, so it fits neatly in living spaces without feeling like clinical equipment.
Adjustable finger slider mechanism. Each fingertip rest slides smoothly along its track, allowing personalised positioning and controlled resistance for different finger lengths and mobility levels. The soft, ergonomic cup fits comfortably while guiding natural hand movements during rehabilitation practice.
To make rehabilitation simple and engaging, Handmony is paired with a custom app. The user-centred UI offers guided exercises, progress tracking and personalised feedback, all designed with older adults in mind.
The companion app features an accessible, age-friendly user interface designed specifically for elderly piano learners. The UI guides users through simple setup, personalised training programmes, and gamified exercises that turn rehabilitation into an engaging, familiar experience. All screens use large buttons, clear text, and intuitive navigation to reduce cognitive load and build user confidence with technology.
A custom Arduino program was developed to control the slider mechanism, capture real-time finger movement data, and transmit signals to the companion app. The system enables stable communication, responsive interaction, and accurate resistance level detection, supporting the entire interactive training experience.
The core technical innovation of Handmony is its adjustable resistance finger slider mechanism, purpose-built for controlled finger opening and closing exercises.
Each of the 10 finger sliders operates on a low-friction linear track, allowing users to perform smooth, controlled extension and flexion movements that stretch and strengthen the hand muscles. The key feature is the internal resistance adjustment system, which lets users customise the tension of each slider to match their current mobility level and training goals. This makes the tool suitable for both gentle rehabilitation and progressive strength building, adapting to users with varying stiffness or arthritis symptoms.
The soft, ergonomic finger cups ensure a secure and comfortable fit, even during repeated movements, while the quiet, smooth mechanism reduces discomfort and encourages consistent practice. Integrated motion sensors capture slider movement data, feeding real-time feedback to the companion app to power personalised training programmes and progress tracking.
