Date of Award

6-9-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025

Departments

Electrical and Computer Engineering; Computer Science and Engineering

First Advisor

Radhika Grover

Second Advisor

Ahmed Amer

Abstract

This project introduces the design and development of the GRD Companion. This gesture-controlled reminder device aims to support individuals with special needs in their daily routines, in the hope of them being more independent. The system we designed integrates a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, PAJ7620U2 gesture sensor, and audio playback components, all housed in a custom 3D-printed case. Some of our key design priorities included accessibility by relying only on gesture recognition to control the device, eliminating screens and buttons, as well as portability, enabling all users to carry the device anywhere. The device is paired with our WaveLink App, which allows teachers and caregivers to record personalized audio tasks for the user and send them to the device when paired via Bluetooth or WIFI hotspot. We chose to code using Python for gesture recognition and a scheduling logic to manage the hardware interactions within the device. The project emphasizes affordability, usability, and adaptability to help support teachers and caregivers in aiding individuals with special needs. Human subject testing was conducted to gain feedback to help guide improvements and confirmed the functionality and reliability of our device. Future iterations include expanding on customization features such as custom gesture recognition, a reward system, and real-time task completion.

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