Abstract
In my technical project, I designed an attachable stepstool for IV poles at the University of Virginia (UVA) Hospital. The IV poles at UVA are set for an average height of 5 foot 8 inches; however, many nurses at UVA are as short as 5 foot 2 inches. This poses an issue with shorter nurses injuring their shoulders when hanging heavy IV bags on IV poles.
To design the stepstool, I had several design criteria that needed to be met. Most importantly, the stepstool needed to support a minimum of 350lbs and be able to fold up hands free. Using Fusion 360, I prototyped several designs for the stepstool and hinges and a C clamp design to attach the stepstool/hinge to the IV pole. Following a finite element analysis of the stepstool designs, I choose one to print and physically test. Physical testing showed that the prototype supports at least 500 lbs, thus meeting the required 350 lbs minimum. Several hinge prototypes were printed and tested. The final hinge design utilizes a central rod with attached flaps that connect to the stepstool and C clamp respectively. The hinge relies on friction between the rod and the flaps to keep the stool in position. To attach the hinge to the stepstool and C clamp, I used a triangle shaped joint.
Initially, we planned to test the stepstool with nurses at the UVA hospital. Due to issues with IRB filing, we tested instead with our advisor and ourselves. Based on testing, we moved ahead with assembling a final product for use at the hospital.
In my STS thesis, I investigate how cultural and gender differences have influenced the development of modern table tennis equipment, specifically racket rubbers. I argue that cultural playstyles dictate the chemical composition of these rubbers, whereas gender-based playstyles shape their surface geometry.
To examine cultural impacts, I compared Asian (Chinese) and Western (European) playstyles and associated rubber manufacturers (DHS and Donic respectively). I found that Asian players generally favor a short pushing game and generate power biomechanically. This playstyle necessitates tacky, hard sponge rubbers that utilize chemical friction to grip the ball. Conversely, my research shows that Western players prefer mid distance counter looping, relying on rubbers with porous, high tension sponges that provide mechanical friction and a catapult effect. I found that these cultural divergences were amplified by the 2008 ban on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in speed glue and the 2014 transition to plastic balls. In response to these regulations, Western companies developed mechanical "Tensor" technology to maintain speed , while Asian companies produced harder sponges to compensate for the decrease in spin.
Regarding gender, my thesis highlights that female players tend to play closer to the table, engage in longer rallies, and prioritize consistency and defensive placement more frequently than male players. Consequently, I found that female players utilize long pips rubber at a significantly higher rate (20.9%) compared to men (4.1%). I argue that long pips are ideal for this close to the table playstyle because they allow players to redirect the ball quickly using the opponent's energy, rather than executing full offensive loops. I concluded that while equipment companies actively cater to distinct cultural playstyles, there is currently a lack of targeted rubber development and marketing based specifically on gender.
