This week, the boy we are creating this gadget for, has come by the makerlab. It was the chance to test our ideas and see if it worked "in real life situation" that is how, what we though were GOOD projects were destroyed in front of us. 

Indeed, we introduced to him all 3 of our gadgets: the knot untier, the knot doer and the magnetic laces. 

the knot untier was a sucess, the ring and it's ring holder do work and make it easier to untie shoes. This project could easily be changed for someone with a similar disabilty (case were the subject is missing a hand).  

However, the boy said he didn't really have a hard time undoing the laces but more doing it. That is why we made him try the second gadget (the sled) 

The sled was an utter failure. Indeed, he has his laces very tight and a different kind of shoe that we trained on so for the base to slid in it was difficult. Then, the slit broke because it was to fragile, the sliding mechanism wasn't well defined (see picture). if we can make a bigger slide or more precise it could work for someone like our subject or with a bit more of a hand. 

Finally we made him try the magnetic laces, he loved the idea. They were easy to use for him, he even could do a double knot. What was a great news it's that the magnets didn't get stuck between them which easy for him to tie and it's "normal looking".