TRIZ-based fabrication and preliminary evaluation of a modular 3D-printed tablet stylus for students in inclusive education: a feasibility case study

Purpose This preliminary feasibility case study aimed to design and evaluate a TRIZ-based modular 3D-printed tablet stylus for students in inclusive education.Materials and methods Caregiver surveys (n = 16) were conducted to identify user needs, which informed the development of a customisable stylus featuring adjustable barrel thickness and interchangeable ring components. Seven children (aged 6–9 years) participated in a one-week home-based trial involving daily 10-minute writing tasks. Pre- and post-assessments included transcription time, handwriting recognition accuracy, word width-to-length ratio, user satisfaction (QUEST), and safety monitoring.Results Significant short-term improvements were observed in transcription time (p = 0.018) and handwriting recognition accuracy (p = 0.018), with word proportions approaching a balanced 1:1 ratio (p = 0.043). User satisfaction was high, and only one minor discomfort was reported.Conclusion The modular stylus was feasible and well tolerated and may support short-term improvements in tablet-based writing tasks. Further studies with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are warranted.