A device to help her paint, made just for her

Designed and built by GovTech team, voice-operated tech aid lets 19-year-old paint independently

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Ms Elaine Eng loves to paint but is unable to use her arms, legs and body due to a severe form of cerebral palsy. Thanks to a device called E-Canvas, Elaine can now do what she loves.
Ms Elaine Eng, who loves to paint, using the E-Canvas device that works by voice command. The 19-year-old, who has spastic-dystonic quadriplegia and is unable to use her arms, legs and body, paints by wielding a brush in her mouth. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOH
Ms Elaine Eng, who loves to paint, using the E-Canvas device that works by voice command. The 19-year-old, who has spastic-dystonic quadriplegia and is unable to use her arms, legs and body, paints by wielding a brush in her mouth. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Ms Elaine Eng is the youngest child among a set of quadruplets - three of whom have cerebral palsy. One has died and Ms Eng suffers from a severe form of the neurological disorder called spastic-dystonic quadriplegia.

Cerebral palsy affects a person's movements, muscle tone and coordination. Ms Eng is unable to control or use her arms, legs and body, and has to depend on others for almost every need.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 04, 2019, with the headline A device to help her paint, made just for her. Subscribe