Sunday, July 18, 2010

Ergonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)



This hook's can be used for hanging shopping bags,for drying washed slippers or for even hanging a rubbish bag.The uses are infinite;all you have to do is to imagine.This hook after compacting is easy to carry as it is small.It is also colourful so it is easy to spot.

The design considerations are that how much weight the hook can withstand.

The elderly may face difficulty as the hook breadth is quite thick so it may be hard to put some things.







Ergonomics II

What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment..
Taken from Mac dictionary

What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?
Safety,Comfort,Ease of use,Productivity/Performance,Aesthetics

For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.

Safety
Hand railings in bathrooms
It provides support for the elderly when they use the washroom and allows them to move around the washroom with a sense of security.

Comfort
Massage Chair
It allows the elderly who's body are aching to have a rest and let them relax.

Ease of use
Mobile phones
Some handphones have a larger keypad thus enabling the elderly to see better.

Productivity/Performance
Stress Ball(Used for exercising the hand)
It strengths hand muscles and helps to prevent
arthritis.

Aesthetics
Lift
The buttons in the lift light up so it is easier for the elderly who's vision may be a little blur to see the numbers more clearly.

Sources:http://www.mobilephonereviews.org/uploads/Image/Doro-HandleEasy-328GSM-Mobile-Phone.jpg
http://www.armuproducts.com/Stress%20Ball.jpg
http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/Ih/elevator-buttons-1109-lg.jpg
http://moonshealth.com/userfiles/massage-chair-astro_8bngM_5965.jpg
http://www.ilcaustralia.org/images/VIC/8170900a.jpg

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Elderly Challenge - Observation 1

2 weeks ago, my grandmother had dinner with us as we were celebrating my baby cousin's birthday.As my granny has diabetes, she had to be careful with whatever she eats.She also cannot eat food that are too hard for her dentures, for example fried food and crunchy vegetables.Sometimes,her dentures will fall out so I think that inventions like Super Poligrip are very useful and lets them have a wider variety of food.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Housing for seniors
Singapore will try to meet the needs of the elderly with a range of housing options.

Accessibility for the seniors
The built environment and transport system will be more elder-friendly and allow seniors to lead active and fruitful lives

Caring for seniors
Healthcare and Eldercare will be more efficient and more cost efficient, and will be easily accessible by the elderly in the community

Opportunities for seniors
The seniors will lead a healthy and active lifestyle with fulfilling relationships with everyone.

One way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly:

Install grab bars in the bathroom and toilets with non-slip floor tiles.

Two ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable

We can provide a complementary range and option of services for Singaporeans who need care so that we afford a reasonable level of care services.

The Singapore government should top up Medisave accounts for the less well-to-do so that the elderly have the means to afford healthcare services.

The three things that I can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges

I can observe the "daily routines" of the elderly to see what are the problems that they are facing and hopefully come up with a plan to help solve it.

I can help to raise funds for those elderly who needs financial assistance.

I can do voluntary work to aid the financially burdened elderly

Ergonomics 1

The first workplace's chair is not comfortable to sit in as it does not provide back support and there is no hand rest when the person wants to type on his computer.The table is also very messy as the table is clutter with unnecessary thing or things that can be put on the floor like the CPU.However,the second workplace's chair is very comfortable to sit in as it provides back support and there is a hand rest when the person wants to type on his computer.The table is also very neat and does not have things that are unnecessary.There is also a lot of space to write on.

The second workplace is preferred as there it is neater and it is a more efficient workspace to do work.

Some considerations are that the workspace should be simple yet convenient for a person so that the person can maximise the use of the workspace.

I think that Ergonomics are important as it identifies a problem in a certain product so that the person who designs it can improve upon the design.