The Keyring Sized Button Puller* Alexander Loudon
Project Report *And they say size doesn’t matter.
Context: 1 Background: 2-4 Project Partners: 5 Research: Primary: 7-10 Users: 11-12 Current Button Pullers: 13-14 Conclusions: 15 Design Development: Final Design Overview: 17-18 Development: 19-35
Concept Development: 19-20, 28 Function: 21 Prototype Development: 22, 24, 27-32 User Feedback: 23, 25-26 Final Design Detail: 33-34 Technical Details: 35
Contents
Context and Background
Context
Background
Context: This project is focused on users with dexterity issues. Arthritis sufferers are affected by acute dexterity issues and often find that as their mobility and dexterity decreases, their reliance on aids increases. Fundamentally this project is about enabling people to retain a high level of independence in one of the most basic of everyday tasks, doing up a button.
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Background
14 Million Grandparents
10 Million Disabled 11 Million Children
9 Million Hearing Impairment
8.5 Million Arthritis .
1 in 10 Left Handed
2 Million Visual Impairment .
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http://www.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/betterdesign2/why/why.html
Dexterity Functions
Pushing
There are 4 different types of gripping action associated with dexterity. Pushing actions: The simplest dexterity function is when the fingers or palm are used to exert forces without grasping. Pushing forces can be generated more comfortably if the surface allows for a neutral wrist position. (1) Pinch gripping: Well designed products can be operated with a loose grip, and both of these controls could be manipulated with alternative grips. (1)
Pinching
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http://www.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/betterdesign2/why/why.html
Dexterity Functions
Power Gripping
Power gripping: This type of grip is used for grasping handles and picking up objects such as mugs. This grip is most effective when the object is shaped such that the hand wraps completely around the object so that the contact area is maximised. The most difficult knobs to use are circular, have a hard surface and do not allow the whole hand to be used. (1)
Two-handed tasks: Many tasks with everyday products require the use of both hands at the same time. Increasing the complexity and difficulty of tasks. (1)
Two-Handed
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http://www.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/betterdesign2/why/why.html
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Project Partners
Arthritis Care Sharon Kilty Area Development Manager Arthritis Care South England SharonK@athritiscare.org.uk www.arthritiscare.org.uk
Age UK Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly Lucy Downing Day Centre Manager, Falmouth Day Care Centre email@ageukcornwall.org.uk
 www.ageukcornwall.org.uk
Occupation Therapy Department Royal Cornwall hospital Carolyn Meikle Clinical Specialist Hand Therapist Carolyn.Meikle@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk www.rcht.nhs.uk
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Research
Primary Research Age concern Day care centre 12/10/2011
For initial research we* visited the Age UK day centre on Killigrew St, Falmouth. The centre looks after elderly clients who live at home. Clients come in or are collected in the morning and are able to socialise, play bingo, have lunch, and get out of the house for a day. On the day that we visited there were around 20 clients. We spent some time talking to the clients about their day-to-day lives and struggles, as well as giving them a few challenges, such as making a paper aeroplane and writing their names on them, to assess their individual and general levels of dexterity.
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* Myself and Isabel carried out some initial research togther.
Primary Research Age concern Day care centre 12/10/2011
From speaking to the carers at the centre we were able to gain a few key insights into the clients daily problems. Barbara; “She couldn’t get her money in and out of her purse. All those movements you see. It’s a big. That’s a big thing for you to try and think about. “Buttons and zips are a big problem, you know, a lot of them get arthritis, so their joints sort of seize slightly, it is very fiddly for them.” One carer talks about the mugs with an integrated straw; “They look ugly. That’s the word, ugly. Ungainly”
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Primary Research Immersive 14/10/2011
A day with simulated arthritis. I spent a day with my hands bound to simulate the limited dexterity that arthritis sufferers have, whilst filming using a static camera, and a head-mounted camera to capture a 1st person view The tape limited my movement and small tasks became harder, and took longer. Small, everyday tasks like using my retractable pencil became almost impossible, and I found that I had to adapt the way that I did and used things to get around the limited mobility.
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Primary Research Immersive 14/10/2011
One of the oddest sensations was my inability to do and undo buttons. It took me 10 seconds to do up one large button. My lack of fine dextrous ability and pinch grip made the whole process much harder, and I had to completely change the way I did and un-did buttons.
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Primary Research Extracts from interview with Sharon Kilty, From Arthritis Care UK, 18/10/2011
Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care Sharon has suffered from arthritis since the age of 16. Her views echo much of what was said by the client and carers at the day centre. That aids are ugly, ungainly and off-putting. She also brought up an interesting point about the cost implications of requiring a variety of aids,
“Its endlessly expensive.”
Not only does Sharon suffer from arthritis herself, but she works with a large and broad spectrum of other arthritis sufferers, as well as others with physical disabilities.
Do you ever use any of the aids?
“I don’t use them because theyre crap. And also I don’t want to fill my life with aids, I’d like something that was, that could be made mainstream”
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Primary Research Extracts from interview with Sharon Kilty, From Arthritis Care UK, 18/10/2011
I mean. 101 uses for a button puller. If you’re a single young person going on a night out, do you really want to put that in your handbag
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Primary Research Current Button Pullers Good Grips £9.49
60mm The Good Grips button puller is the least ‘aidy’ button puller aesthetically. However, almost everyone it has been shown to has commented on the fact that it looks like, or is mistaken for, a potato peeler. It, as well as all other button pullers that I have found, is also large and cumbersome considering the functional wire end is only 60mm long. It doesn’t scream sex appeal, nor does it try to hide its use as an aid If anything, its trying to hide as a kitchen utensil.
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170mm (actual size)
Primary Research Current Button Pullers Button Puller or Zip Puller £3.69
55mm
210mm (actual size) The Button Puller or Zip Hook is relentlessly ‘aidy.’ The only way it could look more like an aid is if it had aid written on it. It is more unwieldy and cheap feeling than the Good Grips, but it does include a hook at one end to pull zips up. I think what both these, and other button pullers show, is a lack of design thought in the aid market, a lack of social and user considerations. These are seemingly not meant to be taken out with a user.
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Primary Research Conclusions
Conclusions: Current aids are definitely aids. They aren’t attractive or endearing, and are definitely engineered purely for function, rather than designed to provide real-world functionality that takes into consideration user compliance. The Button pullers currently available are all based on a generic wire loop and long handle shape, which appears overly designed and oversized for the task. As Sharon puts it,
“They’re ridiculous. They’re rubbish. And I mean, you know, I’ll pack my button puller and my sock putter-on-er and my etc, they’re hideous.” (2)
The real issue that has come out of the research is a way to provide users with the means to do and undo buttons on their own. But also to make the design discreet, quiet, and nothing like an aid.
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2
Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care UK
Design Development
Final Design Overview
Handle allows button puller to be attached to key rings.
Single piece, dual-durometer button puller. Stiff, rubberised handle provides grip and easy single-hand use. Flexible centre section allows easier button hooking and pulling.
Stiff end piece allows easy button hole threading.
Actual size
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Final Design Overview
Colour range provides choice, but most importantly discretion (grey) and easily visible colours (yellow and green) for visually impaired users. Sold in packs of 5 as well as singular items. 5-pack allows users to have a puller on different key rings, and replacements if any are lost or damaged.
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Concept Development Buttons
My initial design direction was to avoid an aid altogether and go straight to the button. The idea being, that if a simple, universal button could be designed that could aid the buttoning process, then an aid would become unnecessary. I made around 60 different sized and shaped buttons, all with different flicks to test out their functionality. However the more I looked into the feasibility of the buttons, the more it became apparent that, even if they got to a stage where they worked well, they just weren’t practical. How would you attach them? Would they already be on clothes? Would that then mean that they only got put on ‘aid clothing.’ Would they even work with small shirt buttons? These worries were confirmed by Sharon,
“The buttons are nice but they are an aid as well really and less practical than the key-ring sized button puller.” (2)
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Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care UK
Concept Development
The key-ring sized button puller came about after thinking that, if tradition button pullers are so ungainly and awkward to transport, what do you take with you everywhere that you never think about or mind carrying. By effectively hiding the button puller on a key ring, you can keep a similar level of functionality, but increase its usability and user compliance.
“After everything I said about not designing an aid I love the key sized button puller the most. The buttons are nice but they are an aid as well really and less practical than the button puller. Making it small enough to fit on a key ring is brilliant!!� (2)
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Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care UK
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Function
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Prototype Development
Through constant testing, prototyping, re-testing and re-prototyping I made over 60 different polypropylene button pullers. Each with a unique size and shape, each generation an evolution of the last. Every modification distilled the design further. Too small, too big, too long, too round, too much flex, not enough flex, etc. By working in polypropylene I could quickly and easily change designs, make small alterations and evaluate and refine real working prototypes relatively quickly.
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User testing Sharon Kilty 2/11/2011
The shapes and sizes varied in length, width and handle size. The idea was to not just mimic current button pullers, but find the most suitable shape for the material and handle size. Sharon found the button pullers easy to use, but did suggest some possible changes to try out, such as a more grippy handle, But she was really keen to keep the design as key sized as possible. Sharon helped to narrow the designs down to 5 different, but equally good shapes.
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Prototype Development
80mm
From initial testing with Sharon we were able to establish 5 shapes for further testing.
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Occupational Therapy Department Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro 14/11/2011
“So will they be firmer? Because they’re quite fine. We were just thinking that you need quite a fine pincer grip to handle it at all. It’s a good idea, a really good idea”
“Oh they’re good” “Very nice”
“Well you don’t have to hold it like a pinch, see. You can put your finger through it like that.”
“Yeah that’s good” “Brilliant!” “You still need a little bit of fiddle don’t you to get them through.” (3)
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(3)
Extracts from meeting with OT’s. 14/11/2011
“It’s the principle of needle thread then isn’t it. That you just make the hole system bigger.”
Occupational Therapy Department Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro 14/11/2011
“It might be useful, very often people are also visually impaired as well. So having a yellow or a green would help, as it’s the part that the eye can. Because if they’re a dull colour there’s no contrast between them and the background, so people with a visual impairment “And it’s quite discrete to use as well. It’s have difficulty to use it. “ not like having a great big thing with a handle fiddling around with your shirt.”
“Definitely”
“If it’s on your key ring, even if it is brightly coloured its not a problem so they wouldn’t guess what it was. “
“Its something that you wouldn’t guess what it is.”
(3)
Extracts from meeting with OT’s. 14/11/2011
“It might be good for surfers actually, when you get out of the water and your cold trying to get your buttons done up. Cold fingers. You could even make funky colours for the surfers.”
(3)
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Prototype Development
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Prototype Development
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Prototype Development
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Prototype Development
Following feedback from the post packs I developed the polypropylene prototypes into 3 dimensional rapid prototyped models. Each has a slightly different profile and size. The wire was used to mimic the wire found in traditional button pullers, however the wire used in these prototypes is too thick and stiff to really work properly. I also experimented with a sandwich design with a layer of polypropylene between 2 half handles. This worked really well, and shows the potential for a dual material button puller to be developed.
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Prototype Development
The final stage of prototype development was to have a single material puller (see photos) made to help finalise dimensions before going further with dual-material RP and injection moulding. The prototype worked surprisingly well, as the material gives enough flex to fit through a small button hole and hook a button effectively.
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Prototype Development
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Final Design Detail
Single piece, dual material design; This allows tailoring of the flexibility and rigidity throughout the design, enabling a flexible middle section and stiffer ends.
Whilst the flexible middle makes hooking and pulling buttons through holes easier.
The handle and pointed end are stiffer to make it easier to hold, grip and thread through a button hole.
Actual size
Cost; This is key to the whole design. The puller is designed to be injection moulded in a single piece, reducing material and manufacturing costs. It is also a very small item, and the low cost is designed to reflect this. 33
The button puller should cost no more than ÂŁ3 as a single unit, with a reduced price for packs of 5, of ÂŁ10 per pack. The multi pack is designed to allow users to simply and cheaply put a puller on several sets of keys, and have replacements if one is lost of damaged.
Final Design Detail
Colours; The yellow and green colours are specifically designed to allow users with impaired vision to use the product more effectively. Yellow and green are the most consistently visible colours for the visually impaired. The grey coloured puller is designed to be the most discreet puller possible. It is designed to go on a key ring and be the least obvious
puller, reducing the likelihood of others recognising a users reliance on an aid. Blue and red are simply to give more choice and variety, whilst also providing a product that isn’t solely about a disability, but about a simple, useful item. 34
Technical Drawings
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18.18 D
0.98
1.86
D
11.21
.0 14 R
3.00
11.61
0
16.28
2.49
R 11.00 3.00
30.00
C
R 0.10
34.32
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50.86
35.29
80.23
R 7.00
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12.94
R 0.10
2.21
1.54
1.39 2.98
A
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5
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Dimensions Scale mm 1:1 Key Ring Sized Button Puller Sheet Date 1 of 1 21.03.2012 1
A
Final Design
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Primary Occupational Therapy Department Truro. 16/01/2012
There is general agreement with the concept of pocket or handbag size with a through-finger pulling action. There were several suggestions that the final version should be slightly more sturdy & round edged. Carolyn Meikle Clinical Specialist Hand Therapist Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro.
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Primary Julie Beard, Occupational Therapist Truro. 14/11/2011
Extracts from meeting with Julie Beard. “Had you had a chat with any of the OT’s that work with rheumatology patients?” “I don’t think I’m going to be able to help your really. I think it’s a good idea. “
“Look at it more generically, rather than a specific diagnostic group. You might want to speak to an occupational therapist on phoenix ward called Elizabeth Tremain. Who works with people who have had stroke and head injuries.” “Another person you might want to talk to, at Mary Terese House, at St Michaels hospital may well be able to help you trial it between a broad range of people.“ “It doesn’t always depend on the device itself. It depends on, as you know with arthritic people, The range of movement, the power, pain, cognitive ability to understand the concept, so all those sorts of things will implicate how well something works really.” “Because buttons are always a problem. Just that even with a device like you’ve got. Even the hand eye co-ordination to get it though the button hole and locate the button and get it round it is quite a difficult process in it’s self.” “But as you see here, even that grasp to just do it is sometimes difficult because buttons are hard.” Try: “Even just a residential home. The occupational health wards at Camborne and Redruth hospital”
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Primary Occupation Therapists, Knowledge Spa, Truro. 14/11/2011
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Primary Occupation Therapists, Knowledge Spa, Truro. 14/11/2011
They all liked the idea of keeping it as small and discreet as possible. “It might be useful, very often people are also visually impaired as well. So having a yellow or a green would help, as it’s the part that the eye can see. Because if they’re a dull colour there’s no contrast between them and the background, so people with a visual impairment have difficulty seeing it. “ “It’s something that you wouldn’t guess what it is.” “Definitely” “If it’s on your key ring, even if it is brightly coloured it’s not a problem so they wouldn’t guess what it was. “ “And it’s quite discrete to use as well. It’s not like having a great big thing with a handle fiddling around with your shirt.” “Everybody will want one.” “It might be good for surfers actually, when you get out of the water and your cold trying to get your buttons done up. Cold fingers. You could even make funky colours for the surfers.”
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Primary Occupation Therapists, Knowledge Spa, Truro. 14/11/2011
That you just make the hole system bigger.” “I think your going to have to make them quite a lot stronger as well, because I imagine if someone was pulling.” “So will they be firmer? Because they’re quite fine. We were just thinking that you need quite a fine pincer grip to handle it at all. It’s a good idea, a really good idea” Add more contours and curves.
Durability: “Although that’s nice and cheap. It’s a bit like the idea of the needle threader, so that you could have it really cheap, as in disposable.” “I think it’s probably going to be for someone with acute long-term disabilities.” “The rheumatoid team might be interested to take them back to try them out”
Rheumatology and Hand have taken 5 each to ask patients what they think. Feedback through email, form or online. What gave you the inspiration to make that? “Who did you know that had one?”
Impressed with user research.
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Primary Occupation Therapists, Knowledge Spa, Truro. 14/11/2011
Extracts from meeting with OT’s. 14/11/2011 “It’s like being in dragons den. I’m quite impressed, I might invest already.” “Brilliant!” “Very nice” “Oh they’re good” “Are you going to do them in colours.” “They are quite flat at the moment rather than rounded.” “You still need a little bit of fiddle don’t you to get them through.” “Yeah but” “The problem is then undoing ones buttons” “So would it be that size then.” “Well you don’t have to hold it like a pinch, see. You can put your finger through it like that.” “Yeah that’s good” “There is a bit of pinch activity as you.” “Keying is a good idea too.”
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Primary Post Packs
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Primary Post Packs
The post packs provide a way to get the largest and broadest possible spectrum of feedback. Anyone can request a pack from a link on the Arthritis Care website. The pack is posted to them. They try the button pullers for two weeks, send off the feedback, and continue using the button pullers.
Each pack contains: • 5 button pullers • Feedback form • Information on project and pullers. • Email contact for feedback • Address for online feedback • Stamped addressed envelope to post back feedback form
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 02/11/2011
I think maybe the ring needs to be slightly more substantial. It need to be robust enough that it’s not going to break. Slightly grippy surface on the grip would be quite nice. The other people I thought might be worth speaking to is the eczema society. Because a lot of young people get eczema on their hands and they get problems. Also Raynaud’s. There’s a Raynaud’s society, they might be worth contacting.
I think maybe slightly. Yeah. Maybe very slightly thicker and smoothed around the edges. But that’s just fine details really. But yeah something a little bit thick. But then you don’t want it too thick. Because I think putting it on keys definitely a really good idea. And some nice colours would be good. Because then it’s something you could buy for your Gran to go on her keys as well as young. It kind of meets all criteria then really.
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 02/11/2011
Post Packs: What I could do in fact. I’ll need to discuss it with my boss. But I don’t think it will be a problem, we can actually put a bit on the website and say. Do you have dexterity problems, would you like to try a new button puller? And get people to hit it and sign up. I don’t see that that should be a problem at all. I’ll speak to my boss, and if she says yes, I’ll get Susanne Salmon, who’s now our web manager to liaise with you directly. and then she could create an online form for you that people would have to sign before they get their packs. We’ve got a young peoples project. So I’ve got people under 21. And I think quite a few of them. If the worst comes to the worst. We’ll take some packs to the next young peoples project group. I could just send Jo a few packs and she can just get the students to try them out, and get some feedback. If that’s the only way we can get around it.
That is fantastic. The OT’s are going to love those. They are great. It’s just so simple, that’s what I like about it.
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 02/11/2011
I suppose the problem with slightly smaller ones is then you have to manipulate them over the button a bit more. I quite like that though. Ooh you’ve done loads.
It’s a great. I like the principle. And they are so much nicer than those bloody great big things. It’s just. What I liked about it was the thought that I could have it on my key ring. So that I might have one of those really big stupid ones at home by the side of the bed for when I get dressed everyday. But if I’m out and about and a button comes undone I’ve generally got my keys with me so I’d always have a way to be able to be able to do my buttons when I’m out and about. I like that one a lot, particularly. Because it’s got that slightly bigger opening to get the button in. That one works really well actually. I think for me the key is if it’s going to go on my key ring you don’t want it to be too long. In a sense it wouldn’t matter how big this end was, or how bulky this end was. Keep the flexibility. I like the shape of that one. It’s kind of a friendly shape.
I like them. They’re brilliant. I really really like them.
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 02/11/2011
Buttons: I still think they’re really cute though. The thing is though, it’s only going to really suit the cardigan that you. I mean obviously. I mean it’s quite a nice idea really. I don’t know how feasible it is. It will make it easier definitely. The other thing is your always going to get, it’s like trying to sell that to a clothes company, and then you have to. If they won’t normally integrate them into their clothing your then back to the position where I’ve got to buy them and get someone to sew them on. But yeah, it works quite well. It’s a good idea in principle. Whether it will work in reality is another issue.
Button Pullers: So they work by putting that. So it’s got to big enough to, and strong enough. No that’s actually pretty good. That works quite well. Even on a big button. So that’s not too bad. Getting it out again I guess you’d just have to do by hand really. But that’s not usually the problem undoing.
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 18/10/2011
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 18/10/2011
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 18/10/2011
I went to a disability show earlier this year and they had long handled brooms and dustpans and they were really funky and everyone was buying them. And this is the key I think, it’s got to be something that everybody wants in their cupboard.
I mean . 101 uses for a button puller. If you’re a single young person going on a night out, do you really want to put that in your handbag. And arthritis is something that effects people from the age of 6 months, you know. And I work with a lot of young arthritis sufferers. I work with a lot of teenagers, a lot of students who are at university, young men and women who don’t want any of that stuff. You can imagine going to university and you don’t want to take your kettle holder so that you can pour your cup of tea. You really don’t want that, and I won’t allow it in my house, I wont. It’s that kind of thing, I can’t get that over strongly enough.
That’s the other key, designing something that’s not too expensive. It’s just endlessly expensive.
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Primary Sharon Kilty, Arthritis Care, 18/10/2011
Extracts from interview with Sharon Kilty, from Arthritis Care UK, 18/10/2011
Do you ever use any of the aids, like button pullers, or anything thing like that?
I don’t use them because they’re crap. And also I don’t want to fill my life with aids, I’d like something that was, that could be made mainstream, Because you can’t take it with you everywhere so what’s the point in having it in the first place. Because it actually stops you from trying to use those muscles or that position, so then you lose that skill even more. So, you hang onto it in whatever ridiculous form you can really. They are aren’t they? They are hideous. (aids)
I found the button pullers quite strange... The button pullers, they’re ridiculous. They’re rubbish. And I mean, you know, I’ll pack my button puller and my sock putter-on-er and my you know, they’re hideous. So no I wouldn’t use them.
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Primary Immersive 13/10/2011
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Primary Immersive, 13/10/2011
A day with simulated arthritis. I spent a day with my hands bound to simulate the limited dexterity that arthritis sufferers have, whilst recording my struggles using a static camera, and a head-mounted camera to capture a 1st person view . The tape limited my movement and small tasks became harder, and took longer. Small, everyday tasks like using my retractable pencil became almost impossible, and I found that I had to adapt the way that I did and used things to get around my limited mobility. One of the oddest sensations was my inability to do and undo buttons. It took me 10seconds to do up one large button. My lack of fine dextrous ability and pinch grip made the whole process much harder, and I had to completely change the way I did and un-did buttons. The day gave some useful insights. Most importantly the loss of pinch grip that we use so much in daily life without realising, began to affect a vast number of different activities. It was my fine dextrous ability that I struggled with the most. Making simple tasks like tying a shoe lace extremely difficult.
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Primary Age UK Day Care Centre
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Primary Age UK Day Care Centre
There is an Age Uk Day Care Centre in Falmouth that has a daily client group of around 20 elderly people. The Centre provides a place to socialise, have lunch, play games, and get out of the house for many people unable to do so on their own. On the day that we visited there were around 20 clients. We spent some time talking to the clients about their day-to-day lives and struggles, as well as giving them a few challenges, such as making a paper aeroplane and writing their names on them, to assess their individual and general levels of dexterity. From speaking to the carers at the centre we were able to gain a few key insights into the clients daily problems. Barbara; “she couldn’t get her money in and out of her purse. All those movements you see. It’s a big. That’s a big thing for you to try and think about.” “Buttons and zips are a big problem, you know, a lot of them get arthritis, so their joints sort of seize slightly, it is very fiddly for them.” One carer talks about the mugs with an integrated straw; “They look ugly. That’s the word, ugly. Ungainly”
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Primary Cornwall mobility centre
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Primary Cornwall mobility centre
The Cornwall mobility centre was a useful initial research trip. It gave an insight into the type of aids and aid-products available. The centre is more focused on physical mobility, i.e. wheelchairs, car fitting etc. There were a few interesting items designed for those with limited mobility and dexterity. The seatbelt puller was particularly interesting as it was both expensive (ÂŁ12) for what it was, and hard to work out what it was. The other items of interest were the handle designed to help people get out of cars, and the retro-fitable wheelchair arms, designed to provide a more efficient and comfortable way of propelling a standard wheel chair.
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Primary
(9)
Resources Helen Hamlyn centre
The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art undertakes design research and projects with industry that will contribute to improving people’s lives. (9) The design collaborations on the website that provide information on past design projects focusing on users with dexterity issues and disabilities are particularly interesting. The Lugga shopping handle and inclusive saucepan are particularly interesting as they show a simple understanding of the problem, and provide a simple, well designed solution. The saucepan handle is designed to allow it to rest under a users wrist to support some of its weight.
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www.hhc.rca.ac.uk
Resources Enabled By Design
“Enabled by Design is a social business run on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of its community. It’s all about people-powered products and services: Enabled by Design is a community of people passionate about Design for All. We believe that good design can support people to live as independently as possible, by helping to make day-today tasks that little bit easier.” (8) Enabled by Design provides a good insight into the type of products and aids that people really use, like to use, and dislike using. It’s very different in terms of style and concept to most other disability resources, in that it is much more about providing help through good, well designed items, rather than the usual aids.
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(8)
www.enabledbydesign.org/
Groups and Organisations
Contact www.arthritisresearchuk.org Copeman House, St Mary’s Gate
Chesterfield, Derbyshire Arthritis Research UK is the charity leading the fight against arthritis. S41 7TD “We’re working to take the pain away for sufferers of all forms of United Kingdom arthritis and helping people to remain active. We’ll do this by funding high class research, providing information and campaigning. Everything we do is underpinned by research.”(5)
+44 (0) 300 790 0400 enquiries@arthritisresearchuk.org
www.cornwallmobilitycentre.co.uk Cornwall Mobility Centre Tehidy House Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro TR1 3LJ 01872 254920 enquiries@cornwallmobilitycentre.co.uk
One of the largest Mobility Centre’s with the biggest range of services within the UK Forum of Mobility Centres. The services offered encompass assessments, information and advice for paediatric mobility and transportation, daily living equipment, driving and wheelchairs, all of which are carried out by professional staff. (6)
www.rcht.nhs.uk/ Occupational Therapy Department Royal Cornwall Hospital
Occupational therapists play an important role in preparing patients for, and facilitating a safe discharge from hospital.
Truro Their aim is to enable patients to lead full and satisfying lives TR1 3LJ as independently as possible. Occupational therapists carry out assessments and rehabilitation that focus on functional activities. (7)
01872 252601/2885 Sue.Littler@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk
(5) http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/about_us.aspx (6) http://www.cornwallmobilitycentre.co.uk/ (7) http://www.rcht.nhs.uk/RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust/OurServices/AZServices/O/OccupationalTherapy/OccupationalTherapy%20.aspx
8
Groups and Organisations
Contact Arthritis Care: “We’re a national organisation; basically were a user led organisation. A lot of us who are members of staff are also users our selves, including our chief executive. And basically our job is to provide information and to support people so that they can get the best out of their lives with arthritis. Because a lot of people don’t understand the disease, and a lot of people don’t understand what they are entitled to. We teach people how to live with it, rather than let it dominate your life.(2) The Age UK Group works to improve later life for everyone by providing life-enhancing services and vital support. (3) There is an Age Uk Day Care Centre in Falmouth that has a daily client group of around 20 elderly people. The Centre provides a place to socialise, have lunch, play games, and get out of the house for many people unable to do so on their own.
www.arthritiscare.org.uk Arthritis Care South England Regional Office First Floor 18 Stephenson Way London NW1 2HD 0844 888 2111
www.ageuk.org.uk Age UK Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly Lucy Downing Day Centre Manager, Falmouth Day Care Centre 0800 169 8787 email@ageukcornwall.org.uk
www.disabilitycornwall.org.uk
Disability Cornwall is a user led, disabled peoples’ organisation. They provide a range of services to empower, assist and facilitate independent living and when necessary, act as a representative voice for disabled people, their families and carers. (4)
Units 1G & H Guildford Road Industrial Estate, Guildford Road, Hayle, Cornwall. TR27 4QZ 01736 756655 info@disabilitycornwall.org.uk
7
(4)
2 Sharon Kilty, From Arthritis Care UK (3) http://www.ageuk.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/ http://www.disabilitycornwall.org.uk/index.php?template=disability_cornwall_default
60mm
Aids and Products Button Pullers
Oxo Good Grips Button Hook http://www.oxo.com/ Oxo Good Grips range provides the best-designed button pullers and universal products currently available. Their items are simply much less aidy, and would not look out of place in any home. The Button Hook is widely available, but is one of the most expensive button pullers at around ÂŁ10. 170mm (actual size)
A common complaint and observation is its similarity to a potato peeler. (see below)
6
Aids and Products Button Pullers
The Button Puller (or Zip Hook) is relentlessly ‘aidy.’ The only way it could look more like an aid is if it had aid written on it. . The average price is between £4-£10, and there is a very limited range of colours and styles. What button pullers show is a lack of design thought in the aid market, a lack of social and user considerations. These are seemingly not meant to be taken out with a user.
All button pullers available have some form of large, ergonomic handle and a small wire ‘hook’ or ‘puller’ which is used to pull the button through the hole.
5
Aids and Products Assorted Dexterity Aids
4
Aids and Products Assorted Dexterity Aids
3
Dexterity and Arthritis Arthritis
What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the UK, affecting an estimated 8.5 million people. In people affected by osteoarthritis the cartilage between their bones gradually degenerates, leading to painful rubbing of bone on bone in the joints. The most frequently affected joints are in the: • hands • spine • knees • hips Osteoarthritis often develops in people who are over 50. However, it can develop at any age as a result of an injury or another joint-related condition. The cause of osteoarthritis is not fully understood. One theory is that some people are genetically predisposed to developing osteoarthritis. However, this theory has not yet been proven. What is rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe, but less common form of arthritis. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the affected joints, causing pain and swelling. This can lead to a reduction in movement and the breakdown of bone and cartilage. In the UK, rheumatoid arthritis affects around 400,000 people, and it often starts between 40 and 50. Women are three times more likely to be affected by the condition than men. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a fault in the immune system that makes the body attack its own tissues. The fault may be inherited genetically. (1)
(1)
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Arthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
2
Dexterity and Arthritis Arthritis
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation (swelling) of the joints and bones. The main symptoms of arthritis include: • pain • stiffness • restricted movements of the joints • inflammation and swelling • warmth and redness of the skin over the joint In the UK, arthritis is a very common condition, affecting over 9 million people. The most common forms of arthritis are: • osteoarthritis • rheumatoid arthritis
(a)
1
(a)
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis_information/what_is_arthritis.aspx
Secondary
Secondary Dexterity and Arthritis: 1-2 Aids and Products: 3-6 Groups and Organisations: 7-8 Resources: 9-10 Primary Cornwall Mobility Centre: 13-14 Age UK Day Centre: 15-16 Immersive: 17-18 Sharon Kilty, Athritis Care. Meeting 1: 19-22 Sharon Kilty, Athritis Care, Meeting 2; 23-26 Post Packs: 27-28 Occupational Therapy, Truro Hospital: 29-34
Contents
The Keyring Sized Button Puller* Alexander Loudon
Research Report *And they say size doesn’t matter.