Empathik: encourage the mobility of senior population

EmpathiK:

Encouraged mobility for senior population

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Designer Biology

Vivian is coming from the industrial base country Taiwan, and always passion about design benefited products for user.

She is enthusiastic with take challenge and attempt to achieve the best of every project, undertake every opportunity for learning new technology and skill to support her design encounter.

During the oversea studies experience that enhancing her knowledge as independent designer to resolve different design task.

Vivian is looking forward to design for the disregarding and expending her design knowledge with diverse professional studies.

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Table of Content

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Immersion

Intervention

Project Outline 7-11 Research 12 -15

Concept Development 44-65 Concept Refinement 66-73 Detail Development: Frame Dimension 74-79 Handle Detail 80-85 Leg Joining 86-91 Braking Systems 92-95 Wheel Brake 96-97 Front Wheel Axle 98-99 CNC Foam Mockup 100-101

Exploration

Demonstration

Observation 16-21 Social Understand 22-27 Analyze 28-31 Focus Groups 32-33 Ergonomic 34-43

Modeling 102-107 Bag Design Development 108-121 Bag Material 122-123 Final Bag Design 124-127 Final Prototype 128-131 Project Overview 132-133 Project Reflection 134-135

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Introduction

Due to the rapidly growing population and of the great advances in medical technology, people are living longer and healthier than ever before, but they still cannot resist from aging.

The aging body stops them going out and get into society; they lost connection to the public and friends, which is coursing the loneliness emotion.

The project aim will be encouraging the active behavior for elderly, by motivated senior citizens going out more often to increase the frequency of regular exercise for elderly.

The approach of this project is to improve the outdoor experience for senior citizen in order to encourage them going out more often.

ProjectOutline

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Project Abstract Increasing mobility access for senior population

The approach of the design is to help senior citizens to stay engaged with society, as well as keeping them active in order to maintain their physical state. The project aims to make the product the bridge between users and public which connect seniors with their family and friends as to prevent elderly suffering from loneliness and lost solicitude.

The project design aiming is to create a longevity and sustainable product that could be used for senior groups in different aging conditions.

The initial idea is to create a shopping trolley that could be maintain its functions as a trolley while the user still have good mobile ability, as they get older and start to lost some level of mobility, and required some

walking assistance device, they could transfer the product into a walker.

The concept is to provide a growing product that can adopt people in different ages and conditions, which extend the usage of the product and also increasing the mobility of the senior groups.

Senior could easily adapt into the product and without feeling embarrassed in the public.

By giving more agencies to the senior user, this product will be viable in enhancing their developmental abilities and independence through their usage.

ProjectOutline

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Problem Identified

In the stage of aging, people will gradually lost their capability of mobile, firstly with toddle steps, and then go into walking aid required, finally end up with assistant needed and then they will start to reduce the outdoor activities.

When the senior people start to lost the autonomy of mobility, they may lost the chances to connect to the public and their network start to shrink, they lost connection with friends and families, and will coursing the depression and psychical health disease.

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ProjectOutline

Approaching Quality & Longer living

Active

In Touch

Motivate

The project will aim for increasing the mobility of the senior citizen and also extending their social activities, so they could stay engaged with the society or community and get in touch with the public, to reduce the loneness of the senior life.

ProjectOutline

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Patrician Moore(1985)

Patrician Moore(1985) immersive experience provided a new aspect of understanding the user, not just through ethnographic, but by experience what the user felt on their everyday life.

“Elderly are not patient, they are peoples and they deserve autonomy of self they want to have choices, so they could taking control of themselves that’s what designers do, create choice to people�

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The value of disguised as an elderly is extending and detail of understanding their nature experiment and everyday practice.

This methods of simulate scenario is giving the design the range of empathic model that open to designer, that they can take into their product. By insight the elderly everyday life, the design can be more realistic and feasible to project approach. The practice is create the interactive between elderly user and designer, so the designer can mapping up the actual need and concern of being elderly, and bring up a better solution for them.

Active Ageing: a policy framework

Active ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. It applies to both individuals and population groups.

Active ageing allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well-being throughout the life course and to participate in society, while providing them with adequate protection, security and care when they need.

The word “active” refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs, not just the ability to be physically active or to participate in the labor force. Older people who retire from work, ill or live with disabilities can remain active

contributors to their families, peers, communities and nations.

Active ageing aims to extend healthy life expectancy and quality of life for all people as they age.

“Health” refers to physical, mental and social wellbeing as expressed in the WHO definition of health.

Maintaining autonomy and independence for the older people is a key goal in the policy framework for active ageing. from: WTO-Active Ageing: A Policy Framework in 2002

The idea is to maintain the senior citizen’s participation to the public which is not only make them active in the mobility but also increasing the social interaction of the elderly population, so they will always felt that they are part of the party, and maintaining both their mental and body health.

Research

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“I enjoyed the process of shopping, it’s kind of give me an excuse to get out and meet with my family and friends”

male, 75, marriage, retired, living with partner

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Frequent Shopping Increases Survival in the Older Generation in Taiwan Frequent shopping increases survival

in the older generation in Taiwan

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The research done by NAHSIT( National Health Research Institutes Taiwan) selected 1841 elderly in Taiwan, age above 65 years old, to see how the shopping behavior could influence their surviving rate.

The research shows that the male senior citizen who “shopping everyday” were 27% less likely to die compared the others who go shopping “ once a week”and the result also shows on female elder population, the female daily shoppers were 23 percent less likely to die.

In addition, the shopping activities does not

Hazard ratio (death)

Male 1 Female

0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2

never or less than once

once

2-4times

everyday

Shopping frequency (week)

effect by the financial statement of elderly.

The shopping activities not only encourage the motivation of elderly living but also keep their social network maintain running, during the process of shopping they could brainstorming and communicate with others, which is offering the chance to in touch with society without loneliness.

Research

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Observation

Camera Journals old-old which they recommend to have a trolley or walker with them. However, female senior group tend to be more relied on the walking aid compared to male senior groups,

According the observation, seniors preferring the nearby cafĂŠ where they could catch up with their friends or rest. Big mall that have multiple benches is also their choices of outing. The regular time for senior to have outdoor activities is around 8am to 3pm, as the time are normally when people are at work or in school which proved that they are try to avoid the crowds.

The cameral journal is the initial step of understanding the users, with the basic understands the audience, which is able to narrow down with indepth interview to get extended information.

Ethnographic is a primary part of the design process, because the majority of this project is to help improve the life of elderly, it is important that to understand the user first. By investigate the item that senior carry or the place they go are able to understand their life styles and behavior.

The street observation is helps to investigate the senior life in the realty, by study senior groups in their daily routing.

Due to aging, senior start to lose their body strength, while them going out, they tend to reduce the carriage or they will carry trolley if they are planning to do some big shopping.

For the young-old group, it’s adequate for them to walk around with a carry bag, but it might be struggling for

Observation

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“If I got a big shopping, I will tend to bring my personal trolley to shopping”

female, 71, marriage, retired, live with partner

“Sometimes the trolley is hard to control, it just not turning the way I want it to be” female, 71, marriage, retired, live with partner

“I will defiantly take the trolley, cause everything is heavy”

female, 80, marriage, retired, living with partner

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IKEA Shopping Trolley

The market competitor which is Ikea’s shopping trolley, that different to the market trolley which is bulky and hard to control. The Ikea trolley is designed in the way that is compact and simple, however it’s only suitable for medium size shopping, which is already enough for a single shopping trip for elderly.

The trolley design is dematerialize and also light weight, but the storage size could still afford common amount grocery shopping, which will be worth to take into consideration for the project development.

Observation

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“I don’t use shopping trolley because it is just too bulky for moving around, and we don’t required that much goods as well” female, 76, marriage, retired, living with partner

“ I prefer hand carry green bags when I go for shopping, because it is handy and simple for me”

female, 76, marriage, retired, living with partner

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Packing and Storage

The packing and storage are the role of play for senior outdoor activities.

Senior groups are conscious about environment problem, they tended to reused or recycled the plastic bags and bringing their own bag to shopping. Elderly people are willing to do those little things to improve the environment. They will use their own shopping bags and try to make the most out of it.

After elderly’s shopping trip, they tended to repack their purchased to organize their cargo “in orders”. This seems to be a potential problem that worth in-depth investigation.

In order to improve elderly’s shopping experience, the cargo attached should be able to provide senior user better storage systems, which they don’t need to repack their purchased after every shopping trip.

Observation

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“I like the people, I like the social interactions. I like talking to strangers that’s never been a problem� female, 66, marriage, retired but baby-sits

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Five Clusters of Senior Shopping Attitude

Shufeldt et al. (1998) used a convenience sample of senior citizens 65 and older to identify five clusters based on their lifestyles and examined the relationships between the lifestyle segments and the factors that influence the purchase of over-the-counter drugs. The five clusters are: “Family-oriented” characterized by enjoyment of time with families and friends “Young and secure” active attendance in cultural/art event “Active retiree” active participation in political campaigns

According to Sherman, Elaine, Leon G. Schiffman, and Anil Mathur (2001) they defined that “Quiet introvert” tend to enjoyed shopping at shopping center, as they get the chance t get out and do something.

Sherman et al. (2001) also describes the so-called “New-Age Elderly” consumers, who tend to be more optimistic about their financial situations, in contrast, older New-age women (as compared to older men) seem to be more priceconscious and responsive to retail specials and incentives, as well as more adventurous. They also generally possess more market-relevant knowledge in the form of shopping smarts.

“Self-reliant” work on community and volunteer projects “Quiet introvert” shopping at malls and shopping at new different places Social Understand

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“I don’t enjoyed the shopping process, it is just something to do, something you do, I only go shopping if I need to” male, 71, marriage, retired, live with partner

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“shopping is like work that I have to do, not something I enjoyed about it, because it’s a tiring job” female, 80, marriage, retired, living with partner

Mature Consumers’ Mall Shopping Behavior

They found that the lonelier the older consumers get, the more likely they are to go to malls for services such as hair salons, health care, or banking services, and to eat.

They also found that the loneliness among older consumers is also positively correlated with their propensity to seek diversion and recreation in the mall.

The studies by Mason, Smith(1974) and Lumpkin (1985), examine mature consumers, they found that, compared to other age groups, older people increasingly use malls as a venue for exercise and entertainment, and less as a way to make purchases.

They may also regard shopping malls as a place for social interactions. In particular, Kim, Youn-Kyung, Kang, and Kim (2005) investigated the relationship between loneliness and older consumers’ mall patronage motivations.

Social Understand

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“You only need your own trolley or shopping things if you don’t have a car, and you got to go home or further, to wheel home”

female, 80, marriage, retired, living with partner

“When you are older, if you are lucky to have the choice, for going where, if you got a car, you got a choice to go where ever you like. If you are older, and you don’t have a car, and you don’t have somebody to help you to carry, there is not much choice, and you got to go to the nearest place for shopping”

female, 80, marriage, retired, living with partner

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Seniors Store Preference

Goodwin and McElwee (1999) investigated the store attributes of seniors can be discriminated among 3 segments of mature consumers. “pre-retirement” those aged between 55 and 64 years ”young-old” those aged between 65 and 75 years “old” those aged from 75 to 84

Moye and Giddings (2002) examined the relationships between retail store attributes and retail approach-avoidance behavior of older apparel consumers (those aged 65 and over). They discovered that older consumers tend to spend more time and money in retail stores that offered credit, discounts for those 65 and over, and liberal return policies. They would not return to and would avoid looking around in retail stores without chairs or benches or with inferior products and poor business practices.

“close and easy parking” and “well-known brand names” are viewed as more important to the ”preretirement” group than to the other two older groups.

Social Understand

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High Tech Large

Public

Low Tech

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Analyze

Aesthetic

Benchmarking

Personal

To align the project position in the market, it is worth to look into the existing product in the market. In compared the similar product, which will helps to refine the product statement and also clarify the feature of the concept. By mapping out the existing product will provided innovation idea as well as practical acknowledge that assisted further design developments.

Target position

Small

Analyze

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Ergonomic comfort Portable Foldable

Weight

Size mobility

Aesthetic

Adjustable

Safety Storage

Benchmarking Ergonomic comfort Portable Foldable

Weight

Size mobility

Aesthetic

Adjustable

Safety Storage

My product origin

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Analyze

Opportunities Portable shopping bags The storage area can be a portable basket that easy to unpacked

Better and safer brakes Easy hold and control of the braking systems

Storage area One hand control Allows instance purchasing or Allow the user used their hand in personal belongs emergency or while needed light weight Easy to fold and transport Better reaching Eliminate the barrier form the Aesthetic resting seat Warm and organic shape avoid medical or industrial look of the Better uneven surface product performance Help with passing curb or gaps Change the stereotype of during the walk walker and with the attachable compartment allow Comfort position the user to have their own Reduce the shoulder pain from stylish rollators using walker for long times Stable walking Attached suspension or shock absolver to increase the stability of walking

Analyze

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Target Audience

The design concept is aiming for longevity usage as well as user could carry on within different aging process and continually provide support to the user.

According to the demographic of senior population shows that the young-old is constituted the most percentage of community, which is the perfect aging bend for this project with enormous market potential.

Age managementstaying fit & healthy, mental agility

Money management

Communitystay in touch

Productive use of free time-making the most of it

Over 50s’ wants needs and aspirations (Henley Centre, Planning for social change, 1996/97)

Focus Groups

oldest old 85+

25%

old old 75~84

70%

young old 64~74

Population of senior citizen in different age range

Fulfillment-age of self-realization

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5%

The project is approach to encourage the mobility of the potential aging groups, and be able to maintain the active attitude during their living, in order to extend their ability of mobility.

Target age range is the senior groups age from 64 to 74 years old which also known as the Baby Boomer generation.

This group of senior citizen is the potential aging groups who will sooner facing degenerating, which has multiple possibility of further design development.

Design Personas

Persona is fictional characters created to represent the different user types in the target demographic, attitude, and behavior set that potential of using the product in the similar way.

The qualitative personas are constructed to be representative of specific segments. Persona is useful in

considering the goals, desires, and limitations of users in order to guide decision of the product.

With basic study about product persona which simulate the potential market user is able to map out the user life style and behavior which helps to improve user-center design with better user experience.

Focus Groups

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The Measurments of Elderly

From Henry Dreyfuss “the measurement of man and woman” it research about the measurement of Americans age around 65 to 79.

The research shows that the large elderly man has lost 5% of his height, compared to when he was 20 years old.

The elderly man no longer has the growth advantage of 0.4” (10 mm) per decade, and his cartilage has shrunk, mostly throughout the spine. Also, posture among the aged has a more slumped character.

The small elderly woman has lost 6% of her height for the same reasons as the elderly man.

One-third of the total working population suffers from poorly corrected vision. This can be assumed to affect the elderly, in whom visual acuity will also have deteriorated as a result of the ageing process.

AGE % 20 100 40 90 60 74 80 47

Design considerations for elderly:

Source: Woodson 1981.

Other factors concerning the elderly include: 1. Hand strength is reduced about 16-40% 2. Arm strength is reduced about 50% 3. Legs strength is reduced about 50% 4. Air intake is reduced about 35% 5. Weight can increase 4.4 lb (2 kg) every 10 years

1. Avoid front rungs on chairs for elderly, because their legs move back to assist them in rising.

Armrests also give them hand support for rising.

2. Lower high-reach shelves 3” (76mm) 3. Raise low-reach shelves 3” (76mm) 4. Lower work tables 1.5” (38mm) Ergonomics

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Human Hand Anatomy

Improper design and usage causes hundreds of thousands of accidents and injuries annually in the U.S. the cumulative trauma, which causes injury from repetitive motion over months or years.

It can damage nerves, tendons, ligaments, and joints in the hand, wrist, or elbow.

This project is design for the age from young-old (65) till old-old (85+) which need considering the impending abused of product and try to avoid damage in usage.

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Ergonomics

Position of Wrist

Ideally, the wrist should be in the neutral position as shown in the diagrams. Other positions are called dorsiflexion and ulnar deviation cause the most damage.

The design is supposed to be used for long time which need to avoid the misuse that potentially resulting body damaged, the wrist posture required comfort and neutral position to provide user with comfortable and appropriate usage.

Ergonomics

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Ergonomics

Walker Testing

In order to get further understand of the user, it’s benefit to simulate the situation of using user experience. The experience for senior group to used walking aid is tiring and uncomfortable, due to the uneven walking surface, the walker is likely to wobbly and unstable that may damage user’s shoulder and elbow.

Due to both hands are holding on the rollator that walker user has limited action,

and is unable to place the purchase under the seat but on the seat. On the other hand, the walker is restricted the access area for user and is inconvenient for reaching goods and others.

With better understand of the user experience there are various problem that’s could be improved within better design solution which could enhanced senior user with quality and healthy living.

Ergonomics

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The walker in the market is designing for the user to walk with it, but how about their accompany?

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Portable with Other participator

The existing walker is not design in the purpose of pull or carries for non-user. As for user to move the rollator, they need to either walker with it or pull it, but the action of pulling is not relevant to carry, due to the wheel will run into each other and get jam which will stop moving.

Thinking of the scenario that participator are carrying the walker to the actual user, it’s create frustration to the

participator that the walker keep stop itself while they wheeling it.

On the other hand, the existing light frame walker, require a lot of bending movement on folding, which is difficult for the elderly to fold.

The challenge of the project is to design the mechanism that fold itself or fold without damage the spine and also compact enough to fit into the transportation storage.

Ergonomics

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Hand Grips Experiment

Walking

Stopping

Seating

The studies of the pressure point for the existing walking frame handle grips.

Unlock

Lock

Hard Tight Normal

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Ergonomics

Gestures Experiment

Seating Movement

Walking Movement Hard Tight

Understanding the ergonomic gesture and the body tension for using the walking frame.

Ergonomics

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Design Concept

young old 64~74

The project design is approached longevity and sustainable product that could be used for senior groups in different aging conditions.

The initial idea is to create a shopping trolley that could be manipulate as the normal trolley while the user still have robust body strength, as they get older and start to lost some level of mobility

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Concept

oldest old 85+

and required some walking assistance device, they could transfer the trolley into a walker.

The idea is to provide a growing product that can adopt people in different age and conditions, which extend the usage of the product and also increasing the mobility of the senior groups.

Element Arrangment

Wheel Handle

Storages

By arranging different possibility of product structure is able to ruminated innovation idea which can turn into potential designs.

Idea Generation

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Mockups

Initial Design and Mock-up

The original design is considering the basic function of walker in the market, and combined the existing elements into the design but enlarger the storage space.

seemswill The first mock-up is giving me a rough ideaHowever, of how theittrolley unnecessary for elderly to carry look like and also the appropriate life size.

The first mock-up is slightly too small the people, and also the that for much cargo, which need handle could be longer in order to fit the handdevelopment. properly. further

Mockups

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From Development

General idea of the basic form and could be taken into further concept develop.

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Idea Generation

Idea Generation

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Mockups

Mock-ups

The mock up is trying to simulated the sheet metal, that only have thin structural supporting the frame, different to other two, the model have 4 legs to increase the strength.

The model replicates one of the original concept, help to realize how the human fit into the design and the storage spaces.

This mock up is replicated the sketch and helps to understand the concept in scale and also indicated how the angle should be.

Mockups

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Concept Sketchs

2 Different Usage

Trolley

Walker

The original idea is included joining for the folding position, and also associate with plastic part into the design.

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Concept

position changing

assembling detail

Storage Area

Concept

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Compared male and female size, the trolley is a bit small for the male, but to high for female user. Overall, the model is a bit too high and the storage area still need to consider more about the size and how the handle bar could transforming to fit different position.

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Mockups

Mock-ups

This mock up helps investigated the appropriate position for human holding the trolley; the idea gesture is to be neutral, non-bending spin and straight arms..

Mockups

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2 Different Usage

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Concept

Concept Sketchs

folding motion

Design with basic frame structural in dynamic form and also simplified joining, which will have more strength, and also easy for manufacturing process.

position changing

Concept

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Storage Exploration Valuation of storage shape and arrangement to helps the overall form studies.

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Mockups

1 to 5 Mock up

The model helps exploring different storage from, and gets the idea of design in scale, due to the acutely human figure sizes.

Mockups

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Concept Sketchs

Frame Detail folding motion

Body make by plastic, have more freedom of the shape, could mold with metal tube to give it more support, the body could be hollow to reduce the weight, but also with build in structure to increase the strength.

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Concept

2 Different Usage

Trolley

Walker

The frame could be fold into plate to reduce the space in transportation, the leg can fold to fit into different situation in used.

folding motion

Concept

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Folding Motions

sail boom

bike hub

The concept is to allow the leg turn on two different angle and allowing the pull and push motion for carrying the trolley.

The joining could apply the quick-release on bicycle which could easily be adjusted, or the sail boom which is bigger and easy to lock or climb for elderly people whose hand lack of strength.

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Mechanism

The mechanism is allowing slide lock, which will be more stable which could apply more support to the user; the challenge will be the motion of lock and unlock how to offer an easy and safer for senior user.

Manufactory Process

Plastic Injection Gas-assisted molding Metal

Multishot Tube

Mandrel bending Ring rolling Hyproforming

Casting

Sand casting Die casting

In three different designs concepts are available in different manufacturing process which offered with different material applications.

The potential materials are plastic ABS and metal aluminium, ABS is broadly used in car bumper bar, which have excellent out-door performance as well as strength.

On the other hand, aluminium is light weight and with strong structures which is also a good way of making the model.

Manufactory Process

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Idea Generation

Sketches

Frame Valuation Exploring the same frame structural with different visual styles

Idea Generation

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PVC Tubing Mockups

PVC tubing is strong and structure that fit the requirement of the walking frame. Compared to the cardboard modeling, the PVC tube allowed more precise bending angle that could stand the human weight for further ergonomic development.

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Mockups

Shape Simulation

In order to understand design form sketches, the profiled model is translated the design foam into 3D that allow some detail refinement before moving forward.

Mockups

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Handle Bars

The handle of walker design is simulated the existing bicycle handle bar. For the purpose of supporting senior people walking, the handle bar design need to apply in lower level due to the senior ergonomic which is comfortable for elderly to hold.

Due to the fact that bike handle has been well developed; the challenge will be how to make the handle system fit into walker design and prevent the limited reaching for user.

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Mockups

Handle apply

Handle Design

The original concept is to allow handle to moves back and forward to fit different usages. The handle design is take the bicycle stem as inspiration that allows adjustable angle for different scenario which is similar to the project.

The mockup is trying to modify the existing bike stem mechanism that turns the design sketch into working prototypes.

Mockups

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Handel Design

Further development compared to the original joining, this design removed the industrial appearance of the bike stem with hidden joining that slide to place. The form is furthermore considered to the original design which goes with the frame body shapes.

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Mockups

Mockups

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Design Transition

In the frame body design is in fact exceeding without the handle on top, because the frame itself has the curve that could potentially become handle.

The handle area on the frame is allows various range of people to adopt into the form.

According to different range of user testing, the frame handle could adapt into human size from height 180 to 150 cm.

Mockups

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Foam Model

For better understand of the design form and ergonomic, foam modeling is a good material that allow complex and structure prototypes.

The first foam model is oversized with the diameter of 70 mm, which considering

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Mockups

the bicycle frame design, the minimal tube size is 25mm and still could support the human weight itself.

In summary, the frame diameter could be duplicated as the bike frame tube size around 25 to 55 mm.

Design Measurement

According to the measurement of human and the user ergonomic testing, the design is summarized into final size, that appropriate for 50% of female and 90% of man in overall senior population.

After various mockups and user testing, finally end up with the height that could fit most of population, and the width that is appropriate for people.

The size of the wheel base and dimension are decided in this stage that becomes the template for model development.

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Mockups

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Design Transition

After few more testing of the 1 to 1 mock up, the user claim that the handle angle need to be reduced. According to few users testing the appropriate angles shows that the angle needs to be narrow down to 90 degree which is close to the neutral relaxing position.

By several research around different users shows that even though they are in different high, their neutral hand gesture are around 100 cm off the ground, which made up the final hard point for the product dimensions.

narrow the handle angles to 90 degrees

Mockups

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Handle Design

The handle becomes parts of the frame, in consideration of user affordance about the product, the handle area is design to help user recognized as hand grip.

The design is aiming for senior user to hold on the handle part naturally without any instruction advised.

Holding handel detail mockups

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Mockups

Holding handel detail mockups

Mockups

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Pull Handle Design

The handle in the front is design for the purpose of trolley handle. Different to the other handle brake on the side, this part work as the non-slipping grip that helps the

user hold the trolley properly.

Considering the ergonomic of human hands, the shape was design to fit overage human hands.

Mockups

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Handle Detail Design

To get more idea about the ergonomic of design shape with several handle parts mockups.

Final design comes with hand grips that advice user to hold on it, the idea material will be rubber or silicon texture that helps with gripping.

Pull handel mockups

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Mockups

Mockups

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Leg Joining

The concept is allowing user to switch between trolley and walker depend on different stage of aging. In order to fit the position changing for trolley and walker, the leg attached required folding for shifting usage.

Folding motion

Mockups

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Joining Mockup

The joining mockups present two possible join that is able to apply into the product design.

Two different way of joining the folding leg, by making 2 different mock-ups, give the design 2 options.

One of them is single side joining which have even material on both frame and the leg, on the other hand.

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Mockups

The other is double side joining which work similar as the door hinges.

The single side joining is considering more aesthetic due to the thread only shows on one side. On the other hand, the double side joining will show on both sides. On the other hand, for the join part blends into the frame as well as the wheel connection on the part to prevent disruption during the walking direction.

Mockups

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CNC Foam Joining Model

The further developed join from mockups translate into CAD. In order to test before going into real material, this mockup is good for double-check the detail mechanism that goes into the final design.

The final leg attachment system is going to be double side with clamp insert. The clamp is design in the way that could hold the leg in place to fit different usage.

On the other hand, the clamp is locked by bike quick release which allow user to adjust into different position.

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Mockups

Mockups

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Handel Inner Braking Systems

Due to the dedication of the product handle that required special design for the hand brakes.

The original concept is by push the handle part to pull the inner brake cables to lock the wheel. However, after

mockup testing indicated that the length is not enough to stop the wheel from running.

After applied the CAD parts into 3d print model ended up with failing because of the tolerance and measurement is wrong.

Mechanism mockups

3D print model

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Mockups

Mockups

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Braking Systems

From the failure mockup which turns into the final braking system design.

The mechanism has 3 tilting point that extend the length for braking.

Testing mockup

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Mockups

Braking Systems Detail Development

The detail of the braking systems will duplicate the bike hand brake mechanism, which included the brake hock and the brake housing stopper.

Brake housing stopper

Brake holder

Braking movement

Mockups

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Wheel Brake

The brake connected to rear wheel in order to stop the walker from moving.

The mud guard installed in the rear wheel work as brake to stop wheel from turning, on both side of the mud guard axels has bearing to keep the brake turn smoothly.

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Mockups

Mockups

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Front Wheel Axle

The front wheel which support product frame and also function as turning axle, the front axle has two wheels on each side to reinforce the strength, due to all the weight is on the front wheel.

Front Wheel Mockup

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Mockups

Form studies

Mockups

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CNC Foam Mockups

Right before sending the CAD model to the manufacture company oversea, the CAD model need to checked the size and model fitting and mechanism is all good and functions.

The CNC foam is duplicate the original CAD detail and helps understand the ergonomic with user as well as surface error detail which couldn’t be recognized in computer.

Mockups

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Model Assembly

Due to the oversea shipping, the model was sliced into parts that able to fit into the packaging.

Part assembly

Fastener

To assembly all the part properly and make sure it is structure to hold human weight, which required proper glue.

The fastener is using epoxy glue which has long working time also longer setting and cure time. During the cure time that need to keep the parts in the stable place before its stick properly.

After fastener there are gaps between parts which need to be filled before spray paint.

Model fixed

Gap filling

Modelling

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Spray Paint Assembly

The model has been send to automotive painter, and ready to pick up after 3 days. For the selecting colours is metallic sky blue with deep metallic blue for contrast.

After the painting complete, the model could finally being assembly, however there are some parts need to finished.

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Part Assembly

The product is designed with OEM parts which preordered before production. All the parts are assembly after the manufacturing parts finished.

The OEM parts included bearings, screws wheel and quick release, some of the OEM parts required some modified which could fix the design well.

The quick-releases which are get form bike parts will need to alter the handle length in the fact of user ergonomic.

On the other hand the front wheel needs to be assembly and hold properly for the user steering.

Rear wheels are modified to fit the style of front wheel which were covered by vacuum forming disk for aesthetic point of view.

Modelling

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Mass Manufactory Process ABS plastic is the ideal material for constructing this product, and the potential manufactory process is using injection molding for mass production.

The design object has two different injection mold process due to the requirement of each parts.

For the major frame which has hollow profile design will make with “Gas Assist injection molding�.

The process of gas injection molding allows the hollow structure inside the plastic mold without making

the complex injection mold. The process could produce even wall thickness which strength the frame body.

The rest of plastic parts are using the basic injection molding to manufacturing. The compartments used in assembly the main plastic parts will used OEM parts to complete.

The product will be assembly before stock, besides the shopping bag attached which will be added on while consumer purchased.

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Bag Attachment Explorations Bag Design

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Bag Cardboard Mockups

After the market research of the purchased goods volumes for overage senior groups, the size comes down to this design mockup.

To coordinate the frame design, the bag attached has two levels that separate personal items and their purchased.

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Bag Design

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1 to 1 paper mockup

112 Bag Design

Pattern Refinement

The cardboard mockups helps refined and finalized the bag pattern, before goes into real fabric and sewing with presentable stitching, the bag required correct pattern with the sized, stitching line and pocket layout.

There are few form adjustment before transforming into pattern, the 1 to 1 mockups

helps correcting the ergonomic, which taking the walking motion into consideration, so the bag won’t obstruct user’s walking path.

On the other hands, the small 1 to 5 mockup is assisting the bag form studied, to balance the overall shapes.

1 to 5 paper mockup

Bag Design

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Bag Pattern Design

The flat pattern with thicker cardboard which had better visualization that closer to the final fabric bag design.

After the general pattern had been dedicated, the pattern could be developed into different fabric stitching and matching which bring more options to bag design detail.

Bag level joining

Bag opening

Pocket design

Open motion

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Usage

Flat pattern

Bag Design

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Fabric Bag Mockup

After the pattern has set, the design comes down to mixed fabric pattern and stitching design.

senior user, however the bag was deep, but user could easily de-attached the bag to unpacked the purchasing.

The first fabric bag mockup was made with pocket that could potentially insert flowers or umbrella.

The bag was attached to frame with Velcro belt on top and slide hook at the bottom to stop the bag swing during transportation.

Considering the obstruct body movement for

116 Bag Design

Bag Design

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118 Bag Design

Bag Detail Refinement

To make the bag structure more obvious, there are few more stitching paths being added onto the bag which made the bag stay in shape.

For aesthetic point of view, the edge has addition liner to hide the stitching line, however without professional sewing method, the liner just look unethical.

The finalized bag design has normal stitching without liner on the edge, but still could be further development with industrial sewing method.

Bag Design

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Bag Attachment Design

Different to the market shopping trolley, the product bag required special method to attach to the product frame.

To allow the user cleaning the bag attached required quick release systems insert on to the bag detail.

Because the user is senior groups, the process of fitting the bag also needs to avoid bending and squat.

Quick release system included Velcro belt and slid knob, the Velcro place around user’s waist which involved nonbending movement. To prevent bag from swinging during the transport, down the bottom of the frame has knob stick out to hold the bag in place, the bag also has a hollow cut which allow the knob slid in and locked.

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Bag Design

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Bag Material Choice

Cordura is a collection of fabrics used in a wide array of products including luggage, backpacks, pants, military wear and performance apparel.

Cordura fabrics are known for their durability and resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs.

The fabric samples are from oversea fabric manufacture that provides the fabric that similar to DuPont’s Cordura, which comes with various waving and colors.

Material Choice

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Black thick and rigid fabric

Blue light and flexible fabric

Final bag pattern design

124 Bag Design

Final Bag Design

Form previous bag mockups shows the possibility of pattern design, however the final design will mix two different of fabric to compound the bag design and clarified the correct way to assembled the products.

For the bag pattern that being designed in the previous mock-up, the front piece which have a structure shape and required certain level of stiffness, the black fabric seems consort to the pattern design.

The selecting waving and colour comes up the final pattern design, which corporate black and blue fabric. The black fabric is coating with wax which is thicker and heavier, it’s also have apparent surface texture.

The other selected fabric is blue with small waving texture as well as lighter and softer compared to the black fabric.

The other side if the bag which is against the user request particular fabric that flexible to allow extending of the bag for extra purchased, besides the bag could embrace user while they using the product to securer their body and belonged.

Blue light and flexible fabric

Black thick and rigid fabric

Bag Design

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Final Bag Design

Usage

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Bag detail

Bag Design

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Final Finishing Prototye

Walker mood

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Trolley mood

Folding movement

Bag usage

Final Model

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EmpathiK: Encouraged mobility for senior population

Empathik: is design in the way that work both as walker and trolley, senior citizen could adapt into this product while they are still able to walk around, however they could remain using the product as the assisting aids. The aids become more adequate for elderly people,besides the product usage will be extended too.

The concept of product adopting into people’s life is not only extended the product cycles which create sustainable product solution, but also

130 Project Overview

reduce the painfulness of user adopting into new products and be accepted sooner, nevertheless, is also encouraged the active living for senior citizens.

Empathik: has a feminine shape with light weight visual language which is different to the heavy industrialized form walker in the market. The design is welcoming user to use without embarrassing but enhancing senior citizen’s capability of mobility.

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walker part name

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walker part name

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Project Overview

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The bag attached on the product was specially designed to fit onto the frame body. Different to the shopping bag in the market, this bag allow user to disassembly for cleaning purpose. In additions, there will be no bending for user in installing the bag, which is benefiting the senior users.

Size of the bag is reasonable big for one of the senior shopping trip, and with the stiffness fabric constructing the bag, the bag will be durable and reasonable strong to hold their purchase good.

Project Overview

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Project Reflection

Empathik: is challenge the aesthetic of walking frame, the aim is to create innovative products that do not yet exist in the market.

necessary in the design domain which supports designers to create the insight about user, in order to construct the adequate product, system of service to consumer.

The challenge was to be able to develop a product that could be developed further in the future employing the use of mass manufacturing techniques and standards

The aim of the project was to develop a working prototype which could be manufactured in the future. In order to reach this goal, I have taken it upon myself develop the project as I believe to be a designer that possess qualitative skills and a strong understanding of the various aspects of design in order to do so.

As Patricia Moore’s idea of inclusive design, the empathic is Empathik: final prototype

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Throughout the project development, and numbers of failure prototype and user testing finally comes up with the partly working prototype.

However the outcome was not as good as I expected from the beginning of the project, but it could still become a potential design project.

I believe that completing this project elevated my capability as an emerging designer enabling me to appropriate these newly acquired skills in a real problem solving scenario

As the project reviews the learning path that I have achieved during the course, I am able to develop my own design methodology to react with different design challenges.

The use of innovative manufacturing technology has assisted with my ability to cooperate with multidisciplinary students and professionals. I learnt how to communicate not only with technicians but also the consumer.

With the commencement of my yearlong project, in my opinion the empathic has been developed to a near professional standard and can be seen as a visual representation of all the skills and knowledge I have acquired and developed throughout the year. It also ensure my passion about industrial design and graduate with the capability I’ve received from the studies path into professional area.

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Goodwin, David R. and Rachel E. McElwee (1999), “Grocery Shopping and an Aging Population: Research Note,” International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 9 (4), 403409.

Limanond, T. and D. Niemeier (2004). Effect of land use on decisions of shopping tour generation. Transportation, 31(2): 153–181. doi:10.1023/B:PORT.0000016578.21486.af.

Krizek, K. (2003). Neighborhood services, trip purpose, and tour-based travel. Transportation, 30(4): 387–410. doi:10.1023/A:1024768007730 Kim, Youn-Kyung, Jikyeong Kang, and Minsung Kim (2005), “The Relationships Among Family and Social interaction, Loneliness, Mall Shopping Motivation, and Mall Spending of Older Consumers,” Psychology and Marketing, Lumpkin, James R. (1985), “Shopping Orientation Segmentation of the Elderly Consumer,” Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,

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Moye, Letecia N. and Valerie L Giddings (2002), “An Examination of the Retail Approach-Avoidance Behavior of Older Apparel Consumers,” Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 6 (3), 259-276, Mason, John B., and Brooks E. Smith (1974). “An Exploratory Note on the Shopping Behavior of the Low Income Senior Citizen,” Journal of Consumer Affairs Shufeldt, Lois, Barara Oates, and Bobby Vaught (1998), “Is Lifestyle An Important Factor in the Purchase of OTC Drugs By the Elderly?”

Journal of Consumer Marketing, 15 (2), 111-124.

Sherman, Elaine, Leon G. Schiffman, and Anil Mathur (2001), “The Influence of Gender on the New-Age Elderly’s Consumption Orientation,” Psychology and Marketing, 18 (10), 1073-1089.

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