Elderly reflection

This are my answers.

What have you learnt?

I have learnt about the weaknesses of elderly and the design considerations of creating a product. This shows that we have to be considerate to elderly.

What are the difficulties encountered?

I could not do certain parts of the prototype and ended not doing them. It is difficult when using the pen knife and the glue.

How did you overcome the difficulties?

I did not do the part which I could not do and I tried my best in using the tools by being more patient and steady.

© Copyright by Priyanka Srikanth 22:10:01 October 17 2010

T3WK4 - Ergonomics (Product Description and Idea Trigger)

This product is a vegetable brush. It has hard bristles to brush off the dirt from the vegetables. It has a peeler on the side of the brush to peel the skins of the vegetables. It has a rough surface at the back of the brush to take out very hard, dirty things on the brushes. It has a hole at the end of the handle of the vegetable brush. It also has a digger to dig out the potato buds.

The design considerations are to peel the vegetables and clean the vegetables at the same time using the same product.

The elderly do not know how to store the product and so, the bristles of the brush fall off it.

There can be a cover which prevents dirt from falling in to the bristles of the brush.

Ergonomics ll

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?



The first is Safety. Safety is very important in Ergonomics because without it, the user may not know the danger behind the products.



The second is comfort. Comfort is part of Ergonomics because the user must be comfortable with the products to use them.



The third is Ease of Use. The user need to know how to use the products easily without getting themselves confused or frustrated.



The forth is performance. The product must maintain good performance or quality for long time.



The last is Aesthetics.

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



Safety
E.G. Medicine bottles — The font sizes could be enlarged for the visually, impaired people.



Comfort
E.G. Alarm clock display — Some of the displays on the alarm clock are very bright, giving discomfort to the user's eyes. Using Ergonomics, the alarm clock can dim automatically when the surrounding light is dimmed or dark.



Ease of Use
E.G Street Signs — In an unfamiliar area, it can be difficult to find street signs. We can make the signs more visible using the principles of ergonomics.



Productivity / Performance
E.G Office furniture/equipment — The use of ergonomically designed office furniture and equipment such as office chairs and computer input devices can reduce injuries at work and absences of employees.

Aesthetics
E.G Signs in the workplace — signs could be made more aesthetic by using a consistent format throughout the workplace.

The examples are taken from http://casestudy-itgs.wikispaces.com/Social+Impacts+-+Ergonomic

Ergonomics 1-Summary

Ergonomics is the science of designing the job equipment and workplace to fit the worker.

It is used in many ways and it is very important for working example it is used to give a suitable and comfortable environment for working or home.

A workplace should be comfortable and simple correct height and depth for the user, freedom of movement, prolonged laptop use, usable desk space.

It is the attempt to make work better that ergonomics becomes so useful. And that is also where making things comfortable and efficient comes into play.

Ergonomics is commonly thought of in terms of products. But it can be equally useful in the design of services or processes.

The above shows 2 different setup of a workplace.
1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.

The chairs are different as the first is uncomfortable and hunching, however, the second one is comfortable and straight, but can lean back with support and the keyboard is situated where the hands can comfortably move.
The computer screen is too far for number 1 and not adjustable, but the second can be moved forward to give magnification.
the lighting for the first is too bright but the second is a movable light that is not so blinding.
the first could not move freely in the limited amount of space but the second one , you can move freely and pull pack your chair, and adjust the handrails.
the first one has to bend down and is uncomfortable when using the laptop for a long time, however the second one can change the laptop screen higher and to eye level, and also us the key board at hand level.


Which workplace is preferred? The second one. State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.
The chairs are different as the first is uncomfortable and hunching, however, the second one is comfortable and straight, but can lean back with support and the keyboard is situated where the hands can comfortably move.the lighting is also too bright and can affect working for the first, the movement is also not free for the other and it is important as we need space to work comfortably for the first.The computer screen is not on the eye level and can affect working for the first one.


3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?the comfort and simplicity,incorrect height and depth,task lighting,freedom of movement, prolonged laptop use, usable desk space

4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?it is used to give a suitable and comfortable environment for working or home.

Ergonomics 1

Comfort and Simplicity

Bad: The back of the chair is not flexible. The user can not move back.
Good: The back of the "Liberty Chair" is flexible. The user can move back and forth.

Incorrect height and depth

Bad: The monitor is very far from the user and the user can not see the monitor clearly thus using his glasses and a magnifying glass to look at the monitor.
Good: The "M7 Monitor arm" is stretchable and can be pulled up to the user's comfortable height and depth and can be pushed back.

Task Lighting

Bad: The user uses two lights and he can not adjust the lighting as the lid of the lighting is hot. He uses a pair of goggles to avoid the strong light.
Good: The user uses the "diffrient light" which can be adjusted and it is not hot.

Freedom of movement

Bad: The user uses a chair which arms are too high and thus when drinking his cup of coffee, the arm gets loose, pulling him down. He lacks freedom of movement and couldn't move much to his comfort.
Good: The user uses the "freedom chair" which helps to give him the freedom to move and the arms of the chair is not fixed and is adjustable when needed.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 4

The last observation was that in the new buses there are green seats just for the needy people like the elderly and there are 10 of them.

Holiday work - Part 1: Understanding the ‘The Elderly Challenge’

Explain in your own words, the FOUR key recommendations of the report.

The 4 key recommendations are:
1) Housing for seniors
2) Accessibility for seniors
3) Caring for Seniors
4) Opportunities for seniors

These four recommendations will make Singapore a elder-friendly place. Most of Singapore's population is aging and make the elderly happy and comfortable in Singapore by spending their time in activities. There are many people helping the elderly so that the elderly will think that they are not useless and be kept to use even though they are aging. The facilities are mostly for the elderly, helping the elderly and nurturing the elder people's lives.


State ONE way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly.-friendly

They are wheelchair accessibility in buses where now the plan is being executed.

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

1) Put a rule that the elderly must have a health check every 3 months for a week so, doing all the health tests.

2) Organise many campaigns including elderly and their family so that their family members will be even closer to them.


After reading the CAI report, what do you are the THREE things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges.

1) We can organise CIP fairs for the maintenance and the food in old folks' home.
2) We can make gifts to gift the elderly in our homes, appreciating their use to the family.
3) We can organise trips to the old folks' homes and organise parties considering each and every senior citizen's illness.