Egonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)

i) Describe the product. (Appearance, Color, Function, etc) It acts as a brush for shoe. Its body is blue in colour. The brush at both ends are white in colour. There are two brushes, a bigger one and a smaller one, one at each end. The bigger brush is used for the wider surfaces of the shoe, like the sole of the show. The smaller brush is for the smaller and narrow surfaces of the shoe, such as the sides of the shoe. The grip of the brush is not very good as there is no rubber grip. The body of the brush is shaped in a curvy way for the ease and comfort of the user. ii) What are the design considerations when designing this product? The design ought to meet and suit the needs of the user, in this case would be the elderly. The designs and patterns on the product should not be too fanciful as most elderly prefer plain designs. iii) Would an elderly faced difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face? Yes, the elderly would face difficulties using this product. The elderly might not have good grip on the product as the product is quite slim and it does not have rubber grip. The elderly might have difficulties using the brush as the brushes are not very board in area. It might help them if the Bigger Brush of the product was bigger, reducing the effort and time needed to clean the shoe as the brush covers more area each time. What do you think can be done to improve on the design of the product to suit the elderly? (Sketch the improved design in your sketchbook and take a picture of it. Post the improved sketch at the end of your post.) The design can be improved by modifying it to eliminate the difficulties that the elderly face when using this product. It can have bigger brushes, rubber grip and a wider body.

Ergonomics 2

What is Ergonomics?Ergonomics is the science of designing something to suit its users. Proper ergonomic designs are necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can lead to long-term disability. It is also defined as the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?
-Safety-Comfort-Ease of use
-Productivity/ Performance
-Aesthetics

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

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Aspects : Safety, Ease of Use

This is Find-A-Light Reflective Glow-In-The-Dark Switch paste. This helps the elderly as it makes it easy for the elderly to locate the switch in the dark. It glows in the dark, therefore, the elderly can easily locate the switch in the dark. This creates safety for the elderly as the elderly would not need to grope around for a long time, therefore, lower risk of accidents.
Info from: http://www.seniorssuperstores.com/cart/html/Products/HOUSEHOLD-ITEMS/Find-A-Light-Reflec-850.html

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Aspects: Safety, Comfort, Ease of use, Productivity, Aesthetics
Uplift Power Seat can turn any chair into an electrical lift chair. It helps people who have difficulty getting up from seats. This device lifts the user higher up so that he would not have to use a lot of strength to get up. It lifts 100% of your weight, up to 136kg.It is easy to use and to carry around. It works on sofas, armchairs and recliners. It is powered by any standard electrical socket. It comes with comfortable memory foam cushion and a removable, waterproof cover. It is slim so that it looks slick.

Information From: http://www.seniorssuperstores.com/cart/html/Products/HOUSEHOLD-ITEMS/Uplift-Power-Seat-93.html

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Aspects: Safety, Ease of use, Aesthetics

This is a Finger Protector. As its name suggests, it is used to protect the fingers of the elderly when cutting. This product is easy to use as you only have to slide two of your fingers through the hole to hold it. It comes in bright purple to make it look attractive. It is plastic, washable and durable.

Ergonomics I

1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.
Workplace 2 is more efficient, while Workplace 1 is more crowded. Workplace 1 has user friendly devices. The design of the chair in workplace 1 provides more comfort to the user. The computer screen can also be adjusted nearer or further from the user to suit the needs of him. In workplace 2, items are more organized and it is more spacious. Workplace 1 is very crowded, the items on the table are not organized. It is inconvenient for the user.

2. Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.
Workplace 2 is preferred. Workplace 1 is neat and user-friendly, but Workplace 1 is not as user- friendly as Workplace 2.

3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?
We should consider the needs of the people using the workplace, to suit their needs. We should observe what are the difficulties of the worker when using the workplace. We should also consider the comfort of the worker when using the office.

4)Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?
Ergonomics is important when designing so that the product would suit the needs of the user.