ADMT Design Journal

1. DESIGN
JOURNAL
NAME: STACEY YIP
CLASS: S1-09
YEAR: 2010
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2. Table of Contents
Initial Research on the Elderly
3
Observations
3
The BIG Idea
5
The 3 essential questions
5
Thinking of the Product
7
1st Idea
7
2nd Idea
7
Evolution of the Product (Solution)
8
Version 1
8
Version 2
8
Details and Descriptions of the Proposed solution
(Product)
9
The 5W and 1H
9
ALoU
10
Anthropometry and Ergonomics
11
Materials
11
Prototype
12
Dimensions
12
Conclusion and Reflection
13
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3. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Initial Research on the Elderly
During the June holidays, we were assigned to make observations on the elderly on
the basis of one observation each week. I made a total of four observations on the
elderly.
Observations
Observation 1
I noticed that at the fitness corner, there
were elderly doing their exercises. Those
exercise stations gave the elderly the
exercises they need. It is quite boring for
them to be cooped up at home all day so
they would come out and take a walk.
An elderly doing exercises.
Observation 2
I observed that climbing the stairs for
the elderly can be dangerous as they
might slip and fall as their bones get
weaker. The picture is of my
grandmother walking up the stairs in the
house. Her knees have already gone
weak and have difficulty walking up the
stairs and far distances, so she would
only climb the stairs in the day and at
night
My grandmother climbing the stairs.
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4. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Observation 3
I observed that the elderly would go to fast
food restaurants like MacDonald. They
have adapted to our modern day food and
taken a liking to it. But fast food are
unhealthy and not good for themselves. So
MacDonald might want to have some kind
of meal that are special for the elderly?
An elderly eating at McDonald’s.
Observation 4
There was this old man playing his "Er hu"
to collect donations.
This may show two things:
1) He has not enough income and is using
this method to gain money.
2) He plays the "Er hu" because he enjoys
playing it and might as well play it in the
public to gain a bit money.
I think that he might be playing it because
An elderly playing the “Er Hu” he has nothing to do at home and thus
wanting to play for the public as this is
also a good exercise and would keep his mind active. I came to this conclusion as my
neighbour's grandmother collects cans from the trash even though they do not have
any financial difficulties.
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5. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
The BIG Idea
Out of the five essential questions that I have made, I have focused on three to work
on.
The 3 essential questions
1. What are the limitations that the elderly face?
- They have the inconvenience of walking on uneven pavements or stairs in the
public. Examples are like the overhead bridges and the uneven walkways as the
elderly might trip and fall.
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6. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
2. How can we integrate the use of technology to help the
elderly lead a better life?
- Modern technology has become so advanced and would continue to be in the
future. The sciences can help the elderly live a better life. Current products can be
modified to suit better for the elderly.
3. Can the elderly lead a more independent life?
- Those elderly whose children have left them in homes or by themselves would need
to learn how to be independent.
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7. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Thinking of the Product
My ideation process was different from the norm as I had trouble deciding on which
essential question to target on. Hence, I decided to focus on thinking of a product first
before linking it to an essential question.
My ideas on the product was very much taking into consideration on the mobility of
the elderly.
1st Idea
My first idea was a walking stick. The unique feature of the stick was that the three
legs of the walking stick was retractable and there was a torchlight attached onto the
handle of the walking stick for mobility at night. The retractable “legs” could be
useful when the elderly needs to use only one “leg” instead of three.
I decided to scrape this idea off as I was not really satisfied with this idea and I
would rather think of a new product than to work on a product that I do not really
like.
2nd Idea
The second idea was targeting an elderly’s everyday routine. More specifically, the
product was targeting at the medication of the elderly. For the elderly to take their
medication they would need to pour themselves a glass of water to help take the
medication. This product minimizes this unnecessary need to walk a distance. It
would incorporate the medicine with the water bottle. This way, when the elderly
needs to take their medication, they would also be able to have their water
immediately.
I decided to work on this idea as it seems more feasible to me compared to the
walking stick.
This 2nd idea is linked to the essential question “How can we integrate the use of
technology to help the elderly lead a better life?”.
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8. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Evolution of the Product (Solution)
Version 1
The first sketch that I made of my product was a cylinder shaped bottle with medicine
compartments indented in it to store the medicine pills. The medicine pills would be
kept inside by a door to make sure the pills would stay inside.
Version 2
I changed the design of the bottle to become squarish shaped. The bottle will have
slots at the four sides for the medicine compartments to be slotted inside. The
compartments would be labeled the acronyms of the week for easy classification.
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9. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Details and Descriptions of the Proposed solution (Product)
Click to watch the animation.
The above animation is a google sketch-up model of my product. I have decided to
name the product the “Medi-partment”. It is a combination of the word “medicine”
and “compartment”. The medicine containers will be slotted into the empty spaces.
The 5W and 1H
What?: My product is a water bottle that can hold pills inside it.
Why?: It is convenient for the elderly to take their medication.
When?: The elderly can use this product when they are thirsty or when they need
to take their medication.
Where?: They can place their product at their bedside table or in their bags when
they go outdoors.
Who?: The targeted audience are the elderly who takes medicine at a constant
basis and other people who needs to take regular medication.
How?: When it is time to take their medication, they would just have to take the
pills out of the bottle and eat their medication.
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10. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Cap
Empty slots can act
as grips
Medicine
This is how the bottle will look like when the medicine compartments are slotted
into the empty slots. The medicine compartments are removable and
customizable to suit the user. The medicine compartments can only store pills as
the elderly usually take pills instead of liquid medicine.
ALoU
Advantages Limitations Unique Features
Do not have to walk a The pills might spill out if Squarish-shaped
distance to retrieve water dropped
Medicine are categorized Can only hold pills and Removable and
according to the days for not liquid medicine customizable medicine
convenience containers
Both medicine and water
can be carried around
more conveniently
Can be brought outdoors
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11. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Anthropometry and Ergonomics
Average size of an adult hand: 17cm
Average size of a finger tip: 2cm
Key design considerations
- The diameter of the bottle
- The size of the medicine bottle must be able to allow the elderly’s fingers to take the
medicine pills from the container
- The edges of the bottle are also curved so that the elderly would not get injured by
the sharp edges.
Materials
The materials used for the bottle and the medicine compartments will be made out of
plastic. The rubber friction layer at the bottom will be made out of rubber.
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12. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Prototype
Velcro
Medicine
compartment
Rubber friction layer
Dimensions
Cap: 2cm
Height (without cap and rubber friction layer): 15cm
Length and Breath: 10cm
Medicine compartments: 3cm by 3cm
The black strips on the bottle are the velcro that is used to secure the medicine
compartments onto the bottle. The velcro is only a temporary thing to secure the
medicine compartments onto the bottle. In the actual product, the usual slotting
method would be used.
The pink thing at the bottom is an extra added feature to the product to provide
more friction so that the bottle will not slip.
The medicine compartments will be opened side ways.
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13. ADMT IDEATION PROCESS
TERM 3-4
Conclusion and Reflection
1. Does this product solve the identified problem?
Yes, my product, the Medi-partment, does solve the problem that I have identified.
With the Medi-partment, the distance to retrieve a glass of water is omitted as the
Medi-partment is a combination of medicine compartments and a water bottle.
2. What are some key learning points that you have learnt from doing this project?
During this project, I have acquired new knowledges like ergonomics and
anthropometry. This new knowledges has helped me to think and modify and
improve my product.
Also, through the different presentations done by my classmates, I have also learnt
more about the Singapore’s aging population and the elderly’s limitations and needs.
As the elderly is more frail, weak and prone to illness compared to an adult, they
would find everyday routines difficult and tiring.
3. How would you have done this differently if given another chance?
I would have completed my product earlier so that it would not be very rush at the
last minute and it will also not clash with my other studies. I could also have done a
survey on my classmates to know what they think of the product and suggests
improvements that can be done to the product and whether it this product is
ergonomically suitable of the elderly.
4. How much more aware are you of the elderly challenges and situation here in
Singapore? State 2 to 3 of these factors that you are more aware of.
Now I am more aware about Singapore’s aging population and the challenges and
difficulties the elderly face. The essential questions that was brought out by my
classmates had also helped widen my awareness of the elderly challenges. The most
common problem that was posed was the elderly’s difficulty in mobility. To
accommodate to this problem, more ramps, escalators and lifts have been added to
aid them.
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