Project, publication and patenting in progress.

1. Redesign of the Umbrella for the Elderly
using design thinking in the Indian
Context
Presented by:
Dr. Biswajeet Mukherjee, Shivangi Pande, Daniel Akhil Kumar Pulugujju
National Innovation Contest 2020

2. CONTENT
▹ Introduction
▹ Novelty of the work
▹ Materials & Methods
▹ Results & Discussions
▹ Conclusions
▹ Limitations & Future Scope
▹ References
▹ Acknowledgment
2

3. INTRODUCTION
● Umbrella is used by most of the elderly in
India during monsoon season and in
summer. These products can however be
made more interactive and best suited to
the needs of the elderly in Indian Context
with technological and ergonomic
intervention.
UMBRELLA
● It is a product used to protect from rain & sun.
● The purposes of this study was
● To identify the challenges associated with the
current design of umbrellas available and
● Changes in elderly perception with changes in
the functionality and aesthetics of the aid
● Existing patents of umbrellas include
● Illuminated Umbrella:
● Multifunctional Umbrella
● Umbrella and mount assembly for wheelchair
3

4. METHODOLOGY4
Anthropometric
Data of Elderly
Direct
Observation
and Analysis
Empathy
Map
Design
Solutions

5. ANTHROPOMETRY
● Anthropometric
measurements of human
body are used for
designing.
○ For the diameter of
Umbrella -
Max.Shoulder width
& Chest depth
○ For the length of
Umbrella - Fore Arm
& Upper Arm
5
S.No Parameters Min
Percentiles
Max Mean ±SD
5th 25th 50th 75th 95th
1 Upper Arm
Male 20
23.625 28 29 30 32 35 28.61 2.706
Female
21 23 26.5 28 29 32.1 34 27.91 2.76
Combined
20 23.1 27 29 30 32 35 28.29 2.74
2 Forearm
Male
38 41 43 44 45 47 48 43.91 2.05
Female
35 36 39 40 41.5 43.05 43.5 39.91 2.04
Combined
35 37.6 40 42 44 47 48 42.07 2.86
3 Chest Depth
Male
11 16 18.625 20.25 21.875 27.875 29.5 20.69 3.54
Female
15 17 20 23 25.5 29 34 23.06 4.12
Combined
11 16 19 21 23.25 28.5 34 21.52 3.9
4
Bi-deltoid/M
ax. Shoulder
width
Male
32.5 35 38 40.5 43 47.75 49 40.92 3.92
Female
27 37 35 37 38 41 43.5 36.73 2.94
Combined
27 34 36 38 41.5 46.8 49 39 4.07

6. DIRECT OBSERVATION &
ANALYSIS
○ Shadowing as a tool is much stronger
than interviews and questionnaires as
it refrains from bias in answers under
the Hawthorne effect.
○ Questionnaires : A set of questions
for obtaining statistically useful or
personal information from individuals.
This is implemented by Interviews and
mapped on Likert Scale
6

7. USER STUDY
Data collected from previous methods

8. Graphical data
of storage at
home
8

9. Graphical data
of storage at
outside
9

10. Pain points on
palm
10

11. 11
Pain points on
Arm

12. Concept Ideation
PROPOSED DESIGNS

13. Various designs worked with different feasible solutions,
followed Indian anthropometric dimensions and had
certain constraints in mind:
● Help in reducing static load, in case of long term
usage.
● Ergonomic handle grip
● Illumination of pathway
13 Ideation

14. Concept
FEATURES
● Better grip of the handle.
● Tries to remove the pain/discomfort due long term usage
and weight.
● A Handcuff provided to fix the umbrella to the hand near
shoulder gives support and reduces the strain on palm.
● Switch provided near the handle is used for illumination
and the emergency alarm for the users in times of
emergency.
14

15. FABRICATION

16. FABRICATION
● Materials used- Wood, old umbrella pipe.
● This design was made using the old umbrella and
extending the length of the umbrella.
● Handle of the umbrella was made using wood
● Wood was made in cylindrical shape.
● Wood was cut in a shape that will help to insert electronic
components inside the wood
16

17. Images Handle
LED
Handcuff

18. TECHNOLOGICAL
INTERVENTION

19. TECHNOLOGICAL
INTERVENTION
● Electronic components used: TP4056 for charging, SPDT switch, buzzer, Led
strip, 3.7v Battery
19

20. Process Flow
of
technological
intervention
20

21. USER TESTING
Feedback

22. FEEDBACK22

23. FEEDBACK23

24. FEEDBACK24

25. RESULTS
25
● The features of the designs are evaluated on 0-2 scale (minimized likert scale).
● Proposed designs scored more score than Existing designs.
25
Designs Balance Grip Ergonomic Storage Illumination Aesthetic Support Total
E.D 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 6
E.D 2 2 1 2 2 0 1 0 8
P.D 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 12

26. 26
THANKS!

27. REFERENCES
▹ Chakrabarti, Debkumar., Indian Anthropometric Dimensions for Ergonomic
Design Practices (1997). National Institute of Design; 1997 edition
▹ Human Factors, Second Edition – Vol.3 (2006) CRC Press.
▹ Norman A. Donald. Design of Everyday Things, expanded and revised. (2013)
Basic Books Publishing.
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