ADMT T3W4 Ergonomics (Product Description and Idea Trigger)

Product Description: A plastic hook which allows you to hook plastic bags onto it.


1. What are the design considerations when designing this product?
The design considers the the usability of the product. Like what material to use and what kind of shape so that it can maximize the weight allowance.

2.Would an elderly faced difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face? 
No, i don't think so. The hooks are very straight forward and it is easy for every elderly to hook a plastic bag onto it.


3.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.)

Ergonomics II

1. What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the study of posture and Motion. Helping people develop the subtle coordination of thought and physical action required to monitor and alter harmful patterns of posture an movement. 

2. What are the five aspects of Ergonomics?

• Safety
• Comfort
• Ease of Use
• Productivity/ Performance
• Aesthetics 

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

• Safety- We can raise the overall lighting level so that the elderly will not fall easily at night because of the darkness.
• Comfort- Bigger Buttons can be used because finger dexterity decreases thus causing the elderly to miss the buttons. 

• Ease of Use- Computers with keys with bigger fonts can be invented, or may be even a elderly friendly computer Operating System. Due to the advancement in Computer Technology and Artificial Intelligence, the age of the people utilizing the computer can stretch to a wide number.

• Productivity-The elderly can increase productivity in such a way we can invent some software just for the elderly with user-friendly interface so when they use it, it is so easy to understand and solves hassles in a click of a button. This has been invented some time back.
• Aesthetics- The walking stick is a common aesthetics for the elderly.

Ergonomics I

1.Compare the two different workplaces. State your Observations.

• The first workplace has products with bad ergonomics. e.g the chair from the first workplace has armrest as high as his elbows which doesn't provide him with the armrest function
• The second one has good ergonomics compliance. e.g the chair is much more flexible then the first one.

2.Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over another.

• The second workplace is definitely better. The reasons are that they provide much better desk instruments that provide comfort and easy working. It gives a very good workflow that improves productivity of any staff using that work desk. e.g the chair has adjustable armrests so when you need to take a sip of drink from your mug, it can be lifted up and the best part is that you can lean down.

3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace suitable for the user.

1. Comfort and Simplicity
2. Incorrect Height and Depth
3. Task Lighting
4. Freedom of Movement
5. Prolonged laptop use

4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?

It is important because the Ergonomics of a product can determine the safety of a person because a person can get injured if proper ergonomics are not in place in the office etc. It can also provide a proper posture for whoever is using the product

Task 3 (My not-so elder friendly toiler)

 This is the entrance of the toilet, the box on the right is for the purpose for the elderly of placing their walking stick into it and a toilet-friendly walking stick to be exchanged.

 The towels and the bathing cubicle are generally near to each other for more enhanced mobility when moving around in the toilet

This is the final Bird's Eye View of the toiler.

4th Observation--- 23.06.10

For the past few days when i was in Hong Kong where the aging population is growing as rapidly as us, I realised some very significant social life in them. Even when aged, they still were working as hawkers with smiles on their faces, living every second to the fullest. I am not trying to say you cant see that in Singapore, but it is much more rare here. The elderly there were kind, depending on the ones you meet but in my opinion, they were generally great. But come to think of it, has Singapore achieved that standard of optimism when even Age 70 with a well funded family still coming out on the streets to collect cardboard sheets for her own income? I guess to bring down all the observation this whole entire month, it all depends on the perspective you are looking at. In conclusion, all of the unhappiness and happiness all boils down to the social interaction of the elderly.

3rd week of June--- 16.06.10

16.06 was the day before i departed for Hong Kong. I observed something special today, which was the packing of luggage my grandparents did. They efficient on what they would want to bring but some of the cabinets require them to stretch in to grab it out, which is not a good sign. Seems like carboards play a huge role in this too. Another fact is that their memory is slightly bad and they tend to panic when they think of something they thought of but took a long time to obtain. Although memory is something very hard to fix, the social issue comes in, as younger generation, we have a responsibility to remind them.

2nd Week of June--- 09.06.10

Today was considered a lucky day for me, I visited a couple in my neighborhood to conduct a interview for my project work. Their age were till the extreme, almost 80-90 years old. I saw slight loneliness in them. I can see they are having some troubles socializing, especially when they are the small population of humans in Singapore aged 80-90. The moment we came in, they totally changed. They really loved sharing their stories with us willingly and happily. It really seemed they were younger as so. It seems like the elderly also need a lot of moral support. I also realized that the walking aids width was to big to pass through some places and they need the assistance of holding the wall. Walking aids can be installed in homes of elderly like how the install them in a hospital for weak patients to hold on so just to make sure they remain their balance.