Abstract
This paper examines how products can be redesigned to allow flexibility for changes in a user’s condition to give them control and ownership over their care, while offering viable, cost-effective and sustainable healthcare solutions. By focusing on the case study of the Evolvable Walking Aid Kit, we aim to investigate to what extent a modular system which has been designed to incorporate principles of affordability, evolvability and emotional durability can benefit patients. The Evolvable Walking Aid is a modular kit which can be assembled to form a walking stick, crutches, a walking frame, and variations of these aids depending on the individual’s stage of their condition and fitting their anatomy. A co-design process was adopted across all stages of the project and two distinctive contexts, i.e. developing and developed regions of the world were targeted for design development. Through this case study, the rationale and potential for application of this concept to a broader context of inclusive design is suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Active Living Alliance (2013) Mobility impairments general information. Available at: www.ala.ca/Content/TipSheets/Tips/mobility_impairment.asp?langid=1 (Accessed in November 2015)
Buckingham C (2013) The growth of the UK disability aids market. Available at: www.buckinghamhealthcare.co.uk/disability-aids/?s=the+growth+of&x=0&y=0 (Accessed in November 2015)
Chapman J (2005) Emotionally durable design: Objects, experiences and empathy. Earthscan, London
Colorado State University (2010) Mobility impairments definition. Available at: accessproject. colostate.edu/disability/modules/MI/tut_MI.php (Accessed in November 2015)
Consumer Focus (2010) Equipment for older and disabled people: An analysis of the market. Available at: www.consumerfocus.org.uk/files/2010/11/Equipment-for-older-and-disabled-people-an-analysis-of-the-market.pdf (Accessed in November 2015)
DFID (2004) Enhancing the mobility of disabled people: Guidelines for practitioners. Available at: r4d.dfid.gov.uk/PDF/Outputs/r8016.pdf (Accessed in November 2015)
Disabled Living Foundation (2014) Choosing walking equipment. Available at: www.dlf.org.uk/factsheets/walking (Accessed in November 2015)
ECRI (2011) Ambulation aids. Available at: www.ecri.org/Documents/PSA/February_2011/Equip1.pdf (Accessed on 30 October 2015)
Global Health Education Consortium (2007) Disability and rehabilitation in developing countries. Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX, USA
Inclusive Technology Prize (2015) Available at: www.inclusivetechprize.org/news-blogs/ congratulations-10-finalists (Accessed in November 2015)
Mac A (2014) Physiotherapist at QEF Neuro Rehabilitation Centre. Interview on 16 September 2014
Mandelstam M (1997) Equipment for older or disabled people and the law, p. 513. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London
Marketstrat Inc. (2013) World market for personal mobility devices (wheelchairs, scooters, walking aids). MarketStrat, Pleasanton, CA, USA
Paisley Mobility Centre (2014) Homecraft kings assessment kit 33 pieces. Available at: paisleymobilitycentre.co.uk/homecraft-kings-assessment-pieces-p-3010.html (Accessed in November 2015)
Stevens JA, Thomas K, Teh L, Greenspan AI (2009) Unintentional falls injuries associated with walkers and canes in older adults treated in U.S. emergency departments J Am Geriatr Soc. 57(8): 1464-9
United Nations Enable (2007) World programme of action concerning disabled persons. Available at: www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=23 (Accessed in November 2015)
United Nations (2007) Handbook for parliamentarians on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Geneva, Switzerland
WHO (2011) Joint position paper on the provision of mobility devices in less resourced settings. World Health Organisation Press, Geneva, Switzerland
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Nickpour, F., O’Sullivan, C. (2016). Designing an Innovative Walking Aid Kit; A Case Study of Design in Inclusive Healthcare Products. In: Langdon, P., Lazar, J., Heylighen, A., Dong, H. (eds) Designing Around People. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29498-8_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29498-8_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29496-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29498-8
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)