Modular Backpack Project for Children – An Ergodesign Approach

Abstract

The backpack is the main object that children use to transport school supplies. Through literature, we verify that the transport of school backpacks causes a high number of injuries to the children’s spine, due to the transported backpack. The existing solutions start from a bag, where the transported objects are piled up at the bottom, causing above all to increase the depth of the backpack. As a result, the center of mass of the carried load moves away from the spine, increasing the moment arm. In addition to this aspect, the asymmetry of the loads at the bottom of the backpack due to their movement causes pathological problems in the spine. Literature shows that the moment arm augmentation is responsible for a significant increase in flexor moments at the level of the spine, which results in deterioration of the intervertebral discs and the possible occurrence of herniated discs. Also, the asymmetry of loads causes muscle contraction in the spine to compensate for posture and, over time, the occurrence of functional scoliosis. It was possible to understand through benchmarking that there are negative points, or missing ones, whose solution could in fact help to further elevate these products, corresponding to a greater demand on the part of the user. The paper presents an ongoing project under development for a modular backpack, which reduces the arm now while being as close as possible to the spine, through a structure to support the spine beyond the compartments, where it will be possible to fix them for transporting the loads, thus eliminating the asymmetries caused by the loads at the bottom of the backpack, reducing the effect on the spine. Through the personalization of the compartments, the modularity of the backpack will allow to streamline it according to the load daily carried and provide a better interaction between children and the backpack. The use of the HARSim software is relevant for a better understanding of how weight distribution affects the human body and how to study different variations in its positioning. In addition to this, the methodology used in the design project also uses literature review, user centered design and ergo design.