Product Design Needs for the Elderly Consumer

1982 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 676-676
Author(s):  
Frederick H. Rohles ◽  
John Kreifeldt ◽  
Jerry Duncan ◽  
Ben Dickerson ◽  
Arnold Small
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Motor Processes ◽  
Elderly Citizen

The slowing down of general bodily functioning and the dulling of the sensory and motor processes that accompany aging, dictate the need for designing special equipment so that the elderly citizen can function effectively and independently as a member of society. Examples may be found in labeling, devices to help in opening jars and medicine bottles, counter-balanced doors, special “helps” for bathroom activities, and warning devices for the hearing impaired. This forum will serve to identify special product needs for the elderly consumer by bringing together members of the technical groups on consumer products, aging, and safety. Moreover, the methodologies used by these three groups will be discussed in light of the elderly consumer with special emphasis being directed towards the modifications and synthesis needed in these methodologies to obtain the required information.

scholarly journals SOCIO-CULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR REHABILITATION OF HEARING-IMPAIRED ELDERLY PEOPLE

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
S. P. Tatarova ◽  
◽  
N. A. Zateeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Summer School ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Silver Age ◽  
Quality Life

Introduction. A high-quality life of hearing-impaired seniors is impossible without comprehensive rehabilitation and services that meet their physical, mental, and social needs and are aimed at compensating for their disabilities. In the complex rehabilitation system for disabled people of various nosology and age, a significant role is assigned to socio-cultural rehabilitation. Materials and research methods. The research methodology is based on the theory of compensatory abilities of the human body. The empirical basis of the study relies on an analysis of activities carried out by the Buryat regional branch of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf and the generalization of the authors’ experience in working with the hearing-impaired. Research goals and objectives. The study aims to summarize the experience of using socio-cultural rehabilitation technologies for the elderly with hearing impairments. The objectives are to determine the potential of socio-cultural technologies used in working with hearing-impaired elderly people; identify the most effective socio-cultural technologies applicable in the rehabilitation of hearing-impaired senior citizens; analyze the experience of working with the selected social category within the framework of the project “Baikal Summer School “Silver Age” in 2017-2019. The object of the research is the process of socio-cultural rehabilitation of hearing-impaired elderly people. Research results. The findings indicate that the socio-cultural rehabilitation of the hearing-impaired older adults seldom goes beyond the activities of specialized institutions and the All-Russian Society of the Deaf. Cultural and leisure institutions are not always ready to accept the specific audience, as they do not have trained specialists and special equipment for working with the deaf and hard of hearing. Innovation in solving existing problems is the involvement of individuals with disabilities in inclusive projects. Proposition underlying the study is that the activities especially significant for older people with hearing impairment are those able to improve their emotional wellbeing, expand communication, and enable their self-realization. Discussion and conclusion. A three-year project for the elderly, the Baikal Summer School ”Silver Age”, has confirmed the hypothesis that the rehabilitation program designed with a focus on the problems and specific features of its participants is effective and helps increase the rehabilitation potential of the participants. Keywords: socio-cultural rehabilitation, hearing-impaired people, the elderly, people with disabilities.

Environmental Analysis of Consumer Products During the Conceptual Phase of Product Design

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt R. Bohm ◽  
Karl R. Haapala ◽  
Kerry Poppa ◽  
Robert B. Stone ◽  
Irem Y. Tumer
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Life Cycle Analysis ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Research Show

This paper describes efforts taken to further transition life cycle analysis techniques from the latter, more detailed phases of design, to the early-on conceptual phase of product development. By using modern design methodologies such as automated concept generation and an archive of product design knowledge, known as the Design Repository, virtual concepts are created and specified. Streamlined life cycle analysis techniques are then used to determine the environmental impacts of the virtual concepts. As a means to benchmark the virtual results, analogous real-life products that have functional and component similarities are identified. The identified products are then scrutinized to determine their material composition and manufacturing attributes in order to perform an additional round of life cycle analysis for the actual products. The results of this research show that enough information exists within the conceptual phase of design (utilizing the Design Repository) to reasonably predict the relative environmental impacts of actual products based on virtual concepts.

Constipation in patients with comorbidity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Е.А. Лялюкова ◽  
Е.Н. Логинова
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Endocrine Disorders ◽  
Silver Age ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Age Related

Пациенты пожилого и старческого возраста в силу физиологических причин и коморбидной патологии имеют высокий риск развития запора. Причиной запора чаще всего являются алиментарные факторы и возраст-ассоциированные заболевания и повреждения толстой кишки (дивертикулярная болезнь, ишемия толстой кишки, ректоцеле, геморрой и другие); метаболические, эндокринные расстройства и неврологические заболевания. Возрастные анатомические, структурные и функциональные изменения пищеварительной системы вносят свой вклад в развитие запоров у пожилых. У пациентов «серебряного возраста» отмечено увеличение длины желудочно-кишечного тракта, прогрессирование атрофических, склеротических изменений слизистой и подслизистой оболочки, снижение количества секреторных клеток, замещение мышечных волокон соединительной тканью и др. Все это способствует замедлению транзита по желудочно-кишечному тракту и нарушению акта дефекации. Образ жизни пожилых людей также может способствовать развитию запора. Низкое содержание в рационе клетчатки, употребление преимущественно термически обработанной пищи, нарушение ритма питания (прием пищи 1-2 раза в день) являются одной из причин возникновения запоров у пожилых, чему способствуют трудности при жевании вследствие стоматологических проблем. Колоноскопия показана всем пациентам пожилого и старческого возраста с запором, а выявление «симптомов тревоги» необходимо проводить при каждом визите пациента. Вне зависимости от причины вторичного запора, все пациенты должны осуществлять ряд мер немедикаментозного характера, включающих изменение образа жизни, диету с включением достаточного количества клетчатки и потребление жидкости. Физические методы лечения могут включать лечебную гимнастику, массаж толстой кишки для стимуляции моторной активности кишечника в определенное время. При неэффективности немедикаментозных мероприятий рекомендуется использование осмотических слабительных, а также средств, увеличивающих объем каловых масс. Высокая эффективность и безопасность псиллиума позволяет рекомендовать его в лечении хронического запора у пожилых пациентов. Elderly and senile patients, due to physiological reasons and comorbid pathology, have a high risk of constipation. The causes of constipation are more often nutritional factors and age-associated diseases and damage to the colon (diverticular disease, colon ischemia, rectocele, hemorrhoids, and others); metabolic, endocrine disorders and neurological diseases. Age-related anatomical, structural and functional changes in the digestive system contribute to the development of constipation in the elderly. In patients of «silver age», there was an increase in the length of the gastrointestinal tract, the progression of atrophic, sclerotic changes in the mucous and submucosa, a decrease in the number of secretory cells, replacement of muscle fibers with connective tissue, etc. All this contributes to the slowing down of transit through the gastrointestinal tract and the violation of the act of defecation. Elderly lifestyles can also contribute to constipation. The low fiber content in the diet, the use of mainly thermally processed food, the violation of the rhythm of the diet (eating 1-2 times a day) are one of the causes of constipation in the elderly, which is facilitated by difficulty in chewing due to dental problems. Colonoscopy is ordered for all elderly and senile patients with constipation, and the identification of «anxiety symptoms» should be carried out at each patient visit. Regardless of the cause of secondary constipation, all patients should take a number of non-pharmacological measures, including lifestyle changes, a diet with adequate fiber, and fluid intake. Physical therapies may include medical gymnastics, colon massage to stimulate bowel movement at specific times. If non-drug measures are ineffective, it is recommended to use osmotic laxatives, as well as agents that increase the volume of feces. Psyllium supplementation is recommended for treatment of chronic constipation in elderly patients due to its high efficacy and safety.

Intelligibility of Modified Speech for Young Listeners With Normal and Impaired Hearing

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalie M. Uchanski ◽  
Ann E. Geers ◽  
Athanassios Protopapas
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Listening In Noise ◽  
Hearing Children ◽  
Impaired Children ◽  
Hearing Impaired Children

Exposure to modified speech has been shown to benefit children with languagelearning impairments with respect to their language skills (M. M. Merzenich et al., 1998; P. Tallal et al., 1996). In the study by Tallal and colleagues, the speech modification consisted of both slowing down and amplifying fast, transitional elements of speech. In this study, we examined whether the benefits of modified speech could be extended to provide intelligibility improvements for children with severe-to-profound hearing impairment who wear sensory aids. In addition, the separate effects on intelligibility of slowing down and amplifying speech were evaluated. Two groups of listeners were employed: 8 severe-to-profoundly hearingimpaired children and 5 children with normal hearing. Four speech-processing conditions were tested: (1) natural, unprocessed speech; (2) envelope-amplified speech; (3) slowed speech; and (4) both slowed and envelope-amplified speech. For each condition, three types of speech materials were used: words in sentences, isolated words, and syllable contrasts. To degrade the performance of the normal-hearing children, all testing was completed with a noise background. Results from the hearing-impaired children showed that all varieties of modified speech yielded either equivalent or poorer intelligibility than unprocessed speech. For words in sentences and isolated words, the slowing-down of speech had no effect on intelligibility scores whereas envelope amplification, both alone and combined with slowing-down, yielded significantly lower scores. Intelligibility results from normal-hearing children listening in noise were somewhat similar to those from hearing-impaired children. For isolated words, the slowing-down of speech had no effect on intelligibility whereas envelope amplification degraded intelligibility. For both subject groups, speech processing had no statistically significant effect on syllable discrimination. In summary, without extensive exposure to the speech processing conditions, children with impaired hearing and children with normal hearing listening in noise received no intelligibility advantage from either slowed speech or envelope-amplified speech.

scholarly journals A New Design and Development Framework for Better Aesthetic Appearance for Consumers Products

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-273
Author(s):  
Mohd Qadafie Ibrahim ◽  
Fairuz Izzuddin Romli ◽  
Hassan Alli ◽  
Eris Elianddy Supeni ◽  
Hambali Arep
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Design Engineers ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Aesthetic Appearance ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
The Aesthetic

One of the primary issues with many product design and development processes today is having a good balance between the elements of form and function. While all products must be able to perform their intended functions, considerations of aesthetic features are also necessary for them to be accepted as a good quality design. However, most available design and development processes of consumer products have been more focused on achieving the functional aspects and have tended to treat the aesthetic aspects as less crucial features. This approach has led to many failed functional products in the market, as their physical design lacks appealing factors to targeted users. To improve the situation, a new product design and development framework is proposed in this study to better facilitate designers or engineers in creating an all-rounded quality product design. This new method is developed based on the findings from a survey conducted among engineering students, who are future product design engineers, in order to identify and also resolve issues with the current methods that they typically apply for their design tasks. All in all, the new proposed method is fundamentally tailored to offer a structured guide for developing beautiful and useful products based on a semantic design approach.

Hearing and Age Research

1979 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 676-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert N. Butler ◽  
Barbara Gastel
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Old Age ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Research Interest ◽  
Communicative Disorders ◽  
Auditory Impairment

Just as the ear trumpet once symbolized the elderly, so do contemporary approaches to hearing loss in the aged reflect many of the major themes in geriatrics and gerontology today. This paper begins by describing the National Institute on Aging (NIA) with particular emphasis on activities relevant to hearing in the elderly. Next, several areas of research interest, including the typology of presbycusis and related conditions, the epidemiology of auditory impairment in old age, the design of testing and research, and the rehabilitation of the hearing-impaired elderly, are addressed. The NIA and the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (NINCDS) are coordinating their efforts to stimulate investigation of these and related topics.

Embedded RFID Solutions Challenges for Product Design and Development

2011 ◽  
pp. 106-118
Author(s):  
Alvaro M. Sampaio ◽  
António J. Pontes ◽  
Ricardo Simoes
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
New Products ◽  
User Interaction ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Rfid Tags ◽  
Rfid Technology ◽  
Rfid Tag ◽  
Production Distribution ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
New Challenges

Full traceability of products is extremely difficult, although it has been sought after for as long as production, distribution and sales chains exist. Electronic traceability methods, such as RFID technology, have been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. In the specific case of RFID, the number of applications that promote innovative solutions in retail and other areas has been continuous growing. However, RFID tags are mostly placed externally on a surface of products or their packages. This is appropriate for logistics, but not for other applications, such as those involving user interaction. In those, not only is the placement of the RFID tag more complex, but it is also necessary that the tag is not visible or not directly accessible, to prevent accidental damage and intentional abuse. This certainly imposes challenges to manufacturing, but mainly creates new challenges to the development of new products and re-design of existing ones. This chapter presents some insights and what we consider to be the two main approaches to incorporating RFID technology into consumer products.

Framing Sustainability in Human-Centered Product Design

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lora A. Oehlberg ◽  
Alice M. Agogino ◽  
Sara L. Beckman
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Mission Statement ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
User Needs ◽  
User Research ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Sustainable Products ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Minimal Environmental Impact

Engineers today have access to a myriad of tools for developing sustainable products that have minimal environmental impact. Although consumer interest in sustainability is increasing, it is still not foremost on the minds of many consumers. Engineers are thus faced with the dilemma of developing sustainable solutions for consumers who may not yet want or be able to articulate sustainability needs. We explore this issue by examining user research conducted by students in a graduate-level product design course. We present findings on how users define and describe sustainability, how sustainability needs interact with other user needs, and what tradeoffs people make and feelings people have when faced with sustainability trade-offs. We present a case study of one design team’s findings about sustainability, and how those findings affected the formulation of the team’s mission statement and product strategy. Based on these results, we propose recommendations for how to facilitate the design of innovative and sustainable consumer products.

An Investigation of Catalogued Product Development Information at a Major Consumer Products Company

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Hoffman ◽  
Steven B. Shooter ◽  
Simon Szykman ◽  
Steven J. Fenves
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Design Information ◽  
Storage And Retrieval ◽  
Documentation Quality ◽  
Front End ◽  
Information Flow Model

Abstract A study of product development practices at a major consumer product manufacturer, referred to as Company X, was undertaken to compare its methods to an earlier effort in modeling the flow of information in product design, referred to as the Design Information Flow Model. The model considers the recognized need in industry for the seamless capture, storage, and retrieval of design information. The research at Company X focused on the front end of product design, that is, the conceptual phase. It was learned that design, as defined by the Information Flow Model, is well represented at the front end of the company’s design process. However, this validation effort succeeded in uncovering certain voids, particularly in later states of the model. It was also learned that product documentation quality and quantity at Company X vary from project to project, indicating an important aspect to consider in our efforts to enhance computer-aided product design is the user.

Adapting ADA Architectural Design Knowledge to Product Design: Groundwork for a Function Based Approach

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shraddha Sangelkar ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Body Position ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Design Change ◽  
User Activity ◽  
And Function

One in every seven Americans has some form of disability. The number of people with disabilities is expected to increase, perhaps significantly, over the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, persons with a disability remain underserved by consumer products. Product designers fail to design universal products primarily due to a lack of knowledge, tools, and experience with universal design. Though challenges to complete access remain, the design of universal architectural systems reflects a better codification of methods, guidelines, and knowledge than available to universal product design. This article reports research efforts to transfer elements of the design knowledge and tools from universal architectural design to universal product design. The research uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health to formally describe user function, the Functional Basis to describe product function, and actionfunction diagrams as an analytical framework to explore the interaction between user activity, limitation, and product realization. The comparison of the universal and typical architectural systems reveal relevant design differences in specific parametric realization, morphology, and function. Of these differences, parametric was the most common with functional the least common. The user activities that most frequently result in a design change are reaching followed by maintaining body position. The comparison of architectural systems to consumer products noted a common trend of a functional design change made in result to the user activity of transferring oneself.

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