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Date: 04.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hello everyone , I would like to introduce myself. I am a product design student from the University of Sussex, in the UK. For my project I would like to design something that will help people with arthritis in their everyday life.

I would like to know what are the worst problems you encounter in your daily life?

I have thought about a few concepts already and would also be very greatful if you could comment about what you think.

Concept 1 - Redesigning a door handle to be more arthritis friendly

- the door handle would require less strength and less hand movements such as twisting or pulling.
The design could be like a mini fire exit bar that is pushed with the side of the hand /arm instead of gripping

Concept 2 - Redesigning a gripper to be multifunctional - be able to open a wide range of things, turn taps on/off, twist keys etc

Please let me know what you think , any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Tom
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Date: 04.02.2010
From: bsk

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi Tom, I would really like designers to make products more stylish and less drab. Everything seems to be designed to go in a care home (though why should care homes be drab?)No beige/brown/royal blue please. We may have lost the use of some of our joints but we have not lost our eyesight (yet!) Think Alessi. Think Good Grips. Think a range of colours to choose from.

Some things I find difficult to do when my joints are bad:

Hold hairdryer to dry hair/brush hair
Hold a cup of coffee in one hand but I'm not about to drink out of a plastic beaker!
Turning shower on and off
Turning keys (have bought key holders but they are way too bulky and I have about 12 different keys on my key ring - no, not a jailor - all different shapes and sizes so one that would fit all would be good)
Picking things up/carrying
Cleaning surfaces difficult as is cleaning anything to do with floors
Something that could help with moving stuff around in the house/kitchen that could be multi pupose
Don't care about door handles - just leave mine open - though not the front one lol!
That's all for now.
Sally
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Date: 04.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Many thanks Sally, I agree with you about everything looking so boring, people with arthritis arent just in elderly homes, they are of all ages and lifestyles. The list has really helped and I will make some more posts on here when I have some more concepts!
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Date: 04.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Also could I add - what problems do you have out of the house for example

Driving, shopping or keeping fit ?
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Date: 04.02.2010
From: bsk

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Exercise is a big problem. Walking not always an option, swimming/exercise in water is good but hard to get time in the pool when it's not either lane swimming or kids (local pool's a leisure one.)Also pool cold which is not good for joints. Keep fit aids for home would be useful, simple things that could be done easily without much equipment. Shopping is a problem sometimes but still not ready for a pull along trolley lol! I just don't drive when my joints are bad. When my wrists hurt I find even picking up a carton of juice painful and I am not even half as bad as some people here. You can get most things delivered I know but sometimes you just have to get out of the house. When my mum was completely disabled with arthritis it was one of her few outings and she looked forward to it. One thing we probably all have problems with is looking/getting things from bottom or top shelves. In the library I never look at bottom two shelves. Maybe you could design a kind of extendable mirror on a stick thing - like the ones they use to look for bombs under cars!! Then I might know what I am missing!!
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Date: 05.02.2010
From: Jill

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

HI tom....everything Sally said, i cant add any more.......sally u are so right in things u mentioned.....I reckon anyone that is registered disabled should be allowed their own HOT TUB, Chauffeur,and daily Cleaner!!!lolol goood luck Tom
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Date: 05.02.2010
From: Verity

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi Tom,
Im not sure how youd be able to do it but often i cant take my top off at night. Something that you could grab the bottom at the back with and pull over back of the head would be really really useful. Not sure how you'd manage it though?
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Date: 05.02.2010
From: Jill

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

lol Verity, im sure ya fellla wld be only to happy to do that for ya!.....or mb u cld sew tabs in all ya tops.......? nar bad idea me finks...lol...sorry im being a pain now lololololol
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Date: 07.02.2010
From: Sally

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

bumping up
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Date: 07.02.2010
From: Verity

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi jill, lol yeh hes very good it just makes me feel very 'un sexy' when I cant take some of my clothes off. I feel incredibly vulnerable too when Ive got no clothes on and I get dead insecure. Stupid I know. Makes me feel a bit like a child again I guess : (
I just try to mainly wear stretchy and loose clothes, I dont need as much strength in my arms to do it then.
Oh the joy! lol
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Date: 09.02.2010
From: James

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

bump
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Date: 10.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hello again, ive been working on some designs, I thought about maybe a device to help load and unload laundry ?

How difficult is it for you to get the laundry in and out of the washing machine ?

Also would you find a tool useful that is basically a handle - on one end it has a tap and door gripper, and the other end has a can , bottle opener?

And one last thing, is it difficult to grip things hard because of stiffness or because it hurts too much? Would any sort of handle be hard to grip at all ?

Many Thanks

Tom (OP)
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Date: 10.02.2010
From: sally

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

hi Tom, I have a large circular control on my shower that I can't turn because it is too painful. Pain is a bigger problem for me in turning things than stiffness joints feel weak rather than stiff so have no power.

Laundry is ok as just push it in. Suppose you could get it out with tongs! Maybe some tongs type things would be useful for lots of purposes. Don't know abut the tap/door gripper and bottle opener. There are bottle and can openers on the market already. But a gripper type thing that could be multipurpose might be useful. Or are you thinking of a multi purpose thing you could take when you travel for example? That would be very useful if small enough to pack. Don't know what you mean by a door gripper, what part of the door are you meant to be gripping? Verity might find a gripper thing helpful in getting her top off!
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Date: 10.02.2010
From: Jill

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

LOL sally. my we shld send Tom round to check Verity out!! LOLOLOLOLOL((((lol V, Only joking)hehehe....Tom I think u r great, thanks for taking the time to ask, and replying....I struggle with putting clothes into wash machine due to bad back, has spine op already, now need fusion...when im in agony, I cant bend down at all to put anything in anywhere, dishwashers are far toooo low, wish theymade them higher...mind u, I am 5ft9, so doenst help, but by time i get the spine op, I mite be 5ft4 LOL.....i agree with Our sal, turning things due to the pain is terrible....Tom ever had an absess, and u get that searing pain up thru into your face and ear? I kinda guess its like that....BUT far worse!...weakness is a prob too....I have Tendon Degeneration in shoulders, so weak....oh well....good luck with the comments....tc Jill
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hey guys, I would be grateful if you could check out some of my rough designs at the links below:

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/image2.jpg

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/image4.jpg

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/image1.jpg

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/image3.jpg

The bobbles would be rubber for gripping the door handle, and the other side is for turning taps, then the two things at the end are a bottle and can opener.

PS - the handle will be designed bigger and more curved to fit the shape of the hand, with soft rubbery/foam material covering it.


Let me know what you think !!
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Verity

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi Tom, whats the little rectangular bit at the end for? Looks like a bottle opener lol
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Thats right, its only a rough version though, just would like your intial thoughts, would this be something you would have around the house to help you ?
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Verity

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hmmm, it would be very handy for my front door as its quite stiff, the hook also looks quite handy (I have grabbers scattered round the house). Are the bobbly bits for gripping door knobs? How grippy are they coz a lot of stuff like that Ive found slips.

One thing, Im not suggesting this for 'out and about' but maybe a little keyring or something so it can be attached to clothes? As soon as I put things down I either need them when Im upstairs or someone drops it on the floor and I cant pick it up! (Also if I had to carry it upstairs it would be better to attach it somewhere coz I need both hands to grab my bannister).

Take care xx
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

I did think about that having a clip to attach it to your trousers /skirt wasn't sure if people would bother to attach it to themselves, but you make a good point in when you have to travel upstairs it would make sense to have it out the way.

Also I am going to test different shapes inside the door knob grabber and see which one works best.

Many Thanks for your comments they really do help, gives me stuff to put in my project - talking to real users!
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Verity

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Glad to be of service ;-) x
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Date: 23.02.2010
From: Sally

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi Tom, your design looks very nice and I can see the potential in it. I'm not sure how the door gripper would work looking at it, can you explain? Also, the tap turner would only work with one sort of tap and not the sort I've got lol! It would be really useful if your design could be adapted by different people for their particular taps/doors/etc.
Have you got anyone with arthritis to try it out?
Sally
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Date: 25.02.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

How would you feel about having interchangeable pieces that can slot into the circle for different sizes and shapes of handles.

The bobbles would grip the door knob, it does look like it would slip but im working on different designs to overcome this problem

- would it be easy for you to slide a button that tightens the grip ?

Many Thanks
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Date: 25.02.2010
From: Sally

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

interchangeable pieces sound good - then you could take it with you when you go away knowing it would work - don't forget foreign taps though lol! Could be a like taking a plug abroad.
sliding button sounds good for me.
Good on you for perservering!
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Date: 04.03.2010
From: Kirsty

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi Tom you might read this on another post i have written - we all seem to have probs undoing these child proff lids you know like on medicine bottle, bleach bottles etc any change of a gadget that would apply the pressure in the right place to help us undo them????
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi Kirsty, that sounds like a very viable idea that could be designed for, I will look into that.

I have a presentation coming up and have worked on some further developments to the product, I would be very grateful if everyone could take a look and let me know what they think.

Thanks very much !


[IMG]http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/presenatationformatcy.jpg[/IMG]

http://s392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/?action=view¤t=presenatationformatcy.jpg
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

PS Ignore the [IMG] Link , just copy and paste the bottom one,

http://s392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/tomspencerart/Arthritis%20Tool/?action=view¤t=presenatationformatcy.jpg
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: sally

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

hi Tom, looks very good. Does it work? Lol! Only joking, am sure it does! Tried to do your questionnaire but couldn't access it for some reason.
sally
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: jill

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

HI Tom, did try and reply, and unsure if my post got to u on your website.....sounds ignorant I know, but r they shower heads? love the colour scheme, but there is a white product, with nobbly bits inside the 'head' of it, has a handle, cant see what that is clearly...sorrry again

Jill
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: jill

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Tom R U the same guy that sent a previous posting about arthritis design? ansa 6 questions etc, asssumings its related to arthrits, and answered the 1st question, to be dragged into a daft advert to win a fiat car (LOLOLOL) then ansa the 5 othe questions....... r u the same guy???
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: JILL

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Subject: Arthritis Design

(IS THIS U TOM?

Hi everyone, I am a University Student Designing a multifunctional product to help people with arthritis.

I have a questionnaire that is very quick and only has 6 questions - it contains images of my design and I would be very grateful if you would help me by completing it.

Questionnaire Download

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=35BKI0JX

Please send the completed questionnaire to:

tddesign@live.co.uk

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP !!!
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi, yes it is me - the questionnaire is stored on an upload website , where members of the public can download it - the only other way of getting it to you is to email it.

If you visit the site again and click download at the top it will take you to my file - please ignore the adverts !

Sorry for the misunderstanding!
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: sally

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Tom I can't get the download to work at all, all I get is another request to download and a load of ads.
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Date: 16.03.2010
From: Tom

Subject: Re: Designing for Arthritis , need your help

Hi, try this link ( another site I have put it on)

http://rapidshare.com/files/364329570/Arthritis_Questionnaire.doc.html

Click Free User - and wait 20 secs then it should work !

Silly websites that bombard with ads !
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