Unit Package Opening Design for the Elderly by Applying the Principles of Universal Design

Abstract:

The elderly suffer considerable discomfort due to inadequate adaptation of everyday objects to their needs. This problem will grow in the future due to demographic changes and the increasing proportion of elderly people in society. Because of weakening with age muscle strength, as well as a decline in psychomotor coordination, activities such as opening bottles or handling keys become problematic. The problem is exacerbated in particular in the case of packages which need to safeguard against leakage or unauthorized opening e.g., by children, as they must have a high level of difficulty in opening (through considerable strength or manual dexterity). In turn, due to the cohort problem existing data cannot be directly used and an apparatus for the collection of relevant data must be constructed. To solve the problem, a method of biomechanical modeling enriched with the heuristic approach in the field of developing solutions to facilitate the opening of packaging is assumed, and the development of which is grounded in the principles of universal design. The article contains a summary of the existing solutions facilitating the opening of packages as well as allowing to obtain data in this respect for the elderly. As a result, a universal design enriched with principles of solving technical conflicts is presented.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 809-810)
• Pages: 1263-1268
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.809-810.1263
• Online since: November 2015
• Authors: Marcin Butlewski*
• Keywords: Design Methods, Elderly Design, Ergonomic Design, Ethnography Design, Geron-Technology, Persuasive Design, Universal Design

References

[1] R. Coleman, J. Myerson, Improving life quality by countering design exclusion. Gerontechnology. 2 (2001) 88-102.

DOI: 10.4017/gt.2001.01.02.002.00

[2] ISO 13127: 2012 Packaging - Child resistant packaging - Mechanical test methods for reclosable child resistant packaging systems.

DOI: 10.3403/30275120u

[3] J.A. Bichard, C. Greene, G. Ramster, T. Staples, Designing ethnographic encounters for enriched HCI Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 8009 LNCS (PART 1), 2013, pp.3-12.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-39188-0_1

[4] B. Meyer, W. A. Rogers, S. E. Mead, Guidelines for age-inclusive design, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 1998, pp.16-29.

[5] M. Butlewski, Heuristic Methods Aiding Ergonomic Design, Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Design Methods, Tools, and Interaction Techniques for eInclusion, Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 8009 (2013) 13-20.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-39188-0_2

[6] M. Butlewski, Practical approaches in the design of everyday objects for the elderly. Applied Mechanics and Materials. 657 (2014) 1061-1065.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.657.1061

[7] B. Branowski, M. Zabłocki, Creation and blending of design principles and rules of construction in designing for the disabled, (in): Product ergonomics. Ergonomic principles for the design of products, (ed. ) Jan Jablonski, Poznan University of Technology Publishing House, (2006).

[8] Y. Afacan, H. Demirkan, A priority-based approach for satisfying the diverse users' needs, capabilities and expectations: a universal kitchen design case, Journal of Engineering Design. 21: 2-3 (2010) 315-343.

DOI: 10.1080/09544820903303423

[9] M. F. Story, Maximizing Usability: The Principles of Universal Design, Assistive Technology: The Official Journal of RESNA. 10, 1 (1998) 4-12.

DOI: 10.1080/10400435.1998.10131955

[10] B. Mrugalska, A. Akielaszek-Witczak, R. Stetter, Robust quality control of products with experimental design. Popescu, D. (ed. ), Proceedings of International Conference on Production Research – Regional Conference Africa, Europe and the Middle East and 3rd International Conference on Quality and Innovation in Engineering and Management, July 1-5 2014, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca; Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2014, pp.343-348.

DOI: 10.56958/jesi.2019.4.2.169

[11] M. Butlewski, M. Jasiulewicz-Kaczmarek, A. Misztal, M. Sławińska, Design methods of reducing human error in practice, in: Safety and Reliability: Methodology and Applications - Proceedings of the European Safety and Reliability Conference ESREL 2014 Wrocław, (ed. ) T. Nowakowski, M. Młyńczak, A. Jodejko-Pietruczuk, S. Werbińska-Wojciechowska, CRC Press, London, 2015, pp.1101-1106.

DOI: 10.1201/b17399

[12] B.H. Goodpaster, S.W. Park, T.B. Harris, S.B. Kritchevsky, M. Nevitt, A.V. Schwartz, E.M. Simonsick, F.A. Tylavsky, M. Visser, A.B. Newman, The loss of skeletal muscle strength, mass, and quality in older adults: the health, aging and body composition study, J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 61, 10 (2006).

DOI: 10.1093/gerona/61.10.1059

[13] A. Wojas-Pelc, A. K. Jaworek, Selected aspects of the physiology and pathophysiology of aging skin [in] A. Marchewka, Z. Dąbrowski, J.A. Żołądź, Physiology of aging: Prevention and Rehabilitation (in Polish). Publishing house PWN, Warszawa, (2013).

[14] M. Starzycka, E. Starzycka-Bigaj, Changes in the organ of vision due to age. In A. Marchewka, Z. Dąbrowski, J.A. Żołądź, Physiology of aging: Prevention and Rehabilitation (in Polish). Publishing house PWN, Warszawa, (2013).

[15] C. W. Stegink Jansen, R. B. Niebuhr, J. D. Coussirat, D. Hawthorne, L. Moreno, M. Phillip, Hand Force of Men and Women Over 65 Years of Age as Measured by Maximum Pinch and Grip Force, in: Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 16, 2008, pp.24-41.

DOI: 10.1123/japa.16.1.24

[16] J. Wakula, K. Berg, K. Schaub, R. Bruder, U. Glitsch, R. Ellegast, BGIA – Report 3/2009, The installation - specific power Atlas, Berlin, (2009).