donderdag 25 februari 2016

Prototype 3

























Another prototype based on our research
A thicker handle should make it easier for the user to have a grip on the spoon. We made the handle thicker using plasticine, but with ducktape all around the plasticine, so the spoon would be hygienic to use (without having the risk that she might accidentally eat plasticine).














Test (26/02/'16):
Unexpected negative: Brenda already has a spoon like this, combined with our "prototype 1".
Unexpected positive: Tiene said it is the best kind of spoon they ever used.
Expected positive:
Expected negative:

Score: Brenda/ Tiene gave this prototype a score of .../10
(We didn't test it anymore, because she already had a spoon like this. Tiene likes the spoon they have now, but Brenda can't eat independent with this tool)







Prototype 2






















Another prototype based on our research
The bumper on the edge of the plate should make it easier for the user to put some food on the spoon (according to our research).

Test (26/02/'16):
Expected positive:
Unexpected positive:
Expected negative:
Unexpected negative: Brenda doesn't like that her food is mixed, so she needs seperate compartments

Score: Brenda/ Tiene gave this prototype a score of .../10
We couldn't test the prototype, because Brenda didn't want to eat when we were visiting, but we did notice that she already had a plate with some edges. She also needs at least 3 compartments for her food (for example; a compartment for her potatoes, one for her mayonaise and one for her vegetables).

Prototype 1





















Prototype based on our research
This prototype is based on a tool that already exist for cerebrale palsy. The end of the spoon is bend, with the intention that the user needs less complicate movements to bring the food to her mouth.

Test (26/02/'16):
Unexpected negative: Brenda already has a spoon like this, combined with our "prototype 3".
Unexpected positive: Tiene said it is the best kind of spoon they ever used.
Exptected positive: /
Expected negative: /


Score: Brenda/ Tiene gave this prototype a score of  .../10
(We didn't test it anymore, because she already had a spoon like this. Tiene likes the spoon they have now, but Brenda can't eat independent with this tool)


zondag 21 februari 2016

Cerebral Palsy

Because we can't visit our client before next week, we already did some research on her disability and tools that already exist.

Our client is a girl with "cerabral palsy", this is a different term for paralysis in the brain. 
This damage to the brain is caused before, during or after birth. 

Characterizes
- Problems with balance
- Problems with movements (arms, legs, hands, ...)
- Problems with tension in the muscles

The effectes can range from mild to severe, an impairment of a limb to the whole body.

Other possible symptoms
- Epilepsy
- Learning problems
- Problems with vision and hearing
- Problems with speaking

We suppose (because Tiene mentioned that Brenda has a mental disorder) that the client will also have difficulty with speaking. It's possible that she has swallowing problems too. 

Next week, we will also identify the patient a little more. If we have enough time, we will ask the patient (or her supervisor) some questions so that we have a good picture of our patient. 

This picture shows an example of how a child with cerebral palsy can look like:





















Some tools that already exist
An adapted board to eat, which can be attached to the weelchaird. 
(Already a combination of an adapted spoon and plate).




























Adapted spoon (with a thicker handle)













Adapted mug with handles












Plate with a 'bumper'












































A grip/ handle





dinsdag 16 februari 2016

First meeting

This week, we tried contacting Tiene, so we could go meet her and Brenda in person. Because Tiene was on a holiday, we couldn't get her onto the phone so we sent her an e-mail to ask her when we could meet.

We got an answer from her yesterday, which included some information about when she works in the centrum (Zonnebloem) and which days she's not available due to a holiday. Today we tried calling her again, because that's an easier way to fix an appointment. The first time we can see her in person will be next week on friday (because she only works on mondays, tuesdays and fridays and is on a vacation until next tuesday).

She also clarified that we can go to the centrum on days she is not working there (but not the first time, because she wants to explain the problem more in detail), but we have to send her a mail about when we are going and which solutions/ prototypes we will test.

Because we need a lot more information about the issue than we have now, we can't really start prototyping yet, but we will already do some research on tools that already exist and could be a possibility to use in our solution. We will also do some research on the disability "celebrale palsy".

Assignment

Before trying to contact our contact person, this is what we already know about the assignment:

Description issue?
Our client wants to be able to eat independent (with a customized spoon), but she does not have the motor skills to do so. She also has a mental limitation, but she knows very well what she wants to eat. Due to cerebrale palsy and some linked problems to this, she can only move her arm a little (limited amplitudo), so it's difficult to direct the spoon towards her mouth. Scoopiing up some food (with a customized spoon and support for the elbow) goes better. 

Why doesn't a standard tool suffice?
They haven't tried any tools yet, because Tiene has looked on different sites but she couldn't find any eating tool that she thinks are useful; she thinks that it will have to be a combination of different tools but she can't find this on the market. Especially the fixing systems do not meet the requirements. The client has her own (customized?) chair with her own table on which the eating tool can be attached. 

Which could be a possible solution?
A customized eating tool would give her the possibility to eat independent.