Semester 2 - The Elderly Challenge Reflection

What have you learnt?

The importance of prototyping of creating up with your product but before that, the skill required that I have learnt is the process of coming up with the idea.

Commitment, I need to discipline myself to document the process of ideation every week so it will make the process much more easier, although it may be troublesome at times. But with this process, in the future when reflecting on the product and recognising the mistakes probably made or going to change. If there is an error in calculating for example, the size is too small, we can just look back into the date being written into that journal, then we can just modify the changes from there.

Critical Thinking was also a skill learnt as it is to be employed in the creation of our journals and we might find out various materials needed for our respective products. We cannot use paper if one of the features of the product is water-proof.

Collaboration, is when getting the perspectives and feedback of our peers then giving them our honest feedback too so we could help one another. With this, not only we can improve in our product and make newer features or correct original mistakes, but we can do the same to others too.

Creativity as we need to push ourselves over the limit to improve and create ideas that are not one-of-the-usual items you see every single day but something unique and makes someone go in awe and that “wow” factor. Just simply, wow.

Communication in exchanging our thoughts and feedbacks on one another’s products so not only ourselves can improve but also our peers. Helping one another is also part of collaboration. But we still need to communicate effectively to make sure we get the idea over to the other party.

Curiosity as we need to venture out and experiment with other different and new things so we could stand out from the crowd. To be from a face in the crowd, to a face the crowd faces.

Confidence because we need to be sure of what we want to convey and not improve repeatedly and what is done is done, and we did our best in submitting our final product. Not be underconfident, and not to be over, which is complacent.

Courage is similar to confidence in a way, as we need the courage to actually interview the elderly and understand them by not offending them. We need to respect them as, well, they’re the elderly.

Cross-Cultural and Citizenship is important when interviewing the elderly and/or doing a project about them, we need to know they’re situation, and if they have any conditions that we cannot offend, we will have to follow and respect their decisions.


What difficulties did you face?

Obtaining the right materials to create my product. After that, I have the problem of forming the product with the supposedly correct material. Far before the formation of the product, there was the problem of coming up with the product to aid the elderly. Decision on the range of products that was thought up.

How did you overcome it?

Analysing the products that were available then apply criterias to see which was the best and most suitable product. In addition to that, it also had to be feasible. I have also applied the same criterias for the choosing of which product is best for the elderly for me to work on and prototype it.

Reflection - Prototype

1. What are the difficulties that you have encountered during the process?

Finding the right materials such. In addition to that is how to apply it to the prototype so it will turn out like how it is expected, or supposed to be.

2. How do you overcome the difficulties encountered?

Analysing the resources that I can currently achieve, then try to find a way to obtain it. After that is done, researching proved useful to help in crafting the product. Some of this research could be obtained from friends.

3. What are the 2 key takeaways for this lesson?

What and why is it important to make prototypes. How to craft a prototype.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 4

We can actually see a lot of elderly who are working for a living to actually earn. Most of these jobs are actually physical labour, like working as cleaners or collecting cans. There are two reasons for this, they have no family to fall back on for financial support. Another is that they would want to fill their time usefully by earning money for themselves and at the same time, benefiting the community.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 3

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The elderly seems to usually be alone and having no one to actually support himself or herself. That is why we actually have families. These senior citizens would need something to support or fall back on for basically every aspect in life. These includes financially and mentally and a lot more others. Without their support, they would have to struggle through with pain.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 2

Like most elderly, they do not want to feel trapped inside their respective homes so they would rather go out around and just simply going around, enjoying the fresh air. Most of them do not have own vehicles, (some of them do, but seem to prefer to stay at home instead) so they actually use the public transports available to them to go to their particular destinations. Some just have things to do such as grocery shopping or basic exercise. Yet, they still face difficulties of moving from destination A to B due to their limitations in mobility.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 1

As you can see here, the elderly found in this cafe is spending their time over here to actually have a meal. Although it does seem that it is not during any of the time when we usually have our lunch/dinner. Being in the near afternoon, they would more prefer to go out eating meals with their friends or other seniors to actually talk with about everyday situations. Because of this, they would much more prefer to actually eat outside and stay in touch with their friends as well as enjoy the outdoors instead of eating at home which they are usually lonely.

Ergonomics II

1. What is Ergonomics?
2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?
3. For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.

1. Ergonomics is the efficiency of the way people work in a working environment.
2. They are comfort, safety, ease of use, productivity/performance and aesthetics. (Source: http://www.slideshare.net/vins049/ergonomics-automotive-presentation)
3. Products for:
Safety - Single Outlet Surge Protector. Protects against power surges or wiring failure so it could also prevents fire and injuries to the owner. (http://www.senior-friendlyproducts.com/single-outlet-surge-protector.html)

Comfort - Traction Sole Slipper Socks. It is safe and warm in addition with its other features. (http://www.senior-friendlyproducts.com/senior-friendly-products-treadmate-socks--3-pair-pac3.html)

Ease of use - The Grabber Tool. It is easily being used and the things around them are easily accessible without stress. (http://www.senior-friendlyproducts.com/deluxe-pickup-amp-reaching-tool.html)

Productivity/Performance - Tools Screwdriver, 10 in 1. This helps the elderly to carry out the normal fixing routines with ease and faster too as they do not have to change it which is time-consuming. (http://www.senior-friendlyproducts.com/10-in-1-screwdri102.html)

Aesthetics - The Samsung C20. It is really elderly-friendly due to its sleek and small design to make it on-the-go type of video camcorder. With the functions really simple too that seniors can record videos of the same quality as any other person could. It really is that simple. (http://www.eldergadget.com/camcorder/the-samsung-c20-as-senior-friendly-as-camcorders-come)