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KMID : 1142620230150010071
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Korea Aging Friendly Industry Association
2023 Volume.15 No. 1 p.71 ~ p.79
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A Study on the Walking Aids for Older Adults Applied Universal Design
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Bae Ye-Na
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Abstract
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Objective : The purpose of this study is to design a walking aids with improved usability for the elderly by applying the universal design principles and design thinking process, to explore the possibility of the design development for the welfare goods through the suggestions on the direction of the walking aids design suitable for user-centered the requirements and the constraints etc.
Methods : From October 2022 to December 2022, a focus group interview (FGI) was conducted with five caregivers and social workers related to the elderly and over 70 years of age. The FGI included in-depth interviews on the 7 principles of universal design and shadowing analysis techniques. An interview questionnaire was prepared and analyzed, and a problem-solving process was conducted using the five-step design thinking model from d.school.
Results : During the study, the research team applied universal design principles to walking aids, drawing on the actual experiences and cases of research participants. Through the five stages of the design thinking process - Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test - the team derived design improvement directions based on the development of walking aids. Priorities for functional improvements were identified, including the ability to use the aids, a structure that can be used with both hands, and the role of support. Through this process, meaningful conclusions were drawn and design improvements were identified to better meet the needs of users.
Conclusion : The design of the walking aids presented in this study were obtained the responses and the positive feedback that the requirements for the elderly’s needs and desired points, who were initially surveyed and analyzed, were met. As a result of this study, it is expected that the improvement of the convenience of use and ease of movement, as well as the recovery of self-directed life through this, will greatly contribute to the significant improvement of the quality of life of the elderly users.
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KEYWORD
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Universal design, Design thinking, Walking aids, Aged society
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