Products for People With Limited Mobility.

lkenny105

Hello all! I am designing a product to aid people with mobility issues for my Design and Technology GCSE. The product is going to be a table that stands over your lap to provide a stable surface when sitting down, whether in bed or on the sofa etc. If you have, have had or know of someone with limited mobility of any level, would you mind completing this short questionnaire to ensure I am making a product that is the most practical for its use.

Thank you for your time, please click the link for the survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfELmonavSgaGxwuL4dTaNvZR1Qqd2-wVYjMuz228pqMNRp6A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Academic12

Hi, would like to see some pix of this, sounds like great idea potentially

lkenny105

Academic12 said:

Hi, would like to see some pix of this, sounds like great idea potentially

Hello, I am currently in the stage of gathering research for the design but thank you for your reply. I can send you a pic of the finished product next year if you're still interested.

Academic12

thank you, I wish you all the best.

April2018mom

Can I see some pictures of it? It could possibly work for Oliver. 

lkenny105

April2018mom said:

Can I see some pictures of it? It could possibly work for Oliver. 

Thanks for your response! I am only at the research and planning stage now. It would be really helpful if you could complete the survey, so I can design a useful and practical product. Would that be possible?

newborn

There are many designs of bed table on the market , dozens, probably. . What would be different?   There are organisations making one offs, for things not available.  Why not ask them if there is a common request for adaptation, which they can't solve but you can?

lkenny105

newborn said:

There are many designs of bed table on the market , dozens, probably. . What would be different?   There are organisations making one offs, for things not available.  Why not ask them if there is a common request for adaptation, which they can't solve but you can?

Thank you so much, this is really helpful. Do you happen to know the name of any of these organisations? And if you have any ideas of features you feel these pre-existing products are lacking please leave them on my survey above. Thanks again.

April2018mom

I filled out the survey. Just wondering what exactly are you making? 

lkenny105

April2018mom said:

I filled out the survey. Just wondering what exactly are you making? 

It will be a table for beds or sofas that could be used as a surface for eating, propping up a laptop, reading, etc. I am yet to decide the specific features but that is my basic idea. Thank you for completing the survey.

newborn

They already invented wheels, sliced bread, and bed tables exactly like you describe.     It is N  O  T  a new idea.     

1.    Have you ever tried online searching, or on line shopping? 
2.    Have you ever seen a hospital ward, even on t.v?
3.    Does your teacher ever speak to you?

Geoark

Hi @lkenny105

As newborn points out it is not a new idea, but please do not let this put you off. We had an electric lightbulb, but then someone found a way to improve on it and with new technology there are now a huge range of lightbulbs which are more efficient.

Similarly while the wheel is an ancient device and luggage bags in various formats have existed for centuries, yet it is only recently in the timeline someone thought of adding these two items together.

As part of your research I would suggest looking at sites like Amazon and type in 'lap table' and see the range and variations as well as having reviews by people who bought them.

Innovation often comes from identifying or recognising a problem and producing a solution.

A very simple innovation can go on to make a huge difference in many lives, see this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23536914

I wish you well with your project.

Geoark

Removed as double posted

newborn

@geoark.   Oh dear, I stand corrected. Wheeled suitcases did indeed wait a long time to be born.   

By the way, a spare wheelie bin is often better than a wheelbarrow.

Plus, those strange  shopping trolleys which have 3 big wheels each side on the axle are a great way to drag a load up stairs.  

And, I vote for a special place in any available heaven, to be reserved for whoever invented big castor wheels, so even a small child can easily move the heaviest of furniture.

But, most architects, policy makers, builders, most  planners, politicians, council and even health officials,  and most  designers,  are so disability and age neglectful, that they will be going somewhere entirely different!

lkenny105

Geoark said:

Hi @lkenny105

As newborn points out it is not a new idea, but please do not let this put you off. We had an electric lightbulb, but then someone found a way to improve on it and with new technology there are now a huge range of lightbulbs which are more efficient.

Similarly while the wheel is an ancient device and luggage bags in various formats have existed for centuries, yet it is only recently in the timeline someone thought of adding these two items together.

As part of your research I would suggest looking at sites like Amazon and type in 'lap table' and see the range and variations as well as having reviews by people who bought them.

Innovation often comes from identifying or recognising a problem and producing a solution.

A very simple innovation can go on to make a huge difference in many lives, see this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23536914

I wish you well with your project.

Thank you, I appreciate your kindness.

Chloe_Alumni

Please can everyone be mindful of other people's opinions and know that their ideas are to benefit the conversation. Thanks

Jean_OT

Hi @lkenny105

It was mentioned earlier in the thread that there are organisations which specialise in driving innovation by making disability products not available commercially and you asked for their details. The two I would normally signpost to are: 

REMAP https://www.remap.org.uk/ and DEMAND https://www.demand.org.uk/

You might also be interested in: http://designtogetherlivebetter.org/

Good luck with your project

Best Wishes

Jean

lkenny105

Jean_Scope said:

Hi @lkenny105

It was mentioned earlier in the thread that there are organisations which specialise in driving innovation by making disability products not available commercially and you asked for their details. The two I would normally signpost to are: 

REMAP https://www.remap.org.uk/ and DEMAND https://www.demand.org.uk/

You might also be interested in: http://designtogetherlivebetter.org/

Good luck with your project

Best Wishes

Jean

Thank you so much @Jean_Scope