This project was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic, this limited some elements of the development process
Brief
create a product that helps improve the quality of life of people who suffer with Parkinson's disease.
Problem
How might we increase confidence in moving and getting around?
Solution
A wearable piece of assistive technology that reduces freezing and shuffling.
The Process
Distracting the mind to free the body
By observing a variety of techniques used in occupational therapy through online research, it became clear that distracting with a small task such as counting, bouncing a ball or walking sideways improved a persons mobility drastically.
Small Tasks
Distracting the mind with small tasks whilst walking seems to overcome some of the issues , though not practical in day to day activities.
Alternative movement
Walking in alternative ways seemed to reduce issues with balance and speed, but users may not feel comfortable in front of other people.
Tempo
Using a steady beat, whether through music or metronome relieves many of the Parkinson’s symptoms that effect a persons ability to walk.
What is the best approach?
To find the best device placement, I created crude prototypes. I concluded most practical to hold the device close to the user's hands.
What will it look like?
At this point, I wasn't sure if the outcome would be a handheld or wearable device - similar, but not the same. After many design iterations and discussions with users, I concluded that a hybrid would be most suitable, a handheld device with a wearable sleeve.
How does feel?
Exploration of the form in clay led to some potential options. The best shapes were asymmetric. Creating a symmetric adaptation allows for ambidextrous use and to simplify manufacturing.
How does it fit?
An iterative design process led to discovering small ways to improve the fit and aesthetics of the design. Starting simple and building support where needed led to a minimal design.
Design for assembly
A screwless, snap fit design to minimise part count.
Companion app
A concept for a companion app that could be developed to enable a tailored experience.
The Design
A more in depth look into the process of this project is available on request.