Customer Feedbacks - Personal Statement Example

Feedback on Wheelchair Design Feedback on Wheelchair Design Introduction Product innovation with revolutionary features is essential to provide users the best quality a product can give to customers. In this paper, innovative changes to a wheelchair were designed for the end user, carer and seller for evaluate. The changes in the wheelchair were presented in two designs: initial design and final design. In soliciting comments on the designs, a carer, two relatives of users, two users and one seller/retailer participated in the design assessment. Initial Design The initial design of the wheelchair is really innovative since it allows the user to use the toilet bowl from the wheelchair. The design will greatly provide comfort to the user in using the toilet without much effort to expend. The concept is revolutionary and has not been manufactured yet for the market. As a consumer though, the technicalities of the mechanism is not much of a concern but the comfort the design can offer (e.g. how the handle works, number of pulleys or levers). The initial design focuses only on one feature, the detachable seat that would bring the user to the toilet bowl. However, in order for a product to be a fully comfortable masterpiece, it should also consider other features of the product. The backrest design is vertically erect and flat. That would cause discomfort on the back of the user especially if he/she has been sitting for a longer time. The backrest should be ergonomic and follow the contour of the back of the user. It would provide ease and comfort if the backrest can recline backwards up to two or three adjustments (or settings) to give relief to the lower back of the user caused by prolonged sitting in one position. The back of the user can rest on a leather (or other synthetic material) or cushion-padded backrest to provide a soft material for the back to lie on. The top of the seat should not only be made of plain plastic as this is hard and would be inconvenient to sit upon for longer hours. Thus, it would be better to have a cushion on the seat. The three layers of the detachable seat or chair is bulky. The base of this detachable seat/chair has five swivel casters. The number of swivel casters can be reduced to four without compromising the stability and manageability of the detachable seat/chair. The base with the swivel casters was designed to move upwards along the length of the chair pedestal in order to retain easy maneuverability of the wheelchair when the detachable seat/chair is attached to the main body. Too many casters and wheels in contact with the ground or floor will affect the movement of the chair since some casters may be facing other directions. Thus, it is logical that the swivel casters of the detachable seat/chair be adjusted upwards when not in use. However, there is no detailed explanation on how the base with the swivel casters can be adjusted upwards and how to lock it along the body of the pedestal. It is therefore viable that instead of the base sliding up the length of the pedestal and locked somewhere in the middle of the pedestal, the same hydraulic-piston sub-assembly be utilized in pulling up the base. The seat of the detachable chair can be raised up and down through the use of the hydraulic-piston sub-assembly. Using a lever in this sub-assembly can hoist the seat upward or lower it down. When the detachable chair is properly set in its place in the main body, the lever controlling the hydraulic-piston system can be manipulated to raise up the base with the swivel casters. Thereby, it eliminates the need to slide up the base through the pedestal. The teeterboard may no longer be needed in order for the seat to tilt on one side and the user to slide down unto the toilet bowl. Since the seat itself can be raised or lowered to a desired level, it can be adjusted to the same height as the toilet bowl, and thus, facilitating the transfer of the user from the detachable chair to the bowl. Moreover, the teeterboard may incline the angle of the seat to just a few degrees which in reality may be negligible and cannot actually facilitate ease in the transfer. An incline of higher degrees may cause an accident, as when the user released the clasp and the seat suddenly tilted on one side and cause the user to lose balance and fall on his/her side. Final Design It is reiterated that four swivel casters for the base can be stable as the five swivel casters of the final design. In the same way, the base can moved upwards using the same hydraulic-piston system. The hydraulic-piston system can be redesigned so that, while it can hoist and lower the seat, it can also pull up the base with the swivel casters (when not in use). The frame joint stay in the final design positioned at the lower back of the wheelchair is stronger and can provide more stable support for the whole frame of the wheelchair. An adjustable backrest that can recline should also be considered in the design to give ergonomic comfort to the user. A wheel lock can also be considered so that the user can immobilise the wheelchair when desired as when the user is talking to someone or eating. A break system can also be incorporated so that the user will not use his/her arm muscles too much when stopping the wheelchair from moving. An important feature, though, that is not considered is the feet support at the front of the wheelchair. Since the detachable chair is moved forward from the main body, the front is designed as open for the chair to pass through. Feet support is an important aspect of the wheelchair since the user will tire up hanging his/her legs. Feet support is also necessary when the user wants to push oneself upwards to better position the body. Without feet support, the legs are also prone to accidental injury or even fracture. It can be designed as part of the detachable chair or as part of the main body but can swing either to the left or right to give way to the detachable chair. Whichever part is the feet support attached, it should be considered in the total design of the wheelchair. The switch from rotation swivel plate to bearing in the detachable chair is a brilliant move, as well as the reduction of layers in the seat. This reduces the number of parts, thus, simplifying the manufacturing process as well as expenditure on materials, and lowers the cost and selling price. Elimination of the pulleys from the side of the seat may be economical as component parts are reduced. However, it must be ensured that the substitute lead rails on the side would provide a smooth movement for the detachable chair being pulled off by the user from the main body. The lead rails must produce less friction as the seat is being moved forward, otherwise, the user will have to use more energy in pulling off the detachable chair together with one’s own weight. Finally, the underneath of the wheelchair has only one horizontal support that runs across from one side to the other. Adding one more horizontal support can provide more safety for the user. Conclusion The respondents provided useful comments that should be considered in the design. They emphasised comfort of the user in their comments. All respondents expressed delight on the detachable chair that would allow the user to easily use the toilet bowl alone. This would allow the user to have some privacy since they would not be assisted by a carer or relative. They also placed emphasis on the backrest, feet support and base of the detachable chair. For the backrest, the respondents prefer that it can be reclined backward to give ease and comfort to the user. Also, the backrest should be made of soft material. The feet support should also be incorporated in the design to avoid leg fatigue or fracture. They even suggested that the support can be made part of the detachable chair or the main body but can swing sideways. For the base of the detachable chair, the respondents suggested four swivel casters both in the initial design and final design, and that, the base with the casters be pulled upward using the same hydraulic-piston system that hoist and lower the seat. Additional suggestions included the inclusion of the break system for the wheels, wheel lock and additional framework support underneath the wheelchair for strength and safety. Read More