Object Redesign | Research

PICKLESBRAIN

»» Object Redesign [February 10th, 2006]

Using a Vacuum Cleaner to Clean an Apartment

In the chart below this chore is broken up into basic steps. The Physical, Sensory and Cognitive columns all indicate what type of involvement is needed for that specific task. These steps were not analyzed from a social perspective, as this is usually an activity that is done in the privacy of one’s home.

Activity Breakdown	Physical	Sensory	Cognitive
1. clear floor	balance/strength/coordination to bend/lift	see/sense where objects are located and where to move them to	know which objects should be moved and which should not
2. remove vacuum from storage	mobility/strength/balance to maneuver into storage space to get vacuum & attachments	see/sense of storage location and space around	know the storage location
3. plug in power cord	flexibility to pull out cord and reach socket	see/sense the socket location	understand that the plug must go into the socket
4. attach appropriate hose/nozzle	hand strength and fine motor skills	see/sense appropriate nozzle, location, connection	know which attachment is appropriate and their location
5. turn on vacuum	fine motor skills with hands or feet, balance	see/sense switch, awareness that it is working/clogged	know how to operate the switch
6. maneuver through space	strength to pull, balance/awareness not to trip over cord	see/sense where to clean–finding nooks & crannies, location of cord	understand back/forth motion and what has been cleaned and what needs to be cleaned
7. manage locations of cord, vacuum body, hose, attachment	strength, coordination	see/sense location of cord, vacuum, new socket	understand concept of vacuum being attached to the wall and adjusting plug relative to rooms
8. turn off	fine motor skills	see/sense the switch	understand when finished, how to turn off
9. unplug	fine motor skills, balance, strength	see/sense plug	understand unplugging as a next step
10. rewrap cord	fine motor skills with hands or feet, coordination	see/sense cord without tangling/knots	realize cord needs to be wrapped up
11. return to storage	mobility/strength/balance to maneuver into storage space to get vacuum & attachments	see/sense of storage location and space around	know the storage location

Potential Issues

Vision Impaired

tripping over cord
knowing position of all components
knowing what has been vacuumed
finding nooks & crannies
knowing when you run out of cord
locating new sockets

Hearing Impaired

longer response time if plug accidentally comes out of the socket/vacuum is off
difficult to sense if the vacuum is backed-up

Restricted Mobility

the chord could pose a problem maneuvering around and not tripping over
lifting/accessing machine and attachment

PROPOSAL:

A system for moving and managing large objects or devices with a wheelchair. Objects/devices are placed into a storage unit which is mounted on a wall via electro-magnetic powered latches (caribiners). The user backs up to the storage unit, located at wheelchair level, and by pressing switches, located on the armrests of the wheelchair, opens and locks the front latches, securing the unit to the back of the wheelchair, and opens the back latches, releasing the unit from the wall.

A cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner could be adapted using this system. Attachments would be mounted on the wall nearby and all the vacuum controls would be located on the handle of the nozzle.

*Looks like there is some expressed demand for this.

The activity of vacuuming was re-examined from the POV of being without the use of hands or arms.

It is impossible to connect the most commonly used large attachments. For this particular attachment, there is a small button that needs to be depressed in order to lock it into place. Using only the feet and legs, this proved to be extremely difficult, both because of the size of the button and the need to use simultaneous opposing force.

A few attempts were made:

Kate uses her foot and toes to take out the plug of the vacuum. Kate uses her feet to access an attachment.

Needless to say, designers dont think much about feet. Womens shoes are another case in point.