Design and Engineering is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) course that focuses on building things well: user-friendly, and sustainable. For our first action project, we were assigned to use physics concepts to sketch an easier to use gardening tool for senior citizens. My partner and I chose to redesign a wheelbarrow. I learned to harness empathy (understand and share the feelings of another) to do things better, and appreciate trial and error.
The Gucci Wheelbarrow
 |
| GN (2014) |
Vectors
 |
| GN (2014) |
Storyboard:
 |
| GN (2014) |
 |
GN (2014)
Gardening is a fun outdoor activity, as the spare time provides exercise, and has various therapeutic qualities. Stephanie Leite believes that "It is just satisfying I think, to see what grows. It's totally unpredictable." There is no reason why a lifelong love of gardening should end as mobility and other limitations arise in senior citizens. Adaptive garden tools, allow senior citizens to continue to pursue their love of gardening. The Gucci Wheelbarrow is an adaptive tool that my partner and I have designed. |
A wheelbarrow consists of an inclined plane, lever (handles), axle, and wheels. The wheelbarrow’s handles extend the length of the wheelbarrow and acts as a lever. A lever is a rigid bar resting on a pivot at a fixed hinge, called a fulcrum. The axle, raised up by the wheels, acts as the fulcrum point.
Many wheelbarrow manufacturers emphasize comfort in the grip handles and weight to minimize the force and energy needed to push the wheelbarrow, both in the visual design and in the production descriptions. The more expensive wheelbarrows differentiate themselves by their high quality materials, in the tray, handles, and wheels. The Gucci Wheelbarrow emphasizes high quality, affordability, comfort, and minimization of force and energy used while using the item.
Unlike other wheelbarrow manufacturers, the Gucci Wheelbarrow specifically favors the need of senior citizens. Our design affords strength and stability with the double T-bar handle, which allows the user to maneuver the heaviest load lightly and comfortably. It also permits greater control of deposition of the load on emptying. The Gucci Wheelbarrow handle is designed to keep elbows tucked while using the wheelbarrow, which reduces the strain on the user's shoulders. It also has a spongy rubber sleeve over the T-bar handle to increase grip, therefore reducing the strain on the user's knuckles and joints.
Although, the two-wheeled wheelbarrows are more stable, and the one wheeled wheelbarrows are more maneuverable, the Gucci Wheelbarrow design has managed to blur the line between the one and two wheeled wheelbarrows. The T-bar handle allows the Gucci Wheelbarrow to be more maneuverable and the two low-ground flat free tires make the Gucci Wheelbarrow more stable. One feature that make the Gucci Wheelbarrow special is our lever release system and push or pull handle. The lever release system allows to content/things in the wheelbarrow tray to be easily dumped. The push or pull handle gives the user the option of either pulling or pushing the wheelbarrow.
In conclusion, the Gucci Wheelbarrow design keeps in mind the physical restrictions of senior citizens and accommodates to their needs and limitation.
Works Cited:
"OXO Good Grips." Smart Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. <http://smartdesignworldwide.com/work/oxo-good-grips/>.
"Protecting Your Joints When You're Gardening." Arthritis Research UK. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. <http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/arthritis-and-daily-life/gardening-and-arthritis/protecting-your-joints.aspx>.
"Effects of Aging -OrthoInfo - AAOS." Effects of Aging -OrthoInfo - AAOS. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. <http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00191>.
