As the date of the Make-a-thon approaches, my team and I are trying to narrow down on our options for the prototype. With selecting one or two prototypes to continue as our objective of the week, we shared our ideas to Milestone Labs to receive their feedback. From the bridge-style and an armadillo-style to a molding idea, we had a wide range of ideas for the cover of the joystick for a power wheelchair. Although we liked the idea of providing a molding kit to the user so that the cover can be customized for the specific wheelchair along with the possibility of adding grooves for the grips or using different colors, we realized that this method is most likely out of our reach to achieve for the make-a-thon event. Therefore, we decided to continue with the prototypes that we can make further progress with.
During the discussion with Milestone Labs, we shared our findings on the market research and how the current joystick protectors on the market are ugly as seen below.
However, when we came up with other ideas with better designs, we discovered the challenge of making the product fit with different types of chairs in order to increase the user base. When we shared this problem with Milestone Labs, they told us to focus on our direct user, Ryan, first and see how it goes from there on.
After consulting with Milestone Labs, we came together as a team to have a discussion about our prototypes. Our original prototypes were made to protect the joystick itself, but after reviewing Ryan’s power chair, we decided that it would be important to also protect the screen and the buttons on the arm of the chair. Therefore, we developed an idea of a protective sleeve that would fit around the arm of the power chair tightly for the improved appearance compared to the ones in the market. The design is shown in the sketch below.
After the sketch, we discussed the potential materials that can be used for the product. There were many things we needed to consider, including:
- Is the material waterproof? Will it be able to withstand a lot of rain?
- Can it withstand a variety of weather conditions including but not limited to rain, snow, cold, humid, hot, and direct sunlight?
- Is it transparent so that the user can see the buttons and the screen through the cover?
- Is the material affordable?
- Is the material durable yet flexible enough that it can be molded around the joystick as well as the arm of the power chair?
Considering such questions, we developed a list of materials, which can be seen in the picture above on the top right corner of the whiteboard. We also discussed the mechanism for wrapping the sleeve around the arm of the chair, including buttons, zippers, and velcro. We talked about whether one method was easier to perform than the other as well as the effectiveness of it as both factors are crucial for the users.
Although we had many ideas before, we were unsure which route to take for the project. This week, we were able to narrow it down and come up with solid details for the product, so I am very happy with the progress that has been made. We are excited to get our hands on the materials and start working on the prototype. In the meantime, we are planning on meeting with Ryan again to measure dimensions of his chair as well as developing low-fidelity prototypes using papers and fabrics.
Hi Matthew,
I like the direction you guys are headed. I think the protective sleeve is simple straightforward and effective. Are you guys just thinking of this sleeve as a add on to the chair ? Could it possibly be expanded even further to some form of protector for the user ? I remember Ryan saying having an umbrella is a hit or miss seeing how it could easily fly away.
Hi Matthew, I am impressed by your group’s process and the valuable pieces of advice given by the Milestones Lab. I feel the uncertainty your group was facing before the meeting with the Milestones Lab: it was hard to accommodate different types of chairs if the design would like to involve many functions. I agree that it is a great starting point to deeply examine one chair first and that could bring insights. I would suggest considering modularity in your design. This is the suggestion we received from the Milestones Lab, and I think this helps accommodate different types and functions.