Inclusive Design

Design problem

• The problem of slipping due to water and poor grip of the sole.

Design Brief

• Problems of old age come in 2 forms: emotional and physical.

• Many studies have proved that the two are interconnected. So, if we try working on one, the other one improves automatically. Thus, our aim is-

• To design a sole for footwears which detects the presence of water through sensors and is also resistant to slipping.

Falls are the single leading cause of injury, mortality for people aged 65 and above. Every year, the following proportion of people suffer from a fall

Falls are the commonest presenting complaint to A&E in patients over the age of 65

According to WHO

CONSEQUENCES OF FALLS

• Trauma– Soft tissue injuries. Bilateral orbital haematomas (two black eyes)

suggests that the faller was probably not conscious as they fell, as they did not manage to protect their face as they hit the ground.

– Fractures and dislocations.5% of fallers end up having a fracture as a result of their fall, and 1% fracture their neck of femur.

• "Long Lies"– Pneumonia– Pressure sores– Dehydration– Hypothermia

• Psychological– A fear of falling

As the age of a human increases the functional capacity(physical and sensory) decreases.

Inspiration

• While researching about the work i happened to talk to one of our facilitators, Lloyd Roberts, regarding the work i were trying to do. He told me that his own mother, who was a beautiful dancer got bed ridden in her 90’s due to slipping in the bathroom. So I thought slipping is one of the main problems of old age due to poor vision and poor body balance. Thus, I decided to work upon the sole of the shoes and to came up with the idea of anti-slipping soles but then I realised that slipping is mostly caused due to water. Because of poor vision old people have difficulty to see it. So finally I came up with the idea of designing soles that are anti-slip plus that have water detectors fitted inside that can alarm people if there is water near their shoe.

Exploration

• I started with improving architecture for older generation, so I thought of changing the design (height, width and material) of the staircase. There was also a thought of converting staircases into ramps, electric climbing chair attached to the railing which older people could sit on and move up and down the floor was another thought

• But, the idea wasn’t specific, so I shifted to working on tiles. I then planed of improving the design and structure of the tiles by working on the material used for making it. Later, I found that flooring is not the main problem, but grip of the footwear is. While I researched about different types of grips and materials of sole, I encountered that most of the falls/ accidents happen due to water and poor grip of the soles. And hence I Finalised that I am going to design a foot wear with water and a better grip sensors and a better grip to warn the user .

Selection

• One out of every 3 old people meets with slipping accidents due to water or poor grip of the sole.

• So, finally I decided to work on a sole that has Light sensors which detect water and the material used in the sole is slip-resistant.

Materials needed

Shoe soles:• Shoe soles can be made out of a variety of products, depending on the

type of shoe and its purpose. Eg: an athletic shoe will have a different kind of sole than a regular non-sport shoe or dress shoe or high heels.

• Experimenting and researching with different types of materials helps us in Knowing the material And gives us a better understanding of its properties like density, lifespan etc.

• While looking at different types of materials like rubber, leather, latex, silicon, wood etc. we came to a con0000clusion that rubber is one of the best matrials used for making shoe soles. It is very good when it comes to absorbing shock and preventing you from slipping. Also, it provides great surface grip if moulded and shaped properly.

• This type of sole is durable and cost effective. Also, due to its softness, it provides a lot of comfort to the feet.

Shoe soles

SHOE GRIP

• The grip or the outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground.

• The outsole varies from shoe to shoe depending on the usage.

• It may comprise a single piece ,or may be an assembly of separate pieces, often of different materials.

• The design of the grip or the outsole can make a shoe slip resistant.

• The grip of the shoe decreases with the decrease in the design in the sole.

• The planer the sole, lesser the grip.

Types Of Grips

‘X’ 0r ‘The Box’ Design

• This is one of the best design for good grip because friction is formed on all the sides.

• And the slits which runs across in different directions help water to sweep out easily.

• It creates a balance grip as all the four sides of the box creates a kind of vacuum that prevents slipping.

GRIP DESIGNS

MATERIALS USED

• RUBBER SOLE• RUBBER SLIPPER• WIRE• COPPER STRIP• BUTTON CELLS• LED LIGHTS• LEAD AND SOLDERING PASTE• INSULATION TAPE• FEVIBOND

PROCESS

• Collect all the materials needed for the product.

Start with the slippers first

• Cut two horizontal slits on the base sole and make a small hole in the front part of both the slippers(to fix the led lights).

• Drill bigger holes in the middle of the slippers(to fix the battery).

Design Of The Product

Now the the rubber soles

• Cut two thin slits with a cutter on the base of both the soles(to fix the copper strips).

• Also , drill two tiny holes next to the slits (to fix the wire).• Note copper strips should be fitted in a way that it touches

the ground .

Preparing the water sensor

• Take the battery holder and connect the positive of the battery to the LEDs to make the LEDs positive.

• Connect the negative of the battery to one of the copper strip to make the copper strip negative.

• Then connect a wire from the LEDs to the other copper strip.

Connecting The Sensors

Check the diagram in order to place the circuit correctly

Here, the bulb is not working as the circuit is not complete

Final Product