A Study on Universal Design for Foldable Electric Wheelchair Driven by Rim Motors

• Main Authors: Jiun-Wei Huang, 黃俊維
• Other Authors: Chih-Fu Wu
• Format: Others
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/00176186921519036082

碩士 === 大同大學 === 工業設計學系(所) === 98 === In recent years the popularity of transport tools has shown its importance to stroke and mobility-impaired patients as well as old people. In addition, due to the development of lightweight materials and intensive battery, the adoption of electric wheelchair has been gradually increased; however, as there is a movement difference between the disabilities and the caregivers, a universal design for electric wheelchair is necessary. The experiment of this research had been conducted in three phases. The first phase was a questionnaire survey to wheelchair user groups of lower extremity disabilities concerning the operational problems of existing commercial electric wheelchairs. The second phase was to have subjects, by using universal design PPP (Product Performance Program) scale , assess the electric wheelchair operated video shoot and conduct factor analysis to obtain the association between the universal design principles and design elements. The third was to conduct design improvement based on the findings of factor analysis and used universal design PPP scale to assess the modified design project. The research findings of the first phase demonstrated that problems for lower extremity disabilities to commercial electric wheelchair are: (1) clothing, towels are easy to clip into the wheel circle and hand rims. (2). Inconvenience in battery change while charging (3), Inconvenience in wheelchair folding or unable to fold. (4). Uneven balance and hard to keep straight (5). Hands tend to be clipped by iv wheel frames, wire, or hand rim while in steering. (6). Limited storage space. On using universal design PPP scale to conduct factor analysis to obtain the association between the universal design principles and design elements. There were three major components extracted from the remaining variables through factor analysis (UD Guideline Items) , with 71% explained rate. The first major component composed of eight principles. The second major component consisted of two principles o; the third one included one principle. The findings of final phase which used universal design PPP scale to assess the modified design project based on the necessary design process, showed that the folding hand-wheel motor-driven electric wheelchair under the design elements corresponding with general principles was the most satisfied one.In recent years the popularity of transport tools has shown its importance to stroke and mobility-impaired patients as well as old people. In addition, due to the development of lightweight materials and intensive battery, the adoption of electric wheelchair has been gradually increased; however, as there is a movement difference between the disabilities and the caregivers, a universal design for electric wheelchair is necessary. The experiment of this research had been conducted in three phases. The first phase was a questionnaire survey to wheelchair user groups of lower extremity disabilities concerning the operational problems of existing commercial electric wheelchairs. The second phase was to have subjects, by using universal design PPP (Product Performance Program) scale , assess the electric wheelchair operated video shoot and conduct factor analysis to obtain the association between the universal design principles and design elements. The third was to conduct design improvement based on the findings of factor analysis and used universal design PPP scale to assess the modified design project. The research findings of the first phase demonstrated that problems for lower extremity disabilities to commercial electric wheelchair are: (1) clothing, towels are easy to clip into the wheel circle and hand rims. (2). Inconvenience in battery change while charging (3), Inconvenience in wheelchair folding or unable to fold. (4). Uneven balance and hard to keep straight (5). Hands tend to be clipped by iv wheel frames, wire, or hand rim while in steering. (6). Limited storage space. On using universal design PPP scale to conduct factor analysis to obtain the association between the universal design principles and design elements. There were three major components extracted from the remaining variables through factor analysis (UD Guideline Items) , with 71% explained rate. The first major component composed of eight principles. The second major component consisted of two principles o; the third one included one principle. The findings of final phase which used universal design PPP scale to assess the modified design project based on the necessary design process, showed that the folding hand-wheel motor-driven electric wheelchair under the design elements corresponding with general principles was the most satisfied one.In recent years the popularity of transport tools has shown its importance to stroke and mobility-impaired patients as well as old people. In addition, due to the development of lightweight materials and intensive battery, the adoption of electric wheelchair has been gradually increased; however, as there is a movement difference between the disabilities and the caregivers, a universal design for electric wheelchair is necessary. The experiment of this research had been conducted in three phases. The first phase was a questionnaire survey to wheelchair user groups of lower extremity disabilities concerning the operational problems of existing commercial electric wheelchairs. The second phase was to have subjects, by using universal design PPP (Product Performance Program) scale , assess the electric wheelchair operated video shoot and conduct factor analysis to obtain the association between the universal design principles and design elements. The third was to conduct design improvement based on the findings of factor analysis and used universal design PPP scale to assess the modified design project. The research findings of the first phase demonstrated that problems for lower extremity disabilities to commercial electric wheelchair are: (1) clothing, towels are easy to clip into the wheel circle and hand rims. (2). Inconvenience in battery change while charging (3), Inconvenience in wheelchair folding or unable to fold. (4). Uneven balance and hard to keep straight (5). Hands tend to be clipped by iv wheel frames, wire, or hand rim while in steering. (6). Limited storage space. On using universal design PPP scale to conduct factor analysis to obtain the association between the universal design principles and design elements. There were three major components extracted from the remaining variables through factor analysis (UD Guideline Items) , with 71% explained rate. The first major component composed of eight principles. The second major component consisted of two principles o; the third one included one principle. The findings of final phase which used universal design PPP scale to assess the modified design project based on the necessary design process, showed that the folding hand-wheel motor-driven electric wheelchair under the design elements corresponding with general principles was the most satisfied one.