Problem Areas & Problem Statements

Lifting, Bracing, Opening, Cutting

Problem Areas & Solution Goals:

Problem Area: Lifting heavy objects such as bottles, milk jugs, and pots of noodles.

User Needs: The user needs support when trying to lift items that would normally require the use of two hands.  The user also needs assistance with potential arthritis and other muscle weakening measures.

Solution Goal: Arm and muscle support, better stability when handling, anti-slip and spill prevention

 

Problem Area: Bracing bottles when pouring and opening to prevent spilling and unwanted movement.

User Needs: The user needs reinforcement to hold up a bottle when opening.  This would normally be done by the other hand.  The user also needs to keep the cup or bottle still when pouring liquids.

Solution Goal: Spill prevention, Enhance safety (glass bottles), easier ways to pour liquids, more stable cups, cleanliness in kitchen

 

Problem Area: Opening chip bags, yogurts, soup cans without spilling or hurting oneself.

User Needs: The user needs assistance with gaining stabilization on the product when trying to take off a lid or cut a hole in to.  Also needs a less awkward way of opening (chips) and less loud way.

Solution Goal: Enhance safety (potential danger to teeth, or other body part, Ease in opening, Easier to access to food or drink

 

Problem Area: Cutting produce with the use of one hand in the kitchen

User Needs: The user needs a safer way to cut produce without high risk of injury and ability to keep knife and the product that is being cut still and with support to cutting mechanism.

Solution Goal: Increase safety of cutting items, Additional support on kitchen counter and cutting tools to make cutting easier, Slip prevention

 

Problem Statements:

  1. Design a product that allows the user with limited muscle strength or amputation to easily lift and move heavy objects in the kitchen without struggle or risk of injury.
  2. Design a product that prevents the spilling of bottles and liquids when the user is pouring by providing support to bottles and cups to prevent unwanted movement.
  3. Design a product that allows the user to more easily open everyday items such as a yogurt cup without excess spilling, while adding stability to the item being opened.
  4. Design a product that prevents injuries from cutting produce by limiting external movement by cutting device and keeps the produce still.