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The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers
Stepladders are compact, foldable ladders with flat steps and a platform. Despite all the research and design efforts, there are still limitations in terms of the multifunctionality, usability and simplicity of stepladders and related variants. By combining ideas, features and functions from patent...
Autores principales: | , , , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
MDPI
2022
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Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657848/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36361278 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114399 |
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author | Gan, Kah Wei Ng, Poh Kiat Liew, Kia Wai Ng, Yu Jin Yeow, Jian Ai |
author_facet | Gan, Kah Wei Ng, Poh Kiat Liew, Kia Wai Ng, Yu Jin Yeow, Jian Ai |
author_sort | Gan, Kah Wei |
collection | PubMed |
description | Stepladders are compact, foldable ladders with flat steps and a platform. Despite all the research and design efforts, there are still limitations in terms of the multifunctionality, usability and simplicity of stepladders and related variants. By combining ideas, features and functions from patent literature, existing products and scientific journals, this study aims to conceptualise a multifunctional stepladder for improved usability. Five concepts are created, which are screened and evaluated against a set of criteria to select the best concept for improved usability, divided into three categories: simplicity, effectiveness and efficiency. The result is a versatile invention that functions as a stepladder, walker, wheelchair and Pilates chair, suitable for older people and caregivers in nursing homes. It allows medical records or supplies to be retrieved from high places without the need for inappropriate aids. The invention can replace wheelchairs and walkers and converts into a Pilates chair to provide a mobile exercise option for older people. The concept offers older people flexibility and independence in terms of mobility and healthcare, while saving space in the nursing home. Further design studies, prototyping and testing are needed before this idea can go into production. |
format | Online Article Text |
id | pubmed-9657848 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2022 |
publisher | MDPI |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
spelling | pubmed-96578482022-11-15 The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers Gan, Kah Wei Ng, Poh Kiat Liew, Kia Wai Ng, Yu Jin Yeow, Jian Ai Int J Environ Res Public Health Article Stepladders are compact, foldable ladders with flat steps and a platform. Despite all the research and design efforts, there are still limitations in terms of the multifunctionality, usability and simplicity of stepladders and related variants. By combining ideas, features and functions from patent literature, existing products and scientific journals, this study aims to conceptualise a multifunctional stepladder for improved usability. Five concepts are created, which are screened and evaluated against a set of criteria to select the best concept for improved usability, divided into three categories: simplicity, effectiveness and efficiency. The result is a versatile invention that functions as a stepladder, walker, wheelchair and Pilates chair, suitable for older people and caregivers in nursing homes. It allows medical records or supplies to be retrieved from high places without the need for inappropriate aids. The invention can replace wheelchairs and walkers and converts into a Pilates chair to provide a mobile exercise option for older people. The concept offers older people flexibility and independence in terms of mobility and healthcare, while saving space in the nursing home. Further design studies, prototyping and testing are needed before this idea can go into production. MDPI 2022-11-03 /pmc/articles/PMC9657848/ /pubmed/36361278 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114399 Text en © 2022 by the authors. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
spellingShingle | Article Gan, Kah Wei Ng, Poh Kiat Liew, Kia Wai Ng, Yu Jin Yeow, Jian Ai The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers |
title | The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers |
title_full | The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers |
title_fullStr | The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers |
title_full_unstemmed | The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers |
title_short | The Conceptual Development of a Multifunctional Stepladder for Older People and Caregivers |
title_sort | conceptual development of a multifunctional stepladder for older people and caregivers |
topic | Article |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657848/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36361278 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114399 |
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