2016 Concepts Evaluation Group 16

Introduction: Excellent Team 01 Gary O Toole Aimee Deegan Daniel Gill Gareth McCauley TianChen Zhu Good teamwork is essential for high performance in any business or non profit organization.

Course Logistics Overview Interview Group Meeting Selecting Concept Presentation Week 7 Conducting Need finding and Defining problem.  Week 10 Concept Development.  Week 11 Gathering feedback and select the best concepts.  Week 12 Concept Presentation and Work plan.  Week 9 Generating concepts and Benchmarking research.  Week 4 Selecting a problem area. 

Problem Definition 02   To aid in the prevention of falling, and improve safety features in current walking stick products. To allow the elderly a safer and more self assured frame of mind, and the independence to walk unattended with confidence.

Background & Statistics • One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. • Each year, 2.8 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. • More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways. • Adjusted for inflation, the direct medical costs for fall injuries are $31 billion annually. Hospital costs account for two-thirds of the total. • Up to 40% of people who have a stroke have a serious fall within the next year. • Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions 40% of those admitted do not return to independent living; 25% die within a year.

Background & Statistics The most commonly used mobility aids were walking sticks (6.7%) and walking frames (6.6%), with the estimated。 number of people using walking frames increasing by over 62,000 people between 2003 and 2009. The most serious problems with mobility still occur among the elderly。 From the age of fifty-five more people use a walking stick, crutch, or walker to get around. Restrictions in mobility by age, 1989-2002 Use of walking aids, 2001-2002

Existing Solutions Walking Chair Four Legged Walking Cane LED Light Walking Stick “Have the chair in the middle of the cane where it is too low because you are sitting down – not leaning.” Not fit with everyone. If the cane is too high, you might irritate your shoulder, and if it is too low, you might lean over too much. Walking cane stuck at cracks of the pavement or stairs and provide less support. The light is not adjustable in direction and not stable as the four legged walking cane.

Concepts Development 03 How will we achieve our chosen strategy. 

Main Concepts Spiraling Walking Stick Lantern Walking Stick The lower half is made up of a lantern style light. The lantern will illuminate the surrounding area while turned on. This lantern walking stick also allows other people to see the user easier in the dark conditions. Don't need to keep holding or relying on rails. Standing up can be effortless by holding the handrail and standing up to the bend. The balance stick can stand up independently on the slope.”

Main Concepts Self Supporting Walking Stick Medical Information Stick With a motor at the base pushing the legs in and out controlled at the handle. This will create a non cumbersome and self supporting cane can be combined into one. Advantages: Reduces the risk of the stick falling. Users have the use of both hands if needs be. Walking stick that digitally stores information about the user. Paramedic/Doctor gains immediate information about patient. Built into stick or an attachment that is adhered to stick. Name: Next of KIN contact: Allergies: Blood type: Current medication: Previous medical history: Previous admissions: History of falls: Disadvantages: Overall weight Moving parts.

04 Evaluation. Feedback from Stakeholders. Introducing our concepts, taking note of their reactions and responses.   Describe how you gathered feedback and any other data, and how you selected between your concepts.

75% 55% 90% 85% Feedback. Professionals Elderly   75% Lantern Professionals 55% Object 2 Elderly 75% of professionals referenced that in the lantern cane the automation is a wonderful idea as it can detect itself when its needed 55% of Elderly stakeholders could imagine themselves benefitting from the spiraling walking stick 90% Medical Info Elderly & Professionals 85% Object 4 Elderly 90% responded positively to the medical information being stored into the walking stick. 85% of the elderly liked the idea of combining the self supporting cane and the conventional cane.

Feedback. Physiotherapist – Patricia Quinn. Elderly Bar Made - Mary “The lantern’s brilliant, if the light beam moves around too much the user can misjudge a step” Elderly Bar Made - Mary “Oh wow, that's very nice isnt it? Im forever dropping my stick on the ground. Its a real pain!” Carer - Joe “The medical information needs to be at hand when push comes to shove like” Paula – Age 90 “I like the way I can leave the stick and it’ll stay standing”

05 Selecting A Concept. PHOTO FROM PIXABAY Describe your selected concept in more detail. How will it work? What are its features and benefits? Why is it better than the competition?

Selected Concept For our main concept we decided to combine our concepts We combined the medical information memory stick, the lantern and the self supporting retractable legs The medical information memory stick will be imbedded in the handle The lantern will be built into the stick and can be turned on by a switch and a light sensor The stabilizing legs will extrude close to the base and can be extruded or retracted at will from the handle

PHOTO FROM PIXABAY Prototyping 06

Main Concepts The features of this stick are: For our main concept we decided to go with a multi-function walking stick The features of this stick are: The Medical Information memory stick The Lantern The Self supporting retractable legs The medical information memory stick will be imbedded in the handle The lantern will be built into the stick and can be turned on by a switch and a light sensor The stabilizing legs will extrude close to the base and can be extruded or retracted at will from the handle The legs are operated using a motor that turns a lead screw. This lead screw pushes a nut up and down the stick. This pushes the legs in and out.

Main Concepts Medical Information Stick The Lantern Self Supporting Walking Stick Name: Next of KIN contact: Allergies: Blood type: Current medication: Previous medical history: Previous admissions: History of falls: The lantern will be built into the stick and can be turned on by a switch and a light sensor Motor at the base controlled by an Arduino pushes legs in and out. Non cumbersome and self supporting cane can be combined into one. Paramedic/Doctor gains immediate information about patient. Built into stick or an attachment that is adhered to stick.

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