2016 Concepts Evaluation Group 16

Introduction: Excellent Team 01 Gary O’Toole Aimee Concannon Daniel Gill Gareth McCauley TianChen Zhu Good teamwork is essential for high performance.

Course Logistics Overview Interview Group Meeting Selecting Concept Presentation Week 7-8 Conducting Need finding and Defining problem.  Week 11-12 Gathering feedback and select the best concepts.  Week 13-20  Prototyping Week 21 Showcase.  Week 9-10 Concept Development and Benchmarking research.  Week 2-4 Selecting a problem area. 

Mission Statement 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. – Group 16s Mission Statement.

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. • 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, close to 250,000 people, with the estimated number of people using walking aids increasing by over 62,000 people between 2003 and 2009. From the age of fifty-five more people use a walking stick, crutch, or walker to get around. Use of walking aids, 2001-2002

Concepts Development 03 How will we achieve our chosen strategy. 

Main Concept 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

Main Concepts Self Supporting Walking Stick Medical Information Stick The Lantern 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

04 Evaluation. Feedback from Stakeholders. Introducing our concepts, taking note of their reactions and responses.  

Evaluation. 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 isn’t it? I’m 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 will stay standing”

75% 55% 90% 85% Evaluation. 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 turn on 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.

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