Ergonomics-(Product description and Idea Trigger)

i) Describe the product. (Appearance, Color, Function, etc)

The above picture is an ice-cream scooper and it is used to scoop ice-cream. It is turquoise in color and t is made up of plastic. It has a metal lever used for releasing the ice-cream from the scoop. The scoop is medium sized and quite light. The handle is rectangular with a half hollow sphere.

ii) What are the design considerations when designing this product?

This product must be able to release the ice-cream from the scoop easily. The product must have a hole deep enough to scoop the users desired amount of ice-cream. The product should be ergonomic so as to prevent injury and provide comfort to the user.

iii) Would an elderly faced difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face?

The lever that releases the ice-cream scoop has a high tension so if the elderly was to use it, the elderly may not be able to press the lever without using a lot of strength. The handle is a bit too big and may not be ergonomic to most of the elderly. The shape of the scoop make scooping harder ice-cream difficult.

iv) What do you think can be done to improve on the design of the product to suit the elderly? (Sketch the improved design in your sketchbook and take a picture of it. Post the improved sketch at the end of your post.)

The handle can be sleeker and the lever used to release the ice-cream can have less tension while still performing its intended function, which is releasing the ice-cream. The ice-cream scoop can be sharper in order to dig out ice-cream easily.