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Award
Winners
2002
DESIGN COMPETITION
FOR NEW PRODUCTS FOR MATURE MARKETS
PROFESSIONAL
DIVISION
Gold Award
Silver Award
Bronze Award
Honorable Mention Award
STUDENT DIVISION
Gold Award
Silver Award
Bronze Award
Honorable Mention Award
JUDGES
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION
Gold Award
The Vigil Integrated Care Management System-The Vigil® System
Nicola Chalmers
Vigil Health Management
Victoria, British Columbia Canada
The Vigil® System is a customized, modular monitoring and care planning system for long-term care facilities, including Vigil® Dementia, Vigil® Nurse Call and Vigil® Duress, providing a solution for every budget, and care continuum. The core of the technology is the Vigil® Dementia System, designed by caregivers specifically to aid in the care of residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Silver Award
Duracell® Easytab
Designed by: Javier Verdura, Peter B. Clarke, Kyle Harris, James McCay, Craig Pirie Product Ventures, Ltd., Fairfield, CT;
David Farnworth, Duracell, New York
Manufactured by: Duracell®
DURACELL® EASYTAB is a new hearing aid battery that simplifies the often difficult task of changing batteries. The new battery features a long, custom-shaped, durable tab that enables consumers to easily remove the battery from its packaging to insert it into the smallest hearing aid. Improved technologies in the new batteries deliver up to 20 percent longer life than the current DURACELL batteries they will replace.
Bronze Award
Newspaper Rack
Designed by: Neil Goldberg
Imroan Aziz
Emeryville, CA
A redesigned newspaper rack that is flexible and easy to use, the news rack is expressly designed for single-handed newspaper purchase and favors neither a left nor right-handed approach. The small door is located at an appropriate height for easy opening from standing or wheelchair position. It is mounted on an innovative mechanism that allows it to be opened easily and not slam shut on a slow-moving person. A prominent LCD display gives step-by-step instructions to purchase a newspaper, making it simple and intuitive to use. Careful attention has been paid to afford physical and visual access to users of all sizes and abilities.
Honorable Mention
Stanley Access Pro Door Automation System
Manufacturer: Access Technologies
Robert St. John
Farmington, CT
The Stanley Access Pro provides door automation to new or existing manual doors while providing additional security for the elderly by automatically unlocking, opening, closing, and then securing their doors behind them. Stanley Access Pro enhances the quality of life and provides safe and independent living. It’s a cost-effective approach for long-term care centers and rehabilitation and health facilities looking to increase revenue streams by marketing accessibility for all. It’s easy to install; powered by a standard 120V AC adapter, it includes an electric strike locking device and remote control key fob actuator.
Honorable Mention
Energizer EZ ChangeTM
Project Collaborators: Elaine Sosnowski, Ernie Petrus, Steven Elnig
Energizer
Bennington, VT
The Energizer EZ Change is designed to meet the needs of an aging population challenged by problems with dexterity that make gripping, handling and placing small items difficult. Energizer EZ Change allows hearing aid wearers to properly insert their batteries precisely every time. The patent pending product no longer requires users to handle batteries and to remove tabs by hand, eliminating the problem of dropping, fumbling, and losing batteries that many hearing aid wearers experience on a daily basis. EZ Change features a magnetic arm that allows the user to insert a fresh battery directly from the dispenser into the hearing aid. The packaging allows the consumer to open the package at retail to learn more about the product while the product remains tamper-proof on the shelf.
Honorable Mention
I.V. House Intravenous Site Protector
Manufacturer: I.V. House®
Designed by: Bryce G. Rutter, Metaphase
St. Louis, MO
I.V. House is the gentle, humane way to help prevent your geriatric and pediatric patients from picking at or pulling out their catheters. I.V. House has improved on its own unique product, the original Intravenous Site Protector, with a variation on its own product that eliminates the need to tape to a patient’s skin the “hardware” that makes up an intravenous site. Among its distinguishing characteristics: it permits continuous IV access and assessment; maximizes dwell time; eliminates exposed looping, a primary cause of dislodgments; a resealable glove safeguards fragile skin; it’s a safe alternative to risky, makeshift protection devices; and virtually eliminates need for restraints.
Honorable Mention
Telesensory Genie Pro
Collaborators: Shannon Albert, Del Curtis, Manager, Dave Hopper
Telesensory
Sunnyvale, CA
The Genie Pro is a video magnifier that works with a computer. The Genie Pro enables visually impaired individuals to add a video magnifier to any computer, eliminating the need to have two devices on the desk at the same time. The Genie Pro provides more flexibility and more usability than any competitive product by operating in any computer setting, providing users with complete control over the size of the windows in split-screen mode, and permitting independent PC use as well as simultaneous PC and video magnifier display.
Honorable Mention
Blood Pressure Monitor
Designers: Aaron Szymanski, Michael DiTullo, and Karl Vanderbeek
Evo Design
Middlebury, CT
This unique blood pressure monitor combines new performance, features, and form to provide an easy-to-use universal design. The single button, fuzzy-logic operation automatically inflates the cuff to the proper pressure and then displays the reading. The reading is automatically recorded for future reference and this memory function creates a record that can be easily referenced. All functions happen with a single touch of the large button, designed to be easily operated by those with limited dexterity.
STUDENT DIVISION
Gold Award
Universal Bedpan
Designed by: Erik Peterson
San Jose State University, Department of Industrial Design
San Jose, CA
Professor: Thomas Migurski
The Universal Bedpan solves many problems that current bedpans do not, turning the activity of going to the bathroom in bed into a more comfortable experience for the user, as well as an easier duty for the caregiver. Designed for the elderly and persons with disabilities, as well as the general population, the Universal Bedpan solves a number of problems: The soft and larger seat is comfortable for people who have bad circulation, people who have recently gotten out of surgery, and people with other pains; the seat was designed to hang over the inside of the base allowing the seat to conform to the user; the overhang of the base decreases splashing that would cause discomfort to the user and caregiver, which is a problem in current products; the chambered bottom decreases and eases the rolling movement of the user. The purpose for designing the Universal Bedpan larger than current bedpans was to make using the product easier for people with decreased dexterity.
Gold Award
TimeLyte Blood Glucose Monitor
Designed by: Brady Ward, Tai Ziola, Lisa McGillivray, Jill Yohemas
University of Alberta, Industrial Design
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Professor: Bob Lederer
The purpose of the TimeLyte Glucose Monitoring System is to provide a user-friendly alternative to daily glucose monitoring for people with diabetes in the aging population. It is intended to be a portable and more convenient method for blood glucose monitoring. It attempts to decrease the amount of finger pokes required to maintain a regular, healthy glucose monitoring routine while not compromising accuracy of measurements. It is designed to aid people with visual impairments, decreased hand dexterity and sensation, and increased risk of skin breakdown in the most user friendly, aesthetically pleasing design, in watch-like form.
Silver Award
Brace Weight
Designed by: Kristina Kwan
San Jose State University, School of Art & Design
Fremont, CA
Professor: Robert Milnes
The Brace Weight is a weight-training system designed for those with compromised wrist and grip strength. Combining the functionality of a wrist brace and free weights, the Brace Weight encourages weight training with minimal risk of injury. Interchangeable weights that attach to the brace allow users flexibility in their exercise routine.
Bronze Award
Nesting Dishes
Designed by: Joel Wennerstrom
Pratt Institute, Graduate Industrial Design
Brooklyn, NY
Professor: Debera Johnson
FlareWare (Nesting Dishes) is a series of lightweight, informal dishes designed for people of all ages and physical abilities. Made of durable, lightweight plastic, they are resistant to cracking or chipping if dropped. The tab that flares out on the edge serves a number of purposes: It provides leverage and stable grip for carrying plate of food, with an area for users to place their thumb without getting near the food on the plate; and it creates a visual separation from the rest of the dishes when stacked, allowing the user to see and grasp one plate from a stack of dishes without grabbing more than intended.
Bronze Award
Server Mate (Pitcher)
Designed by: Patti A. Dunn, Mike Carter, Jessica Coffey, Leslie Young
North Carolina State University, College of Design
Professor: Haig Khachatoorian
The Server Mate was designed and developed to eliminate frustration from the everyday task of pouring, thus promoting feelings of confidence and independence for people of varying ages, cognitive levels and abilities. The lid hinges open to avoid torquing in the wrist; the form offers multiple grip options; large, heat-stamped numbers are easy to read; and raised measurement markings are easy to see and feel.
Bronze Award
Universal Fridge
Designed by: Gisele Boisvert, Ryan Majeau, Anita Hoelzel, Esther Ma
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Professor: Robert Lederer
The Universal Fridge, a universally accessible refrigerator, is a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer with motorized track shelf rotation, through-the-door water and ice dispenser and shelf-drawer service through each of its three compartment doors. This highly efficient fridge uses new technology in insulation. It features keypads with tactile, colorful and easily identifiable symbols. The Universal Fridge’s shelf rotation system allows a wider range of users (including wheelchair users) to access any and all of its contents within a comfortable range of reach and without even opening the doors.
Honorable Mention
Buckle Buddy
Designed by: Darren Calvert, Sasha Perkovic, Marc Beland, Jan Gervais
University of Alberta, Industrial Design
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Professor: Robert Lederer
The Buckle Buddy is a two-part adapter system that clamps over existing seatbelts making them easier to use regardless of age or physical ability. The adapter consists of three main components: a clamshell-shaped grip, a funnel-shaped receptacle mounted onto the buckle, and a modified release mechanism adapter located on the receptacle. The Buckle Buddy enhances an individual’s independence in seat belt usage by facilitating the components of the task of seat belt operation that pose the greatest difficulty: the grip, the location and insertion of the tongue into the slot, and the release of the locking mechanism. Elders may have difficulty with any or all parts of the actions to operate a seat belt due to decreased strength, flexibility, coordination, stability, or sensory acuity. Other populations who may have similar deficits include persons with MS, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, TBI, and ataxia. Additionally, persons with various forms of arthritis would add pain as another significant obstacle to using existing seat belt designs.
Honorable Mention
The Ergo-Nize (Dresser)
Designed by: Tyson Gilmore
Western Michigan University, Industrial Design
Kalamazoo, MI
Professor: Roman Rabiej, CMD Department
The Ergo-Nize fills a definite need for someone who is suffering from arthritis or any other affliction that makes it difficult to manipulate small knobs or handles and drawers located near or on the ground level. It also can be used handily by a person without any disabilities. The design accommodates both right- and left-handed individuals, by a rotation of the drawers as opposed to a push-pull method, making the dresser simple to use with effective feedback to the user. The actual drawer would ride on a device similar to that of a Lazy Susan, making it more comforting and enjoyable for the user to manipulate. To accomplish a “better fit,” ergonomics and anthropometric studies were made to ensure a more neutral and natural body position.
Honorable Mention
The Universal Lock
Designed by: Tom Keegan
San Jose State University
Department of Industrial Design
San Jose, CA
Professor: Thomas Migurski
The Universal Lock is a combination padlock that can be used by people with poor vision and limited manual dexterity. A lens on the tumbler magnifies the high-contrast tie marks and numbers. A larger overall size and larger bezel makes it easier to see and to hold. The tumbler can be gripped easily in many different ways. As the tumbler rotates, the numbers remain stationary. The tumbler clicks as it rotates, allowing users to see, hear, and feel their progress.
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JUDGES
The American Society on Aging and ProMatura Group are grateful to the judges of the 14th Annual Universal Design Competition. These internationally known experts in universal design contributed their insight and experience to the awards competition, making it possible for us to recognize innovative mature market products from professional and student designers. Our sincere thanks to: Margaret Christensen, Lifease; Pascal Malassigne, Milwaukee Institute of Design; Patricia Moore, Guynes Design; James Mueller, JL Mueller, Inc.; Jim Pirkl, Transgenerational Design.
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