A Developmental Study of In-House Welfare Tools for Elderly People Based on Ergonomics

我们在这个项目上有两个目标，首先是开发廉价易用的老年人人体工学工具，其次是通过老年工具开发活动促进当地产业的发展。我们已经开发了(1)室内扶手，(2)新型楼梯，(3)配备了两个小电池和电机的轮椅，(4)拉舌罐的开启器，(5)可调节高度的小型电梯，以及(6)易于操作的升降椅。我们基于人体工程学测量对这些老年人工具的有效性进行了评估，发现这些工具对老年人来说非常有效，工作量很小。另一方面，我们已经联系了广岛市和Kure市小企业协会，以促进福利商品的开发。前者一直致力于小电机轮椅的开发，但后者由于投资少和营销能力很难，放弃了继续开发福利产品。调整高度的小型电梯(名为丹沙凯寿基)是由一家大公司开发并销售的。松下电机在大阪工作。我们的结论是，小企业面临着许多产品开发方面的问题，需要包括大学在内的多个部门的帮助来解决。

We had two objectives on this project, firstly developing ergonomic tools for the elderly with cheap and easy usability, and secondly facilitating local industries through the activity the elderly tool development. We have developed, (1)In-house handrail, (2)a new type staircase, (3)wheelchair equipped two small batteries and motors, (4)an opener for pull-tab can, (5)a small elevator adjusting height level, and (6)an easy handling lift chair. We evaluated the effectiveness of these tools for the elderly based on Ergonomic measurement and found that these tools are very effective with low workload for the elderly.On the other hand, we have contacted both of Hiroshima City as well as Kure City Small-size Enterprise Asssociations to facilitate the welfare goods development. The former has been engaging the development of the wheelchair with small motors, but the latter gave up to continue to develop the welfare goods owing to a little investment and very difficult marketing capability. The small elevator adjusting height level (named Dansa-kaishouki) was developed and sold through a big company. Matsusita Electric Works, in Osaka. Our conclusion is that the small size enterprises face many problems for product development to be solved by assistance of many sectors including universities.