Hi Hamidreza,
I have undertaken a number of commercial research projects re-design of hand-held products and supported many students when their designing such products. I would suggest the following:
Consider a User-Centred, mixed methods approach/ methodology, especially if smaller participant sample numbers are involved.
1) Apply a form of task analysis, defining points within the task that are performance/safety critical;
2) Apply a model of human and object interaction (see references) to optimise the physical aspects of performance critical moments;
2) Review cultural references within the industry through qualitative-based interview, survey, expert review, (this will provide the values given to certain tasks and associated equipment as well as associated doctrines);
3) Use a champion user, Co-design, followed by a larger survey.
Use weighted soft models, leading to functional and appearance models, as well as video demonstrations in the final phases of a larger survey.
Three cycles of design development should deliver a usable design solution.
References
Mixed methods
-Creswell, J.W., 2009. Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative and mixed methods approaches, (3rd ed), Sage, Thousand Oaks.
-Creswell, J. and Plano Clarke, V., 2007. Designing and conducting mixed methods research, Sage, Thousand Oaks.
Task analysis, HOPI model
-Guo L, Genaidy A, Christiansen D, Huntington K, Macro-ergonomic risk assessment in nuclear remediation industry, Applied Ergonomics, Number 4 , London: Elsevier Science, 1996, pp 241-254
-Hamilton, Mcdonald, Chenier, Measurement of grip strength: Validity and reliability of the sphygmomanometer and the Jaymar grip dynomometer, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Number 5, 1992 pp215-219
-Buck R, Greatorex G, Development of a human factors task database for human performance evaluation, Contemporary Ergonomics(Annual conference of the Ergonomics Society, University of Leicester), London:Taylor Francis 1996, pp275-280 ISBN 07484 05496
-Drury CG, The role of the hand in manual materials handling, Ergonomics, Number 1, London: Taylor Francis, 1985, pp213-227
-Edin B., Westling G., Johansson R.S., , Independent control of human finger-tip forces at individual digits during precision lifting, Journal of Physiology, Number 450, 1992, pp547-564.
-Gielo-Perczak K, Advances in Biomechanics of the Hand and Wrist, Schuind F, An KN, Cooney WP, Garcia-Elias M (Ed), NATO ASI Series A, 256, London: Plenum Press, 1994, pp123-135
-Gyi, D.E. and Torrens, G.E., A user centred methodology for the design of cutlery for people with weak grip and limited dexterity, 7th International Conference on Product Safety Research , US Consumer Product Safety Commission , Washington, 1999, pp 246-252
-Hsia PT, Drury CG, , A simple method of evaluating handle design, Applied Ergonomics, Number 3 , London: Elsevier Science, 1986, pp209-213
-Harkonen R, Piirtomaa M, Alaranta H, 1993, Grip strength and hand position of the dynamometer in 204 Finnish adults, Journal of Hand Surgery, Number 1, pp129-132
-Jones AR, Unsworth A, Haslock I, Functional measurements in the hands of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, Number 4, 1987, pp62-72
-Kadefors R, Areskoug A, Dahlman S, Kilbom A, Sperling L, Wikstrom L, Oster J, , An approach to ergonomics evaluation of hand tools, Applied Ergonomics, Number 3, London: Elsevier Science, 1993, pp203-211
-Kilbom A, Makarainen M, Sperling L, Kadefors R and Liedberg L, Tool design, user characteristics and performance: a case study on plate-shears, Applied Ergonomics, London:Elsevier Science, , 1993, pp221-230
-MacKenzie C.L. and Iberall T., The grasping hand; Advances in psychology Number 104, Stelmach G.E. and Vroon P.A. (ed.), Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1994, pp222-235.
-Napier JR, The prehensile movements of the human hand, Journal of bone and Joint Surgery, Number 38:B, 1956 p902
-Shah S, Cooper B, Commentary on a critical evaluation of the Barthel Index, The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, Number 2, 1993, pp70-72
-Surburg PR, Suomi R, Poppy WK, Validity and reliability of a hand held dynamometer with two populations, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Number 5, 1992, pp229-234
-Torrens GE, A contribution to the understanding of the role of digital pulp in hand grip performance, Robertson SA (Ed), Contemporary Ergonomics, (Annual conference of the Ergonomics Society, University of Leicester), London: Taylor Francis 1996, pp75-80 ISBN 0 7484 0549 6
-Torrens GE, What is the optimum surface? 1997. A comparison of five surface features when measuring the digit coefficient of friction of ten subjects, Robertson SA (Ed), Annual conference of the Ergonomics Society, University of Lincoln, to be published April.
-Torrens, G.E. and Gyi, D.E., Towards the integrated measurement of hand and object interaction, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Product Safety Research , US Consumer Product Safety Commission , Washington, USA, 1999, pp 217-226
-Williams M. and Lissener H.R., , Williams and Lissener's biomechanics of human motion, 3rd ed, LeVeau B.F.(ed.), Philadelphia:Saunders, 1991
Interviews and surveys
- Allison, B., O’Sullivan, T., Owen, A., Rice, J., Rothwell, A., Saunders, C., 1996. Research skills for students, Kogan Page, London.
-Bryman, A., 1988. Quantity and Quality in social research, Routledge, Abingdon.
-Bryman, A., and Cramer, D., 1990. Qualitative data analysis for social scientists, Routledge, Abingdon.
-Burns, R.B., 2000. Introduction to research methods, Sage, London.
-Coolican, H., 2004. Research methods and statistics in Psychology, (4th ed), Hodder Arnold, London.
-Cohen, L., Manion, L., Morrison, K., 2007. Research methods in Education (6th ed), Routledge, Abingdon.
Champion users, Co-desgin
-Torrens, G.E., 2011. Universal Design: empathy and affinity, Chapter , In. Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Consumer Products, (Ed), Waldemar, K., Soares, M., Stanton, N.A., Taylor & Francis, London.
- Torrens, G.E., Black, K., Chapter 5, Equipment design in Inclusive physical activity and disability sport, In. Design for sport, (eds) Roibas, A.C., Stamatakis, E., Black, K.(2011), Gower Press, London.
Hand-held product design and evaluation
-Tichauer, E.R., 1978. The biomechanical basis of ergonomics, anatomy applied to the design of work situations, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
-TORRENS, G., MCDONAGH-PHILP, D., NEWMAN, A., 2001. Getting a grip. Ergonomics in Design, 9 (2), pp.7-13. (https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/15763/3/9-grip-EID-2000-final.pdf)
- TORRENS, G., Hann, J., Webley, M., Joy, J., Sutherland. I.A., 2000. Hand performance assessment of ten people with Rheumatoid Arthritis when using a range of specified saucepans. Disability and Rehabilitation, 22 (3), pp. 123 - 134. (https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/15783/2/Torrens_saucepans_st270798.pdf)
- TORRENS, G.E. and SMITH, N.C.S., 2013. Evaluation of an assistive technology product design using a paired comparisons method within a mixed methods approach: A case study evaluating preferences for four types of cutlery with 34 upper limb impaired participants. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 8 (4), pp. 340 - 347. (https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/dspace-jspui/bitstream/2134/14862/3/Torrens_cutlery_pairedcomparisions_re-assembled-submitted_D%26RAT2012.pdf)
I hope this is helpful, please get in touch if you need more specific advice.
Best wishes
George
-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hamid Reza Nematzadeh
Sent: 19 June 2015 07:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Methods for re-design handy tools
Dear List members
My colleges and I are working on a design project which has been aimed at re-designing a handy traditional too that is used to produce traditional textiles. In this project, it is so prominent for use to develop the efficiency of that tool while we would like to maintain its cultural character.
This project consists of three main phases, the first part is related to problem analysis, next is about design and finally we intend to make a prototype to compare the abilities and efficiency of the new model with old-fashion ones. Now, we are in the first step, and we need to know what sorts of design methods we can use for this project. In this part of our project, we are required to consider both ergonomic values and design features. Accordingly, we need two distinct sorts of methods for evaluating ergonomic features and extract the required design factors.
I was wondering if you could refer me the relevant sources and share your experiences and information with us which could help us to develop this project.
Thank you for your attention.
Warm regards,
Hamidreza
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