Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : May 29, 2024 - June 01, 2024
Product accidents among the elderly often result from poorly designed items that overlook age-related functional changes. This study focuses on the deficiency in the ”body-supporting ability” of everyday products, recognizing it as a key factor that influences independent living and fall prevention in the elderly. To address this issue, we developed a portable system that measures and visualizes body-support vector fields in living spaces. 13 elderly participants in 9 homes were involved in the experiments, which demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in analyzing body-supporting movements related to daily activities in various living spaces, such as entrances, living rooms, and bedrooms. This research highlights the significance of taking into account body supporting forces in everyday environments for the elderly, providing valuable insights for future design enhancements.
