7 replies to this topic

[Student]

Hi everyone,

My name is Serey Sim and im a Senior design student at the Art Institue of Philadlephia. I need your help! Please. My senior thesis if focused on designing a showerhead and sliding device that will make showering for paraplegics easier. Obtaining information on this project and approaching patients is very difficult due to patient confidentiality agreements. And to be honest, some people dont take me serious because, well, i look young, 16 yrs old, young.

My project: Design a showerhead that incorporates a soap and shampoo dispenser but also allows the user to use it as a scrubbing device. The showerhead itself will also be able to travel on an X and Y axis opposed to just the Y. The showerhead, which i have not yet found a name, will also have an adjustable neck so the user can hold it in affixed position. Also will be equiped with bite down straps and anti slip guards. The showerhead is being designed for a 3' x 3' showerstall with collapsable seat.

Why this project?: Its a challenge and i feel the design field needs to pay attention to the medical field closely. Also, too many projects are not taken seriously and i feel this is a serious project. Hopefully the project will allow the user privacy and independence from assistance.

The question im faced with: What are the major problems the user faces while showering? What will optimize user productivity while showering? what other elements (ex. anti slip material) can be implemented so that the user feels the design will be a success.

Im sorry for barging in but this is one of the best ways to get positive information. Any feeback or comments will help. Forum master please bear with me, my intentions are true. I will provide any information to justify and prove my intentions.

Thank you all, and i hope to respond to comments ASAP. thanks in advance

- Serey

[Simon]

You should design it to incorporate 2 shower heads, one fixed (but can be adjusted x and y) and one to be held. Many like to have water running on them AND shower down too. This would also be useful for higher level quads who need carers to shower them. The hand held one can be utilised by the carer to wash off soap etc. We've installed a shower here with 2 heads for our clients in one of our accessible rooms, they love it.
Apart from that, can't help as I hate showers and have baths instead!
Good luck.
Simon

[ez82]

Hello Serey. I'm a design student also, currently at Pasadena Art Center. I am also here to do research, I am working on an ergonomic computer for wheelchair users. I read your project brief and thought it was interesting, I woud like to see how it turns out.

Best of luck
I also look young, so I know what you go through.

Eran

[Joed]

Hi Serey.....

I don't know if my suggestion would complicate your thesis beyond what you had invisioned, but it would be helpful to have a temperature surge control built into the shower head.

Someone who is insensate could possibly get scalded if a toilet is flushed, etc.

I also agree with the hand-held and shower head combo. The turn-off on the hand-held should be very easy to switch. A toggle switch, maybe? I don't have hand/arm weakness, so for me it's not an issue. Hopefully, someone who knows can offer up a good type of switch. The one I have is quite difficult to turn on and off, and everytime I use it, I wonder how someone with weakness in their hands would manage it.

Good luck on your project!

[Student]

Ez82,

Its good to see a fellow designer directing their talents in areas of design that need more focus. hahah, and yes, looking young is a total disadvantage. An ergonomic computer sounds interesting, how is that going? problems yourr facing?





Joed and Simon,

I really appreciate your input, the information is very helpful. If you dont mind, i will quote you on your comments and apply it in my presentation. I will take this in consideration when my final concept comes in. I will try, if allowed, to upload some concepts and hopefully i will get more feedback. Thanks again...


If anymore ideas come up im all ears.


-Serey

[Apparelyzed]

Here's what I'd like regarding a double showerhead.

I prefer the shower to be on the back of my neck as hot as I can stand it to keep me warm, as I get cold very quickly as I'm a c5/6 quad.

When I get rinsed off, I get cold because my top half which can feel temperature has lost it's heat source.

I have a power shower, which I find soothes my pain in my shoulders as well.

So....

I would like a permanant power shower on the back of my neck to keep me warm, and another showerhead which has an on-off lever attached to the shower head/grip to rinse me off.

As for collapsable seats attached to the wall, I hate them as they are usually hard and the wrong height. Transfering off of them is also a nightmare and dangerous when everything is wet, soapy and slippery. I think you will find alot of para's/quad's use a shower chair and have a roll-in shower.

If you incorporate a scrubbing device into the showerhead, won't their be hygene issues, will the sponge be disposable, thereby making it expensive ?

Most people can soap up and then rinse off with one hand, if the soap is dispensed from the showerhead I can see is just getting washed away before you get time to get a lather. Also, for those of us who use expensive shower gels, it would cost us a fortune keeping up the showerhead's consumption of gel!

These are just my initial thoughts!

Simon, Aka Apparelyzed

[ez82]

Hey Serey,

I had an idea, I dont know if its what you were thinking but thought it might spark up something for you.

One part is a constant shower head which has different settings. I am doing an internship at design continuum now and they designed a great shower head http://www.moen.com/revolution. This can help for staying warm and help soften up sore bones and muscles.

The other part is a hand held washer scrubber. Its on a long stick so it is easy to reach places without having to stretch too much. The head incorporated a soap compartment, scrubber, and water flow. Instead of the soap constantly pouring out they just squeeze the handle (or something) and only the desired amount of soap is dispensed onto the scrubber so they can lather and rinse at the same time. Just imagine the scrubber picture I attached with water pouring out from the center, except the scrubber would be a softer material and most likely replaceable.


Hope this helps a bit.

Eran

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