A self-balancing tray for elderly people

Abstract

As statistical data reveal, there has been a constant demand for the products and services of a growing targeted group of older people. The activity presented in this paper describes a prototype to help the performance of older persons in daily activities in relation to their need for mobility support in their municipal. Recent research has shown that people prefer aging in their familiar areas, thus guiding designers to provide a safe and appropriate environment for older people, regardless of their physical condition and limitations. A survey was conducted to better understand the difficulties adults face and the concepts were designed to help their way of life-based on responses. A decrease in functional mobility resulting in loss of balance is a common scenario for aged people. Thus, a prototype of a self-balancing tray is presented and discussed in this work. The self-balancing tray can overcome major vibrations without spilling the contents on the tray. The design gives a basic proof of concept of such a variant of self-balancing trays intended to make carrying foods and other daily chores easier for older people.