Designing and Developing a Lifting Device to Assist People Transfer Independently To and From a Handcycle : A product concept for people with spinal cord injury

Abstract: Introduction: Handcycling is an excellent exercise for people with spinal cord injuries. However, some users experience barriers to transferring to the handcycle. The most common barriers are the height difference between the handcycle and sitting surface and dependence on others. Purpose: This thesis aims to develop an assistive technology to help users independently transfer in and out of a handcycle. Methods: The framework for the thesis is the double-diamond, guiding the designing of the products concepts. Users, professionals, and manufacturers were interviewed regarding the facilitators and barriers while transferring in and out of the handcycle and the product needs to help prevent the barriers. A content analysis was performed to find the facilitators and barriers, and a need analysis was performed to find the needs for the product. The needs were translated into target specifications to have measurable characteristics. Benchmarking was performed, and the products were evaluated in regard to the target specifications. The market segment, personas, mood board, and design brief served to inspire and inform the specifications for the product. Brainstorming and sketching were performed to generate four concepts. The participants evaluated these concepts, and the top-ranked concept was further developed. A computer-aided model was created and rendered to better illustrate the product. A guide on how to use the product was developed based on TAI 4.0, which also was used to find limitations in the transfer technique of the new product. An evaluation regarding the target specifications was also performed. Result: The final product concept allows height transfer and can be used independently. It fulfills seven out of the seventeen target specifications in the current state. However, six target specifications cannot be defined yet as they should be developed further in other iterations. Conclusion: A lifting device concept for transferring was developed. It would still need further iterations to keep improving the product before it would be able to be released for users.