Redesign for Limited Hand Strength

Engineering Context

A user can understand a classroom product but has difficulty gripping, twisting, or pressing it because of limited hand strength.

What You Will Practice

• Identify user needs through empathy and evidence
• Translate needs into measurable requirements
• Generate accessible concepts
• Evaluate a human-centered prototype

What You Need

• Approved classroom product
• User-needs interview sheet
• Sketching materials
• Cardboard, foam, clay, or other prototype materials
• Force gauge if available

Instructions

1. Select a product with a grip, cap, button, lever, or control.
2. Create a respectful user profile based on limited hand strength; do not simulate a disability in an unsafe way.
3. Observe the product and identify at least three barriers.
4. Convert barriers into measurable requirements such as diameter, force, reach, or texture.
5. Sketch three concepts and collect feedback from a peer acting as a reviewer.
6. Build a low-fidelity prototype of the selected concept.
7. Run a usability test using the same task for the original and redesign.
8. Document feedback and make one revision.

Engineering Requirements

• Address at least two identified user barriers
• Include at least three measurable requirements
• Preserve the product’s core function
• Avoid a design that creates a new safety hazard
• Collect and respond to user feedback

Constraints & Safety

• Use respectful, person-centered language
• Do not ask a student to imitate pain or injury
• Prototype materials must be safe and reversible
• Do not permanently modify school property

What You Submit

• User profile and needs
• Barrier observations
• Three concept sketches
• Requirements list
• Prototype
• Original/redesign usability comparison
• Revision summary

Reflection Questions

1. Which user need was hardest to convert into a requirement?
2. What feedback changed your design?
3. Did improving accessibility help other users too?
4. What would require additional real-user testing?