How to implement inclusive design into distinctive feature hand tool? a design study on fine operation-aid...

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics and Human Factors Engineering
• Product Design and Development
• Inclusive Design Principles

Background:

• Inclusive Design (ID) is crucial for hand tool accessibility but often relegated to post-design evaluation.
• Maintaining inclusive properties during product updates and new function integration is a significant challenge.
• Existing screwdriver designs often fail to address common user issues like poor lighting and screw installation difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate Inclusive Design principles early in the development of fine operation-aid screwdrivers.
• To address specific user-identified problems: insufficient lighting and difficulty in screw installation.
• To develop and validate a new evaluation scale for inclusive hand tool design.

Main Methods:

• Application of the TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) method to identify innovation principles for design challenges.
• Expert consultation and co-design workshops to develop two novel fine operation-aid screwdrivers.
• Development and validation of an "Inclusive Fine Operation-Aid Screwdriver Evaluation Scale" based on user-reported problems.
• Comparative user evaluation of developed screwdrivers against market-available control samples.

Main Results:

• The developed fine operation-aid screwdrivers effectively resolved issues of insufficient lighting and screw installation.
• User evaluations demonstrated significant improvements across five dimensions: functionality, comfort, professionality, safety, and usability.
• The newly established evaluation scale proved rational and reliable for assessing inclusive hand tool designs.

Conclusions:

• The study validates a proactive approach to integrating Inclusive Design into hand tool development.
• The developed fine operation-aid screwdrivers represent a significant advancement in user-centered tool design.
• The methodology provides a reliable framework for creating accessible and effective hand tools.