With the goal of enhancing the independence of wheelchair users in the hiking activity, I took a human-centered approach to the design thinking process. The intervention became a redesign of the wheelchair, to extend the range of affordances offered to the user in their encounter with uneven terrain.
To understand the need(s) to be met, I began with some initial research to understand the current experience of wheelchair users in the hiking activity.
I conducted primary research by interviewing two distinct sets of experts: expert wheelchair users, and expert hikers. From these interviews, I was able to develop personas that allowed me to consolidate archetypal descriptions of each expert's experience, behavior patterns, and concerns, in the form of mindmaps.
The conversation with the hiking expert yielded insights about key elements that constitute a hiking experience and determine users' satisfaction. However, the interview with the wheelchair expert revealed several indicators that suggested that the wheelchair vehicle was the main mediator of wheelchair users' hiking experience, and should be the object of focus.
Following the results of the interview with a wheelchair user, I decided to conduct an empathic modeling exercise to identify pain points in the wheelchair's functioning during a hike. I also decided to involve the hiking expert in this exercise in order to glean any potential insights he might have to share while modeling the experience of a wheelchair user. The videos below feature moments of interest during our hike, engaging with the natural environment in a wheelchair.
From this exercise, I was able to identify 4 distinct pain points in the user experience of the wheelchair, while hiking. Developing remedies to these pain points became the core activities of the project.
At this point, the limitations of this exercise must be noted. This wheelchair experience is not representative of all the experiences of wheelchair users. Secondary research revealed an existing diversity of wheelchair designs specific to individual users. The wheelchair used for this study represents a standard, and while the pain points depicted are common, they are not universal.
In developing an idea for an intervention, I decided to consult existing literature on the proposed design to improve the hiking experience for wheelchair users. Existing designs generally fell into one of two categories: partner-powered or user-powered wheelchairs. The user-powered designs, such as the Grit-Freedom Chair, generally provided users more autonomy. They did so with the introduction of a drivetrain to leverage the upper-body strength of the user, however, this gives the wheelchair a larger footprint.
With this, I developed a prototype predicated on the success of designs like the Grit-Freedom Chair. My prototype exists in two states: furled and unfurled. In a furled state, it retains the footprint of a standard wheelchair, with a 30 inch turning radius. In an unfurled state, the casters are reoriented along the major axis of the chair.
In addition to the furling states of the chair, I designed other strategies to enable the user to power the chair on their own. I also made most of these additions modular.
This design attempts to exploit the user's other abilities to enable a more independent hiking experience. By repositioning the orientation of the casters, the user is afforded greater leverage, captured through the driver train and the levers they would push. This would enable the user to overcome obstacles effectively insurmountable with a standard wheelchair.
To test my prototype, I decided to present the model and diagrams to Adam. Here are his comments:
"This design (gears, long wheelbase) is probably best suited for developing countries in which architectural access is very limited - that is to say, no pavement, no ramps, not ADA compliant. For the most part, any design that adds weight, increases footprint, or moves away from being very minimalist won’t be used in developed countries.”
For the completion of this project, I would respond to Adam's comments and recommendation but making the design more minimal. I would develop this new iteration as a physical prototype wheelchair to be tested by Adam.
