| Summary: | This project deals exclusively with the development and fabrication of a mobility aid for the handicapped – with a particular focus on the elderly individual. Two elderly persons living in the Toa Payoh Estate were identified to be in need of assistance via correspondence with a liaison from Lion’s Befrienders. Due to their level of handicap, they have a different set of needs that render conventional mobility aids impractical for use on a day-to-day basis. A house visit was arranged to gain a better understanding of both these individuals, as well as an appreciation of the challenges at hand. Research was conducted to ascertain the segment of the elderly population who may suffer from a similar level of handicap, in addition to a patent search on mobility aids available in the market to serve as a basis in the design of a proposed aid. A manually operated prototype was then developed and fabricated, in keeping with the design objectives and key parameters that were outlined. Thereafter, the mobility aid was tested on the elderly. As it serves as a proof of concept, the feedback gained from the elderly may be implemented into subsequent designs for future projects, which should be completely automated.
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