Ergonomic Salad Tongs
Role:
Ergonomic Analysis, User Interviews, CAD
Timeline:
3 weeks
Tools:
Fusion 360
Challenge:
Along with a team of two others, we used task analysis, anthropometrics and ergonomics to make standard kitchen tongs better and easier to use.
Considerations:
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Ease of use
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Fine control over tool
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Ease of adjustments to grip
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Fit (even pressure distribution across palm, and fingers)
Insights:
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Users unanimously preferred when it was obvious which side of the tongs their thumb should be placed on, so we made a well-defined thumb groove on the grips.
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Users didn't feel the same about non-thumb fingers, as specific grooves for all other fingers often confused users as to where and how exactly to place their fingers, especially because hand sizes varied so much.
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We learned to balance the tradeoffs between ease of use, comfort, and accessibility for users with different hand sizes, which were all conflicting factors.
Process:
1. Task Analysis
2. Anthropometrics Analysis
3. Ideation
4. Foam Prototypes (6)
5. User Testing
6. Qualitative Ergonomic Analysis
7. User Testing (round 2)
8. Final CAD
Final Presentation: