User-centered design of a customized assistive device to support feeding

This paper presents the design process of an assistive device for people with Parkinson's disease or some level of tremor in the hands. A user-centered design approach is proposed, based on the integration of the tools House of Quality (QFD) and TRIZ in search of feasible and inventive technical solutions focused on meeting users' requirements. 3D printing was also used as a tool to support and refine the design, through the manufacture of mock-ups and prototypes used in interaction and testing with users. The proposed design process brought relevant improvements in four main aspects: 1) facilitated the communication among members of the multidisciplinary design team (engineers, occupational therapists, end users); 2) provided a clearer identification of the design demands as well as the users' needs, incorporating them into the process; 3) promoted a reduction in development time as a whole; 4) allowed the generation of feasible and inventive solutions, with functionality and innovation. Preliminary tests with the functional prototype have been conducted with a 60-year-old male with Parkinson's disease on regular medication use and the single-case experimental design has been applied to evaluate the impact on the quality of the feeding task in terms of performance and satisfaction. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.