Team leader
David Fisher, Seymourpowell
Team members
Rinnai, Hino Motor Corporation, Toyo Exteriors, Fuji Xerox, LG, Tokyo University systems, electrical and industrial engineering students.
Lead user
Naoko Kojima, architect and access consultant, wheelchair user.
The issue
Kojima spends her entire day in a wheelchair and has to plan everything with her personal assistant in advance, which means that being spontaneous is not possible. Many things in her life present a barrier. Her wheelchair is electric and the battery is easily damaged by rain, so in a shower it must be protected. Umbrellas are unwieldy, limited in size and take time to put up. They must also be stored and accessed on the wheelchair. Rain capes require carer assistance since they must be pulled over the head.
What is it?
The team felt Kojima's life could be dramatically improved in simple ways, by saving time and always being prepared with standard or fashionable products not ones for special-needs.
Their brief was therefore a completely inclusive idea - to create wearable climate protection, not just for Kojima, but for almost everyone. The solution was simple - a range of flexible, wearable climate protection 'shields'. Using plastic memory-materials co-moulded to flexible membranes or fabric, the team proposed a set of compact products packaged in a coil and inspired by light reflectors used by professional photographers. These can be flipped open and expand to give fast, short-term protection against the elements.
The applications range from basic rain protection, a sun-visor, a windshield, to a simple device to protect personal belongings.
