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Ergonomics, is the “scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment, environments and systems.” As a result ergonomics extends across our work, our leisure and other aspects of our daily lives.

http://standupdesks.com/

Sitting for extended periods of time is unhealthful. As more people are becoming aware of this, standing workstations are becoming popular. In the pursuit of solving this problem the stand-up desk has been designed. In order to get a stand-up desk that fits is to ensure that the measurements are correct in accordance to the user’s height, epitomizing the true definition of ergonomics. It is recommended that a prospective user create a temporary  stand-up desk setup, with boxes and books, to get a better idea of the personal comfort zone while standing. As it is a one off product, it stars at $1,000.

Stand-up desks offer many advantages over conventional desks. Many who have back problems simply cannot endure the stress that prolonged sitting at a desk creates. Therefore mental blocks, fatigue, pain, all occur while sitting at desks. As a result this design product is

Bibliography:

http://www.justluxe.com/lifestyle/home-decor/feature-1638675.php

The Tempur-Pedic mattress series is the definition of ergonomic design. Beds and mattresses that are normally used can cause problems for people with back problems. For one, they don’t provide proper support for the spinal column, only noticeably so for people with back pains and injuries. This is where Tempur-Pedic kicks in. The mattress is made to fit around the body of who ever lies in it. They come in different levels of deformation, each to fit different back conditions and comfort for the user. One feature which is essential to the goal of the company is a high level of customization. Because it strives to help individual people (not the majority of the population) they try and make it so that the product can be made around the individuals preferences; and this is a key feature for any ergonomic product

http://www.tempurpedic.com/Mattresses/Mattresses.asp

Technology should change for people’s needs and not the other way around that is what the company Humanscale is trying with their product; the switch mouse. The switch mouse is 30% larger than the typical mouse and is designed to mitigate wrist injuries such as carpal tunnel. They do this by having designed a built in palm rest that encourage arm movements instead of wrist movements.

The mouse is designed with a v shaped bracket that can tilt in order to keep our hands and wrists straight and can be used by both right and left handed people. The mouse also has the ability to stretch for people with larger hands.

The company says that it is a product that takes time to break into but will improve our bad mouse habits.

http://www.ruthtrumpold.id.au/designtech/pmwiki.php

About:

This robot was invented by inventor, entrepreneur and engineer Tony Mulligan. Named EMILY, an abbreviation of Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, it “can swim through riptides at a speed of up to 24 miles per hour.” This makes it 15 times as fat as a human lifeguard, according to Mulligan.

“It is powered with an electric pump that shoots a forceful stream of water”, and “has been tested at California’s Zuma Beach.” Lifeguards are in control of the robot, through a remote. The 2011 model features sonar technology and is controlled with an iPhone app, allowing it to detect riptides and people who have drowned.

Reactions: 

1. ” ‘From a technology perspective, [Emily] is quite innovative,’ says Howie Choset, a robotics professor at Carnegie Mellon University. ‘To be able to maneuver such a small craft through choppy waters straight to a drowning victim is incredible.’ ”

2. ” ‘This is a classic example of an inventor’s idea of how to solve a problem that doesn’t necessarily coincide with reality,’ says B. Chris Brewster, president of the United States Lifesaving Association. He notes that a robotic floatation device — no matter how nifty — can’t save an unconscious swimmer.”

Video demonstrating how the robot works:

Sources:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2029497_2030615_2029800,00.html

http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/25/technology/robot_lifeguard/index.htm

In the movie WALL-E viewers were fascinated with the idea that  robots can  give people massages, cook for them and even clean up after them. However, due to rapid technological progression over the past years,  the fascination continues as  now a real-life WALL-E has been developed and is now accessible to humans all over the world.  At the University of Massachusetts Amherst roboticist Rod Grupen and his collaborators have worked together on developing one of the most revolutionary inventions of the 21^st century- the Ubot a robot that has been created to further help people in their every day lives specifically the elderly who have difficulties carrying out their daily activities. The Ubot device could help one complete a range of activities from helping you find your glasses to calling up people in times of emergency. The Ubot has wheels that allow it to move around as well as a webcam included within its structure that helps it view objects  in order to pick them up, which is one of the famous features this invention entails. In addition to the around the clock in home assistance, the Ubot gives customers the ability to interact with people such as other family members miles and miles away. For example, someone over the internet can control the Ubot to search for their parents who are not answering their phone. If the person is not answering and it is in time of emergency the Ubot can on its own use a stethoscope  and on its own send it to a healthcare professional; or if the person is unresponsive Ubot can perform physical examination. Grupen explained how this robot can help family members care for their elderly parents even if they live in another  city,state,or even country. An experimental activity has been done and researchers are working on further developing this extraordinary invention by giving it its own ability to call 911. Therefore, the Ubot is truly a revolutionary device as it not only shows mankind’s progression in the fields of technology through the creation of the robot, but also it serves as a solution to major problem in the US, the majority of elderly people who are in need in healthcare and support. According to Grupen, “up to seventy million people will be moving into the main frame eldercare institutions we have to figure out different ways of doing eldercare in a distributed and more efficient fashion.” Therefore, a device like uBot may allow people to stay in their homes longer but still be cared for according to their needs, he says.

Sources:

http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218393123

DiGORO is known as the ‘Learning Robot’ as it is able to remember actions that have been shown to it several times by humans then reciprocate them itself. For instance, if a person demonstrates to DiGORO how to place a ball in a bucket it will then be able to repeat the action. What is remarkable though is that it is able to reciprocate the action of putting the ball in the bucket with an unknown object. By imitating the actions of the human, DiGORO is able to learn the action and repeat it on command at another period in time. To do this, DiGORO must be told what each item is, for example you hold up a bottle and say ‘DiGORO this is a bottle.’ If you repeat this action with a bucket you will then be able to instruct DiGORO to place the bottle in the bucket.

DiGORO is also capable of remembering people’s faces and voices simultaneously by identifying patterns of the person’s face and recognizing their colours and shapes which can prove useful for people suffering from senile dementia.

DiGORO has a number of other useful abilities.  If words are not in its database it is able to extract them from the person’s speech and convert the word to it’s own voice. Also DiGORO can generate maps and estimate it’s location, even in places it had not been before so that it is incapable of getting lost.

Based on the information it remembers, DiGORO can take action autonomously.  It is capable of handling tasks freely and make decisions on its own accord.

With an increase in numbers of elderly people it has become a primary need to provide more carers and staff to care for them in their old age. When elderly people lose their ability to maneuver around with ease and perform simple tasks they begin to become reliant on other people. DiGORO provides a solution to this problem as after it has been programmed it is capable to performing tasks such as opening cans or turning the lights on which would have required a great deal of  effort from the elderly person. Although, one problem that can be foreseen with the use of robots to care for the elderly is the loss of human contact. With no human beings caring for them the elderly person will come to rely on the robot for company which raises a number of questions about the ethical implications of such a thing.

Robotic automation has always been the key way to develop production and the industrial civilization. We use robotics in many fields of the industry, from the most complex procedures to the easiest. One simple step that takes place in the production of many products is the painting and coating stage. As simple as it might be, it is a stage that needs speed and accuracy and needs to be dealt with care since it controls the products aesthetics. The industrial painting robot does its job with high quality once programmed well, without causing any drips, oversprays, or inconsistincies in general. The machine allows faster production painting and coating with conservation of paint to up to 15-30%. With the benefit of saving workers that are more vulnerable to VOC’s and other hazardous materials in the paint, the painting robots are perfect for the industry

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http://www.robots.com/applications/painting-automation/25