ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT In a previous study, an assistive chair design was proposed to assist older people
sit-down and rise-up from the chair easily. The user’s weight was supported partially by a gas spring mechanism underneath the chair. As a result, despite a few of heavier and lighter users, most of the users felt easier in both rising-up and sitting-down. This study proposes a new assistive chair design in which the gas spring mechanism can be adjusted in different angles to fit different weights of people. An evaluation was carried out. 30 older people aged between 62 and 84 years (mean=70, std. dev. =6.3, 15 females and 15 males, 14 were healthy and 16 had minor arthritic rheumatics or waist pain) were recruited to evaluate the design. Speed for sitting-down and rising-up were measured. Video was taken to observe changes of respondents’ trunk-angle during use. The user’s satisfaction was also measured in a ten-point scale. The result shows the design works better than the previous one which the gas spring is fixed. The lager the angle of gas spring the larger the force provided for helping the subject rising up and sitting down to the chair. The heavier people need a larger angle. Users rising up from the chair need a larger angle than sitting down.
