ABSTRACT
Many elderly people use an umbrella as a walking assisting product. This chapter lays a detailed study of the pedagogy followed by are-look into umbrella design with respect to the average Indian elderly. First, relevant anthropometric details of the Indian elderly male and female are collected. For understanding the use of the umbrella and its necessity in daily life of the elderly, the direct observation and activity analysis with interview and questionnaire process is adopted. The questionnaire designed for interviews included both qualitative and quantitative questions. After the Anthropometric data is available and the Questionnaire is designed, the double diamond map approach of Design Thinking is used. As the multifunctional umbrella is provided with an MP3 player and a light-change LED bulb, a user can listen to music while walking and simultaneously can enjoy continuously changing colourful lights, thus effectively alleviating umbrella-holding fatigue, and making travel interesting.
