Two Chula architectural graduates have developed Squeezium and Rehabit innovations to provide an incentive for the elderly to get up and move to strengthen their bodies. As a nod to their creativity, the innovations received Gold Medal and Special Award at the 7th World Invention Innovation Contest, Korea Invention Academy (KIA).
Exercise and play are important activities for humans regardless of age. This is even more important as we get older and exercise and play are needed to maintain strong and vibrant physical and mental health. But, incentivizing the elderly to get up and exercise is not easy, with their less agile body and illnesses that often discourage them from making the effort to move. thai university
Two graduates from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture tried to solve this problem with Squeezium and Rehabit innovations which most recently won the Gold Medal and Special Award at the 7th World Invention Innovation Contest from the Korean Invention Academy (KIA), hosted by Korea Invention News.
“Data from the Geriatric Excellence Center and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society show that the elderly often lack the motivation to exercise, do not enjoy it, and do not exercise properly. This may have adverse effects on their health,” Chanidapa Savangvaroros, a graduate of Chula Faculty of Architecture, who created Rehabit, discusses the concept behind the innovation which she got inspired from the “Design for Ageing” course, offered by the Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, in collaboration with the Geriatric Excellence Center.
“So, we designed and applied the mechanics of games to exercise to encourage older adults to feel challenged and want to exercise continuously and correctly. Moreover, exercise data can also be sent to healthcare professionals for review,” Chanidapa explained.
Squeezium hands stimulation exercise to lower blood pressure
According to a study abroad that stated that proper hand compression can contribute to lowering blood pressure, so Jintjutha Prateepthinthong, a graduate of Chula Faculty of Architecture developed Squeezium, a hand-squeezing device that looks like a Joy Stick, used in conjunction with an application to recommend and plan correct hand exercises.
“Players simply squeeze their hands to force a floating balloon (on-screen) to dodge the obstacles. If they squeeze their hands with the correct force of 30 percent, the balloon will dodge the obstacles, but if the force is not sufficient, the application will suggest how to do it until the correct force is applied. Players will continue to increase the level of play. The game is believed to make the elderly enjoy their exercise.”
For those who don’t like playing games, Squeezium will act like a personal trainer who will recommend the right exercise. The device’s screen will display the levels of strength of hand squeeze in a graph format. A reminder for workouts based on a set goal can also be set.
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