Dementia focussed university project feedback

[Selinacroft]

I like your lamp design and can't see my own PWD being able to use it as he struggles with basic light switches and wall socket switches but I like the concept for myself as a carer. My sleep is really rubbish and I have been reading a lot about endocrine issues, thyroid medication and circadian rhythms. Mine are so out of whack I sleep with the tv on and wake every couple of hours.
On a practical note I am wonderng where you would place it and how it would be practical for a carer to use. I don't sit still very often and am usually toing and froing around the house. Would you just switch it on for half an hour before bed in the bedroom?
Have you patented your design? Worth thinking about if it is out there on the internet or someone else will be producing it cheaper before you have blinked.

 

[Oliversamuel]

Sue J

Perhaps when the light would be bought there would be different options such as different power cables, one could have foot pushed buttons with different colours and text explaining their operation? Or it could come with a regular in line light switch depending on personal preference.


Selinacroft -

With regard to using the device and moving about the house, to get the benefit of bright light therepy from what I have read it needs to be used in two sessions of between 30 mins and an hour depending on the light output which I am testing next week. (The higher the intensity of the light the shorter the amount of time you have to sit near it to receive its benefit)

Also one of the points with making my device more powerful than those available to buy right now was to allow you to fit further away, as the existing models were typically only effective at around 30cm. Which I thought was not a very useful distance.

So with device positioned further away you would still have to sit by it for around an hour to get the benefit.

Would it be possible for you to have an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening reserved specially to sit by the device? It could be quite relaxing especially if you accompany that time with one of your favourite aromas?

I would just like to thank everyone again, all of your input has been invaluable to me!

 

[Oliversamuel]

Here is a picture with the feet attached.

The device needs to be raised to allow air flow for the fan to propel the vapour out of the device.

What do you think?

 

[Oliversamuel]

Underside

 

[Selinacroft]

Hi- they look very elegant. The concept of having 2 hours a day to sit still is somewhat alien LOL

 

[Sue J]

Here is a picture with the feet attached.

The device needs to be raised to allow air flow for the fan to propel the vapour out of the device.

What do you think?

I think it looks great

Perhaps when the light would be bought there would be different options such as different power cables, one could have foot pushed buttons with different colours and text explaining their operation? Or it could come with a regular in line light switch depending on personal preference.

I think that would be a good as everyone is affected so differently. Would it be easy/possible to produce it without the aroma option? I think it would still appeal to people with the light function alone. To not have to sit so close is good too, it looks so good that it is just like a 'normal' lamp and would fit nicely in a home without a clinical feel.

If you want someone to trial it please let me know

I hope you do well in your degree , am sure you will. Thanks again for sharing it.

 

[cragmaid]

I love the concept. I love that you have used natural wood. I personally would prefer slightly shorter legs if possible. In which material is the " glass " shade produced? My concern being glass is breakable, have I missed the page which outlines the materials used? ( quite possible for me!!)

 

[Otiruz]

Not a technical question but, in order to feel any benefit from the light is it absolutely necessary to have to 'sit for an hour' or can you be in the general vicinity? At the moment I don't believe my PWD could sit for more than 10 minutes - presumably you could have the light working without the aroma and vice versa? Also is the fan fairly quiet? Thanks for taking the time to reply to all the queries.

 

[Oliversamuel]

Sue J -

Producing one without the aroma option would be very easy yes, if it didn't have the aroma parts more bulbs could be added making it brighter and increasing the distance it would be effective.

I hand all my work for this in on friday! So I don't have time to properly test the product to see it the combination of light and aroma is more effective together than on their own.

I am visiting a care home to speak to the nurses about what they think of the product and I have emailed doctors who specialise in dementia about the product.

Getting the ethical approval to conduct testing with dementia patients would also be quite tricky as it would go to a panel at the university to decide.

But if the concept is well received at the design exhibition, it may go into production who knows.

Otiruz -

Yes from everything that I have read you have to be quite close to it in order to feel the benefit. If you have seen some of the existing products they all state that they produce 10, 000 lux. Lux is just a measurement of the intensity of light. The sun on a summers day produces around 50, 000 lux and a generally lit home is about 400-500. 2500 lux in the minimum in order to be beneficial. As the intensity is greatly reduced the further you are away from it, being half way across the room will not give you any sort of benefit.

The higher the level of lux effectively gives a higher dosage of light, so if the light was water and you were trying to fill a bucket the required amount. A higher amount of lux is like a faster running tap. It will fill the bucket to the required amount faster.

The fan is very quiet, you wouldn't hear it as it is encased within the product. The electric circuit I have made is also quiet primitive so id it had a proper circuit i'm sure it would be silent.

cragmaid -

The shade is made from glass, I understand that plastic would be better as it would be break when dropped. But it was handmade specially for this as a one-off as I couldn't get the shape right with plastic.

Thanks all!

 

[Otiruz]

Sue J -

Producing one without the aroma option would be very easy yes, if it didn't have the aroma parts more bulbs could be added making it brighter and increasing the distance it would be effective.

I hand all my work for this in on friday! So I don't have time to properly test the product to see it the combination of light and aroma is more effective together than on their own.

I am visiting a care home to speak to the nurses about what they think of the product and I have emailed doctors who specialise in dementia about the product.

Getting the ethical approval to conduct testing with dementia patients would also be quite tricky as it would go to a panel at the university to decide.

But if the concept is well received at the design exhibition, it may go into production who knows.

Otiruz -

Yes from everything that I have read you have to be quite close to it in order to feel the benefit. If you have seen some of the existing products they all state that they produce 10, 000 lux. Lux is just a measurement of the intensity of light. The sun on a summers day produces around 50, 000 lux and a generally lit home is about 400-500. 2500 lux in the minimum in order to be beneficial. As the intensity is greatly reduced the further you are away from it, being half way across the room will not give you any sort of benefit.

The higher the level of lux effectively gives a higher dosage of light, so if the light was water and you were trying to fill a bucket the required amount. A higher amount of lux is like a faster running tap. It will fill the bucket to the required amount faster.

The fan is very quiet, you wouldn't hear it as it is encased within the product. The electric circuit I have made is also quiet primitive so id it had a proper circuit i'm sure it would be silent.

cragmaid -

The shade is made from glass, I understand that plastic would be better as it would be break when dropped. But it was handmade specially for this as a one-off as I couldn't get the shape right with plastic.

Thanks all!

Thanks for your answers - very best of luck with your studies Oliversamuel and thank you for thinking of PWD - they are very often the last people to be considered by any section of the community, much less students!!! Keep us posted.