Parkinson steering wheel
Personalized Steering
In collaboration with Van Raam, we developed a special steering wheel for people with Parkinson’s disease, addressing the challenges of hand tremors and reduced stability while cycling. The design features adjustable handles, including ergonomic grips for comfort and textured handles to stimulate blood flow. The top handles can be repositioned for varied hand placements, reducing discomfort during extended use. After refining the prototype, we tested it with the target group to ensure it supports safe and enjoyable cycling. In this project I mainly focussed on the bicycle handles and the shape of the steering wheel.
This project focused on a specific target group, which taught me a great deal about target group research—particularly for individuals with conditions that vary significantly from person to person. This made it crucial to test prototypes with different people within the target group, as the outcomes could differ widely. Additionally, it was fascinating to explore the design of various handles and their ergonomic construction. For instance, the lower handles were designed with a strong emphasis on ergonomics, providing comfort and support for leaning. Meanwhile, the top two handles were developed with a focus on massaging the hands to improve blood flow, which is intended to help reduce tremors in Parkinson's patients.
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