Many of today's walkers have two major problems. The first being the inability to use the walker safely in the dark. A walker user usually needs both hands on the walker to maintain balance, eliminating the ability to hold a flashlight or any other light device. This can potentially be dangerous, as a user could seriously injure themselves if they trip over an unseen object.
The second issue most walkers have is their form. Although they are effective in maintaining the user's balance, they often feel cagey and confining due to their basic shape and aluminum material. Walker users should have a way to express themselves through the form of their walker.
Ideation
Through the first round of ideation, I looked into completely redesigning the form of the entire walker. This included designing built-in lights and improving the mobility of the walker while maintaining its stability.
Upon further research and the given time constraints of the project, I shifted my focus to the light as an attachment to the standard walker that patients are given after their release from a healthcare facility.
Prototype 1
With the first prototype, a strap cushion was used to mimic an attachment that would be fitted around the walker's front bar via Velcro. Upon testing, it was discovered that two hands would be required of the user to attach the light to the walker. This form of attachment could not be used because the user might not have the physical capability to maintain their balance with both hands off the walker.
Prototype 2
With this second prototype the two hand attachment was fixed through the implementation of a snap feature on the back of the model. This snap feature matches the outer diameter of the tubes in a standard walker (1 1/8") in order to guarantee a secure fit to the walker. In addition, the form of the model helps give the walker a bit of a sleeker look, and the fact that the product is 3D printed allows for the user to purchase the product in a color of their choosing to express themselves.
