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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 14, 2008 18:02:40 GMT
I have been commissioned to design and make a home office for a client which I have done many times before but this one is different, The client is a Parkinson’s sufferer and is losing control down his left-hand side. I have had a long talk with the client regarding accessibility etc. He still wants to use his left-hand side for as long as possible so all the furniture will be made to be adaptable left-hand or right-hand use. The wall mounted cupboards to have sliding doors (by all accounts he keeps hitting his head on wall mounted cabinet doors when they are open due to his brain telling one thing and his eye sight saying something else) The client is in the early stages of the disease.
The computers 22”monitor will be wall mounted on a tilt and turn bracket which will be also mounted on a slide so it will have lateral movement the full width of the desk / worktop (1600mm) The tower will be housed in one of the mobile pedestal units so will be the printer and scanner, both mounted on pull out shelves. The computer system will be voice activated and I am already in discussion with the IT guys regarding there requirements. All power sockets will be placed within easy reach.
That’s the background and as the design stands at this moment. I am about to put lines on the AutoCAD.
I was wondering if there should be anything else I could take into account or if any one has had any experience in designing such or similar items for a Parkinson’s sufferer.
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Post by engineerone on Apr 14, 2008 18:27:58 GMT
not directly related, but i do think it is worth considering other things, later he might not be able to reach things in the wall cupboards, so how about considering those kitchen type cabinets which allow the whole interior to come down to a more manageable height. i am pretty sure hafele do something of this type, or of course look in mfi. think about cabling being at table height, and it being easy for him to disconnect things on the computer, hope this helps you think a little more outside the box  paul  |
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Post by jfc on Apr 14, 2008 18:29:23 GMT
Maybe in the later stages wheelchair access will be needed  |
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johnc
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Post by johnc on Apr 14, 2008 19:03:44 GMT
First thoughts maybe a grab bar to help client get to his feet and no sharp corners to the desk etc maybe lighting switch at desk also. cheers john c
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 14, 2008 20:04:02 GMT
First thoughts maybe a grab bar to help client get to his feet and no sharp corners to the desk etc maybe lighting switch at desk also. cheers john c Hi John Thought about a grab rail, so thinking about a rail all-round the edge of the desk / worktop like you see on bars. Lighting will be on remote control zapper. |
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 14, 2008 20:05:22 GMT
not directly related, but i do think it is worth considering other things, later he might not be able to reach things in the wall cupboards, so how about considering those kitchen type cabinets which allow the whole interior to come down to a more manageable height. i am pretty sure hafele do something of this type, or of course look in mfi. think about cabling being at table height, and it being easy for him to disconnect things on the computer, hope this helps you think a little more outside the box paul Hi Paul Been thinking of an inverted pop up TV lift mounted in the roof space so it comes out of the ceiling. Yes the office will be on the first floor. I have also thought about larder cupboard type of thing with pull out storage and have no wall mounted cupboards. The client built the house some ten years ago after selling their bungalow, then three or four years ago was told he had Parkinson’s. He told me there is as snowballs chance in hell of him moving the views are to kill for, regarding the stairs there are ways and means. Cabling I was thinking of having towards the front of the desk a small removable access cover which will run the full length of the desk. Or having wireless ? |
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johnc
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Post by johnc on Apr 14, 2008 23:57:41 GMT
Will you be using one of these ebay Item number: 250234316459 sorry dont know how to make it a link. cheers john c
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 15, 2008 7:16:12 GMT
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Post by engineerone on Apr 15, 2008 9:48:33 GMT
having been involved in re modelling design for my folks place before they died, i think the biggest problem is that you cannot understand the problems. for instance my mum always had a problem undoing cans and bottles and jars. she could move the winder, but did not have the strength to hold the grip tight whilst turning. at that time the jml kind of electric can opener was not available. i moved all the plugs to about waist height to stop bending, added those looped plugs which are easier to pull out. for the cabling what i want you to think about it whether your client is going to have all the bits of the computer on all the time, for instance i disconnect my printer for most of the time, to save energy, same with scanner etc. so what i was suggesting was that you also consider how easily your client can get to things. so for instance i would try to ensure that usb connectors are at the front to make them easier to access. computer designers do not care about the customer, so they cable in non standard places and different units will be in different places, so if equipment has to be changed it may not fit exactly, so think about universality. as for wire less, i am still concerned about security in relation to wi fi. to many hacking possibilities i think. unless you can arrange a secure ring. personally i prefer cabled things they seem easier to protect. good luck paul |
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 15, 2008 22:32:09 GMT
Treated the electrician I work with to a coffee and a cream cake this afternoon to discuss the project. At this moment in time I am considering putting the tower, printer, scanner and another in single mobile pedestal unit. Housed in the base will be 3 twin 13amp sockets feed or supplied via a trailing lead. These sockets will be operated via grid system “?” mounted in the drawer. These will not only turn the power on or off for the computer etc but also the monitor and the lighting under the cupboards. Each of the switches will be illuminated and ladled so the client can see what is live and what isn’t. There will also be a main switch that will cut the power to all the appliances. I know this sounds as clear as mud, all know is that electricity works with 2 peaces of wet string, 1 elastic band with a knot in it, 2 tin cans which 1 must a beans tin and I some case a mirror.
If you are interested I can publish the design and specification when completed.
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Post by lemonjeff on Apr 16, 2008 8:41:19 GMT
A suggestion for the pedestal unit switching www.byebyestandby.co.uk/howitworks.html which is basic wireless switching, there's other systems with more channels or your client might even consider the X10 home/office automation system. Jeff. |
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 16, 2008 18:48:21 GMT
A suggestion for the pedestal unit switching www.byebyestandby.co.uk/howitworks.html which is basic wireless switching, there's other systems with more channels or your client might even consider the X10 home/office automation system. Jeff. Hi Jeff Paul the electrician I work with talked about this sort of thing but as the clients hand control will go out of control; we felt that it would be unsuitable due to the small buttons. But I will be suggesting it to the client and just maybe be able to get a controller with more suitable size buttons. |
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Post by lemonjeff on Apr 16, 2008 21:00:50 GMT
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 16, 2008 21:21:35 GMT
Hi Jeff The computer is already voice activated or is it got voice recognition anyway the IT guys are looking at up grading it so I will ask them to look if we can control other items. Also the client will be reading this thread as I have told him that you are all putting your thinking caps on just to see if we can get the best for him. |
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Post by jfc on Apr 16, 2008 21:59:09 GMT
Maybe a bit more info on Parkinsons may help . We are after all carpenters and joiners /wood workers not doctors I assume each sufferer differs from the next ? I know when my Father had a brain surgery he had forgotten alot but the stuff he had re learnt after surgery was easy for him . It was the things he was supposed to know that where hard . Maybe the office will need changing as the condition gets worse so allow for that ? |
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on Apr 16, 2008 23:13:25 GMT
Maybe a bit more info on Parkinsons may help . We are after all carpenters and joiners /wood workers not doctors I assume each sufferer differs from the next ? I know when my Father had a brain surgery he had forgotten alot but the stuff he had re learnt after surgery was easy for him . It was the things he was supposed to know that where hard . Maybe the office will need changing as the condition gets worse so allow for that ? I joined The Parkinson's Disease Society of the United Kingdom which have forum. I asked if I could post this same question on it and I was told No we do not allow post of a commercial nature. |
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Post by paulchapman on Apr 17, 2008 7:15:35 GMT
I joined The Parkinson's Disease Society of the United Kingdom which have forum. I asked if I could post this same question on it and I was told No we do not allow post of a commercial nature. That was a bit daft of the Society. I would have thought it would be in the interests of their members to share information about this sort of thing......... Cheers Paul |
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Post by ''The village idiot'' on May 10, 2008 7:59:06 GMT
Just a quick note to thank to all those members who have taken time and trouble in offering advice on this mater, it is most appreciated.
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