Development of Innovation for the Elderly through a Design Thinking Process

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: 1) develop an innovative non-slip floor model made from para rubber latex to reduce slip-and-fall accidents of the elderly through a design thinking process; 2) find the effectiveness of the innovation prototype from the laboratory through an action research model based on the design thinking process.

The results showed that applying the five-step design thinking process to innovation development received cooperation from the community members in Lang Suan District, Chumphon Province. The brainstorm was conducted to solve the community problems, especially those related to the elderly. This led to the development of an innovation prototype that used a local natural material i.e., para rubber latex produced in Surat Thani and Chumphon Provinces. The rubber plantation is the main occupation of the local community in the south. The results of the efficiency test showed that the innovation prototype from the laboratory was developed from 100% natural rubber latex with the anti-slip properties and the mechanical properties as follows. The cure time at 150˚ C = 4.32, the hardness. = 70.4, the tensile strength (MPa) = 8.48, and elongation at break (%) = 333, etc. The results can be concluded that the innovation prototypes can be used as a guideline for sustainably solving the slip-and-fall accidents problems of the elderly in the community.