Using a Vacuum Cleaner to Clean an Apartment
In the chart below, we’ve tried to break down this chore into basic steps. The Physical, Sensory and Cognitive columns all indicate what type of involvement is needed for that specific task. We did not analyze these steps from a social perspective, as this is usually an activity that is done in the privacy of one’s home.
| Activity Breakdown | Physical | Sensory | Cognitive |
| 1. clear floor | balance/strength/coordination to bend/lift | see/sense where objects are located and where to move them to | know which objects should be moved and which should not |
| 2. remove vacuum from storage | mobility/strength/balance to maneuver into storage space to get vacuum & attachments | see/sense of storage location and space around | know the storage location |
| 3. plug in power cord | flexibility to pull out cord and reach socket | see/sense the socket location | understand that the plug must go into the socket |
| 4. attach appropriate hose/nozzle | hand strength and fine motor skills | see/sense appropriate nozzle, location, connection | know which attachment is appropriate and their location |
| 5. turn on vacuum | fine motor skills with hands or feet, balance | see/sense switch, awareness that it is working/clogged | know how to operate the switch |
| 6. maneuver through space | strength to pull, balance/awareness not to trip over cord | see/sense where to clean–finding nooks & crannies, location of cord | understand back/forth motion and what has been cleaned and what needs to be cleaned |
| 7. manage locations of cord, vacuum body, hose, attachment | strength, coordination | see/sense location of cord, vacuum, new socket | understand concept of vacuum being attached to the wall and adjusting plug relative to rooms |
| 8. turn off | fine motor skills | see/sense the switch | understand when finished, how to turn off |
| 9. unplug | fine motor skills, balance, strength | see/sense plug | understand unplugging as a next step |
| 10. rewrap cord | fine motor skills with hands or feet, coordination | see/sense cord without tangling/knots | realize cord needs to be wrapped up |
| 11. return to storage | mobility/strength/balance to maneuver into storage space to get vacuum & attachments | see/sense of storage location and space around | know the storage location |
POTENTIAL ISSUES:
Vision Impaired
tripping over cord
knowing position of all components
knowing what has been vacuumed
finding nooks & crannies
knowing when you run out of cord
locating new sockets
Hearing Impaired
longer response time if plug accidentally comes out of the socket/vacuum is off
difficult to sense if the vacuum is backed-up
Restricted Mobility
the chord could pose a problem maneuvering around and not tripping over
lifting/accessing machine and attachment
PROPOSAL:
A system for moving and managing large objects or devices with a wheelchair. Objects/devices are placed into a storage unit which is mounted on a wall via electro-magnetic powered latches (caribiners). The user backs up to the storage unit, located at wheelchair level, and by pressing switches, located on the armrests of the wheelchair, opens and locks the front latches, securing the unit to the back of the wheelchair, and opens the back latches, releasing the unit from the wall.
A cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner could be adapted using this system. Attachments would be mounted on the wall nearby and all the vacuum controls would be located on the handle of the nozzle.