Abir Mullick

An Observational Study on Usability Issues in Mumbai Local Trains

Observational studies are common in the field of environment-behavior and they investigate the causal effects of environmental design on people through action-reaction behavior. The quality and strength of evidence provided by an observational study is determined largely by its design and how it is conducted. This paper employed observational study to learn about the usability and challenges encountered in the use of a commuting system in Mumbai, India. The study determined the influence of the physical environment on diverse users to outline environment-behavior issues and the level of environmental misfit that exists between users and the railway stations and local trains. The study concludes with design questions for further investigation through experimental research and interviews. Why do people avoid using stairs and instead choose to cross railway tracks? How does the two way traffic flow impact navigation on the station while commuters board or alight trains? What factors contribute to people collision on stations?

Universal Design India Principles; A Contextual Derivative for Practice

This paper presents a methodical collaborative effort of a team of industrial designers, architects, ergonomists and access consultant from prestigious academic institutions and proactive NGOs in India, who made a joint attempt to reformulate ‘Five Universal Design India Principles (UDIP)’ with strong Indian idiom, to design inclusive products, environments and systems in Indian context. Dedicated to its one-third of the total world’s disabled population, second largest elderly population, and contradictions of large poor population living in second fastest growing economy, these five Universal Design India Principles intend to build consensus on contextual definition and principles of practice to address the needs of its diverse population.

Research Tools to Learn About the Needs of Children With Autism

Even after several years of disability acts and accessibility guidelines in the world, not much work is done for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. To be truly inclusive, this is one unexplored area that universal design needs to emphasize more. In buildings and spaces, the existing accessibility standards address physical access but children with cognitive limitations are often unrepresented. The major reason for this to remain untouched in design practice and research is unique ethical challenges associated with observing or involving people with such limitations. The present study uses research methods grounded in environmentbehavior and rehabilitation studies to establish enabling environments for children with autism in educational spaces. Though the research employs multidisciplinary, multilayered approach in multiple sequential stages, the current paper describes ethically-appropriate evidence-based research tools developed by the authors to uncover findings that are not yet known.

Research and Design of a Cultural Product: Inclusive Design of a Squat Latrine

This paper presents a research and development project, the research generated user needs and design transformed research information into inclusive squat latrine concepts. The new latrine design is for all users safe and it allows equitable use by everyone. The latrine responds to age-old defecation practice grounded in habit and cultural practice and it offers an ergonomic solution that helps maintaining comfortable squat posture throughout the defecation process. Since latrine use is difficult for most users and many experience difficulties over time, the ergonomic design and better buttock support minimizes strain on the joints and helps everyone prolong latrine use.

Development of the Inclusive Indoor Play Design Guidelines

There are no guidelines that help with designing inclusive indoor playthings and spaces. Consequently, the design of indoor playthings and spaces has followed an intuitive approach of “good design” not grounded in research, investigation or testing. Through research using a variety of methods, characteristics were identified that makes a plaything or play environment universally inclusive. The results of the research were used to develop Inclusive Indoor Play Design Guidelines. The Guidelines were tested and successfully implemented by designing and developing inclusive indoor play environments and playthings.

Inclusive Indoor Play: Children at Play

The purpose of this study was to learn from children about important aspects of play. Researchers observed how children with and without disabilities interacted with a variety of playthings in a full-scale play environment. Five play aspects were identified and analyzed. Results suggest there is a correlation between independence in play, level of assistance needed, and effort required to play. Childrens observations regarding the level of difficulty and fun playing with different playthings were used to determine plaything components that contribute to inclusive indoor play.

Wayfinding Challenges and Strategies in Mumbai Suburban Railway

This paper reports findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with local train commuters with different level of vision-full vision, low vision, no vision and different level of familiarity-first time, occasional, daily commute. The study had two objectives (1) to understand how the current train and station environment limit or support wayfinding of train commuters (2) to explore and compare the wayfinding experiences of people with different level of vision and familiarity with station use and local train travel. The findings from the study highlight ‘universal design’ considerations that should be taken to improve the wayfinding experience in the existing station and train environment for wider population.

People, Places and Potentialities in Design – Research Tools to Examine Challenges in Behind-the-Counter Work

This paper describes the use of research tools that examined challenges of American older adults involved in behind-the-counter (BhC) work. The study investigated human-environment interactions in BhC Workspaces and learned about environmental fit or how the capacity of a person combines with environmental demands to determine performance in a given situation. Three sequential research tools trace study, marginal participant observation and user interviews, were employed to evaluate four types of BhC workspaces—library circulation counter, hotel check-in counter, airport check-in counter and office reception counter. The interdependent, sequential cycle of adoption of these tools offered important means to learn about worker needs in BhC work, identify environmental problems and develop inclusive design solutions that offer safety, prevent injury, and prolong work-life. The multi-pronged approach helped develop information about BhC work and confirm interdependent methods.

Full Scale Models for Person-Environment Interaction Case Study of a Bathroom

Full scale models are representational systems that can be experienced through touch, movement and operation. For designers and researchers, they are simulated designs to observe, interact, experience and study future systems. An important research tool, full scale models offer an efficient means to examine early design assumptions, evaluate problem definition and develop designed systems. This paper will provide an overview of using full-scale models by product and environmental designers for research, design and development. A bathroom case study that employs full scale models conduct accessibility research and validated design assumptions is presented. The findings of the research indicate that accessible bathrooms do not offer functional benefits to all users, mostly to users with disabilities. And yet, everyone likes accessible features and they want to have them. The results of the research were used to develop a universal bathroom. The paper concludes with recommendations for a new modeling system.

Designing with Users: A case study for design of dental workspace

Dental professionals are prone to musculoskeletal disorders and occupational health problems due to the extreme static body postures and use of repetitive hand and wrist movements. This project researched dental work practices and environments to learn about seating needs, tools and the environment that will help maintain good working posture and offer maximum body support during times of repetitive motion and hyperextension. The project also designed new tools that allow for dental work in a neutral posture; a new chair that supports the upper body during dental work; and a customizable work environment for the dental professionals.