The initial interview with our client, Maury Fredricks, took place at the Ford Design Center at 11:00am on April 6th, 2022. The attendees present from our section were Diego Alamillos, Juan Oliva, Louis Gabison, Andrew Bechthold and Lucas Wesonga.
Problems
Our client focused on a few problems that our design should aim to alleviate:
Lifestyles led by the elderly (Ages 65+) may be sedentary, which means they do not engage in sufficient exercise and physical activity in general.
Lack of exercise may result in exaggerated effects of ailments and diseases that could be prevented with the right fitness regime. Including arthritis, tennis elbow, shin splints etc.
Existing solutions are potentially tedious and do not directly accommodate for the physical limitations and requirements that come with old age.
There is an apparent lack of motivation within our client group when it comes to engaging in fitness activities.
Requirements
The solution that engages our clients in physical activity, not necessarily something that is a standalone fitness product. It could be a solution that fits into the clients’ daily lives.
The solution needs to be easy to set up and use for the clientele. (They should be able to implement it themselves).
The solution should accommodate their physical capabilities and offer varying levels of intensity and a wide range of exercise types.
The solution should be easy to maintain and require minimal repair or adjustment. It should be safe to use.
Users & Proxy Users:
Target users include the elderly who either carry out fitness activities within their homes.
Proxy users include family members who live with the target users, or fitness coaches and trainers. This could also include doctors who have data about the elderly.
Key Takeaways:
This interview provided essential information regarding the clientele and the problem
Avenues for further research
Types of fitness activities
User interests and preferences
Reasons for lack of motivation
Further interviews should focus on understanding target users
Narrow down the critical parts of the problem