Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Services, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA | [b] Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA | [c] Western New York Independent Living, Inc., Buffalo, NY, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Sajay Arthanat, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Services, 111 Hewitt Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: Usability and accessibility are key design characteristics that enable consumers with disabilities to effectively and safely interact with mainstream products as they pursue independent living. This product usability study examines experiences of consumers with hand function limitations regarding the quality and value of a commercially available automatic jar opener. The product was designed for use by people with diverse hand functions and its development process included continuous consumer input. Findings from this longitudinal case study include high ratings of the jar opener on usability and other indicators of quality. Consumers' reported value of the product remained consistently high throughout the study. Product use was consistent during the trial period evidencing high consumer satisfaction and product acceptance. This study attests to the potential benefits of involving consumers with disabilities in the development of products not only as a strategy to integrate inclusive design features, but also to broaden their market value. The paper also highlights the methodology and key concepts underlying the investigation of quality and value for products designed through this approach.
