Have a seat grandma

SARAH CODDINGTON

PERCHED: Massey University student Nichola Trudgen with a seat she has invented to allow the elderly to take rest stops on a walk.

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While Nichola Trudgen was walking with her grandma she saw her looking for a spot to rest, and then she came up with an idea.

The Sunnynook resident invented a seat that attaches to lamp posts to be used as a resting stop for the elderly.

The Wanderest seat has earned her a spot in the finals of the James Dyson award. Ms Trudgen is up against two other inventions for the winning spot.

Ms Trudgen, a Massey University Albany fourth year industrial design student, says her grandma lives at a resthome and she is often looking for a spot to sit while on her walks.

"It is designed to be perched on for no more than five minutes, it is just for the elderly to have a break on a walk," she says.

Ms Trudgen spoke to a number of resthome residents and found that walking was their main form of exercise.

A lot of them said seating in public areas were too low for them to get out of easily, she says.

Her design is set higher on the pole to provide an easy perching spot.

At this stage her design is only a prototype made from wood-plastic composite, but she plans to approach resthome companies and councils with her invention.

"It could have application for many public spaces such as lamp posts or against flat walls in banks, retirement villages and waiting rooms.

The perching seat is also a hit with young people who think it would be great when waiting for the bus.

The winner of the James Dyson award will be selected on Thursday.

The other finalists are AUT design students Mark Wu and Reid Douglas, who have invented an alternative to the moon boot – a splint worn to aid recovery from leg injuries that is worn in three parts that the wearer discards as the leg mends.

The third finalist is Julian Schloemer from Christchurch, who has invented a binding on a wakeboard that releases when the rider applies a certain pressure to prevent injury.

The Dyson award recognises and rewards up-and-coming Kiwi designers with product design ideas that best demonstrate innovative and inspiring solutions to everyday problems.

- © Fairfax NZ News