Two-person playground spinner with dividing wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional playground spinners and rockers often fail to provide a secure and comfortable seating arrangement for children with muscular and/or motor disabilities, and they typically lack defined personal space, which can be problematic for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Innovation Solution
The design of a playground spinner or rocker with a substantially circular base featuring two seating compartments, each with a backrest and foot support, and a dividing wall that separates the compartments, providing a defined personal space for each child while allowing them to share a face-to-face experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spinners and rockers are designed for a single person, then each user has a defined personal space, but socialization opportunities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into multiple compartments (first compartment and second compartment) that are separated by a partition wall. Each compartment is designed to accommodate one child, providing defined personal space while enabling two children to share the spinner together, thus resolving the contradiction between personal space definition and socialization capability
Solution Approach 2:
Two separate single-person spinner designs are merged into one unified structure with two compartments. The partition wall allows each child to have their own space while the shared base and support structure enable joint usage, achieving both personal space definition and socialization opportunities
2Adaptability or versatility
If spinners are designed for large groups, then socialization is enhanced, but personal space becomes undefined and overcrowding occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than designing for large groups, the spinner is segmented into exactly two compartments, each sized appropriately for one child. This segmentation prevents overcrowding while still enabling social interaction, resolving the contradiction between socialization enhancement and comfort/security
Solution Approach 2:
Each compartment is designed with specific local features including backrests, foot supports, and concavely curved portions that provide security and comfort tailored to individual children. These localized quality enhancements ensure ease of operation and comfort while maintaining socialization capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spinners lack defined personal space, then socialization is possible, but children with autism spectrum disorder experience discomfort and security issues
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall divides the spinner into separate compartments, providing defined personal space that reduces surprise physical contact and helps children with autism spectrum disorder understand their body's relation to others, while still allowing face-to-face social interaction
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure that provides psychological and physical separation, reducing discomfort for children with autism spectrum disorder while maintaining the ability to socialize through the shared spinning experience and face-to-face positioning
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spinners lack secure seating arrangements, then device simplicity is maintained, but children with motor disabilities cannot safely use the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
Each compartment is equipped with specific local features including backrests, foot supports, and concavely curved portions that provide secure seating arrangements tailored for children with motor disabilities. These localized structural enhancements improve accessibility while maintaining overall device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The seating compartments are pre-configured with backrests and foot supports positioned to automatically provide secure positioning for children with motor disabilities. This preliminary arrangement of structural elements ensures safety and accessibility without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A playground spinner or rocker is configured so that two children may share the spinning or rocking motion while in a face-to-face relationship, thereby promoting social play and attunement. The playground spinner or rocker includes a base that defines a first seating compartment and a second seating compartment, with each seating compartment being configured to hold a single child. The base also includes a dividing wall that extends between and separates the first seating compartment and the second seating compartment. The dividing wall serves as a barrier that helps provide each child with a defined sense of personal space, thereby facilitating play by children having autism spectrum disorder.