Javier de la Fuente | California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (original) (raw)
Journal Papers by Javier de la Fuente
In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) d... more In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) designs intended to identify infant bottle-feeding events and appropriate feeding volume recording intervals using accelerometer data recorded from a custom designed "Smart Bottle" system. To properly identify and distinguish these events with an accuracy of 99.8%, while accommodating the constraints of the deployment environment, two concurrent FFNNs were implemented. Clinical Relevance-Infant feeding patterns are highly correlated with obesity in adulthood; the Smart Bottle system presents an opportunity to collect accurate data with minimal disruption to the feeding interaction.
Health Education & Behavior, 2020
Drug manufacturers are expected to provide labeling information needed to yield safe and effectiv... more Drug manufacturers are expected to provide labeling information needed to yield safe and effective product use. However, it is not clear that consumers dose sunscreen, an over-the-counter drug, appropriately; in fact, existing evidence suggests underdosing as a common phenomenon. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dispensing device and labeling on self-administered doses of sunscreen in young adults. To investigate those effects, a 2 × 2 factorial laboratory experiment crossing dispensing device (two levels) with labeling treatment (two levels) was conducted. Participants applied sunscreen from each of the four treatments; dosing concentration, measured in mg/cm2, served as the response variable. Participants (n = 94) were recruited on the campuses of Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) and California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, CA). Each participant applied sunscreen from each unique treatment to sites on their arms and legs (four applications). Postapplication, a survey was completed to characterize demographics, risk perception, and sunscreen use patterns. Results indicate participants applied approximately 30% less sunscreen from the pump bottles than the squeeze bottles (difference estimate of 0.3059 mg/cm2, standard error = 0.0607, p < .0001); there was no evidence of a difference based on label treatments. Post hoc recognition tests indicated only 55% of participants were able to recognize the two experimental labels they had viewed immediately following sunscreen application. Sunscreen application density was directly related to level of worry regarding skin cancer and frequency of sunscreen use (α = .05). Our results suggest the dispensing device used to deliver sunscreen impacts the dosage amount consumers apply.
Journal of Applied Packaging Research, 2019
Students in scientific/technical-oriented disciplines struggle with achieving good levels of inno... more Students in scientific/technical-oriented disciplines struggle with achieving good levels of innovation when exposed to design problems. Research indicates the need for implementing alternative pedagogical approaches in technical curricula that enhance students’ creative skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a cross-disciplinary pedagogical approach with a focus on teaching innovation in the field of packaging engineering at a university in the United States. A Design Thinking Project-Based Learning (DTPBL) approach was used to improve the levels of innovation in student work. Its outcomes were compared with those of a Traditional Project-Based Learning (TPBL) approach. The implementation of DTPBL across several courses took place between 2015 and 2018. TPBL was the norm in these courses between 2009 and 2014. National and international student design competitions were used to assess the level of innovation of student work externally. Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of innovation of student work between approaches. DTPBL projects placed higher in design competitions, and they were recognized more often by independent expert judges than TPBL projects. At a national level, TPBL generated 172 projects in 11 instances, obtaining 12 awards. DTPBL produced 61 projects in seven instances, and student work was recognized with 21 awards. At a global level, student work created with TPBL was never recognized, while student projects generated using DTPBL received seven recognitions in three participation instances. This study provides evidence that a Design Thinking Project-Based Learning (DTPBL) approach can be a successful pedagogical strategy to enhance students’ creative skills and produce innovative design solutions.
Journal of Applied Packaging Research, 2018
The global demand for corrugated fiberboard is projected to experience a significant upsurge in t... more The global demand for corrugated fiberboard is projected to experience a significant upsurge in the near future. Based on the end-use, packaging for processed and fresh food categories accounted for approximately 39% of the overall consumption of corrugated fiberboard in 2015. With key advantages such as providing an uninterrupted bottom, laminated corners for higher stacking strength, increased material use efficiency, side cutout options for display at retail and a wide range of styles over other styles of containers, Bliss style boxes find prominence in the agriculture sector. While numerous predictive strength models associating corrugated fiberboard material specifications to the box compression strength (BCT), and ultimately the stacking strength of corrugated containers, have been developed over the past century, there is a considerable lack of studies that include Bliss style containers. The overall aim of this empirical study was to develop a mathematical relationship based on the simplified McKee formula towards predicting BCT of four styles of Bliss boxes. Effects of box styles, length of load-bearing walls and number of internal corners on the overall BCT were explored using data collected from lab-based testing. The proposed mathematical model includes a box design constant (k), edge crush test values, board thickness, and three lengths of load-bearing walls (total, single-wall, and double-wall) of the containers. The k-values for each bliss box design, explored through linear regression analyses, explain up to 98.1% of the differences in BCT between the styles. The proposed mathematical model can assist practitioners with accelerating packaging development cycle times and optimizing packaging designs.
Journal of Biomechanics, 2015
Loss of hand function can have adverse effects on an individual's ability to maintain independenc... more Loss of hand function can have adverse effects on an individual's ability to maintain independence. The ability to perform daily activities, such as food preparation and medication delivery, is dependent on the hand's ability to grasp and manipulate objects. Therefore, the goal of this research was to demonstrate that three dimensional (3D) modeling of hand function can be used to improve the accessibility of handheld objects for individuals with reduced functionality through informed design. Individual models of hand functionality were created for 43 participants and group models were developed for groups of individuals without (Healthy) and with reduced functionality due to arthritis (RFA) of the hand. Cylindrical models representative of auto-injectors of varying diameters were analyzed in 3D space relative to hand function. The individual model mappings showed the cylinder diameter with the highest mapped functional values varied depending on the type of functional weighting chosen: kinematic redundancy of fingertip pad positional placement, fingertip pad orientation, or finger force directionality. The group mappings showed that for a cylinder to be grasped in a power grasp by at least 75% of the Healthy or RFA groups, a diameter of 40 mm was required. This research utilizes a new hand model to objectively compare design parameters across three different kinematic factors of hand function and across groups with different functional abilities. The ability to conduct these comparisons enables the creation of designs that are universal to all – including accommodation of individuals with limits in their functional abilities.
Packaging Technology and Science, 2015
The term affordance describes an object's utilitarian function or actionable possibilities. Produ... more The term affordance describes an object's utilitarian function or actionable possibilities. Product designers have taken great interest in the concept of affordances because of the bridge they provide relating to design, the interpretation of design and, ultimately, functionality in the hands of consumers. These concepts have been widely studied and applied in the field of psychology but have had limited formal application to packaging design and evaluation. We believe that the concepts related to affordances will reveal novel opportunities for packaging innovation. To catalyse this, presented work had the following objectives: (a) to propose a method by which packaging designers can purposefully consider affordances during the design process; (b) to explain this method in the context of a packaging-related case study; and (c) to measure the effect on package usability when an affordance-based design approach is employed.
Packaging Technology and Science, 2012
The study consisted of three objectives: (a) to test the relative prominence and conspicuousness ... more The study consisted of three objectives: (a) to test the relative prominence and conspicuousness of a warning required by US law to be conspicuous; (b) to explore whether or not the conspicuousness of the said warning can be enhanced graphically; and (c) to develop preliminary data for power analysis that would guide decisions related to sample size in future studies. Seventeen subjects viewed four over-the-counter drug packages (each with a different style of warning)along with
five other products while wearing an eye-tracking device. Four styles of warning were used on the over-the-counter drug packages: no outline and no fill, outline and no fill, no outline and fill, and outline and fill. The surface area and the placement of the warnings were held constant across all four designs andwere consistent with those on commercially available products. Collected data were broken into five zones: warning, brand name, strength, product benefit, and net weight. Despite the fact that US law requires it to be conspicuous, the tested warning was significantly less noticeable than the brand name (objective one) for all dependent variables analyzed (a=0.05). No significant difference was indicated for the varied warning designs (objective two). This could be because not much can be done to enhance prominence when constrained to the limited space that is typically used for such warnings or because of the limited sample size. Power calculations suggest that a sample size of nearly200 subjects would be required to detect a 2.5-seconds mean difference at 80% con
fidence (objective three).
Journal for Patient Compliance, 2011
Although significant resources are devoted to developing healthcare products that are safe and ef... more Although significant resources are devoted to developing healthcare products that are safe and effective pharmacologically, significantly less effort is devoted to ensuring products perform as intended in the hands of providers and patients. Poor designs result in user confusion and frustration, and have the potential to lead to errors and adverse events. the interaction that occurs between people and healthcare products is an area in need of study.
Journal for Patient Compliance, 2012
The objective of this research was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of two groups (older ... more The objective of this research was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of two groups (older adults and people with disabilities) regarding child-resistant (CR) drug packaging. Six participants with disabilities and eight older adults participated in two separate focus groups. Analysis of focus group transcripts revealed two major themes.
Designing Inclusive Interactions, 2010
Health Expectations, 2009
Research has documented the drastic reduction of unintentional poisonings of children since the i... more Research has documented the drastic reduction of unintentional poisonings of children since the introduction of child resistant (CR) packaging. However, studies also indicate that consumers report difficulty using CR packages, in part because tests which determine the senior friendliness of CR designs that are used throughout the world disallow people with overt or obvious disabilities from being test subjects. Our review of drug package usability suggests that the current tests of CR packaging can and should be revised to correct this problem. We use US legislation, regulation and data to exemplify these points, but the conclusions are applicable to all protocols that include the exclusionary provision.
Conference Papers by Javier de la Fuente
43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC), 2021
In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) d... more In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) designs intended to identify infant bottle-feeding events and appropriate feeding volume recording intervals using accelerometer data recorded from a custom designed "Smart Bottle" system. To properly identify and distinguish these events with an accuracy of 99.8%, while accommodating the constraints of the deployment environment, two concurrent FFNNs were implemented. Clinical Relevance-Infant feeding patterns are highly correlated with obesity in adulthood; the Smart Bottle system presents an opportunity to collect accurate data with minimal disruption to the feeding interaction.
Proceedings of the 22nd IAPRI World Packaging Conference (Monterrey, Mexico), Jun 30, 2020
A heuristic evaluation is a type of inspection technique utilized to analyze and assess a product... more A heuristic evaluation is a type of inspection technique utilized to analyze and assess a product using a heuristic guide. It involves a small set of expert evaluators who examine the product and evaluate its compliance with recognized design principles (i.e., heuristics). Heuristic evaluations are a cost-efficient method to help identify problems before evaluations with users. A review of the literature reveals the lack of heuristic guides for new packaging development projects and the evaluation of existing packaged products. This study's objective was to fill this knowledge gap by developing a comprehensive heuristic guide that individuals could use, regardless of their level of packaging expertise. The study was divided into two phases: guide design and testing. The guide design phase involved identifying design characteristics of packages and refining their description to make them focused, easily understandable, and universally applicable. It required several iterations of refining and grouping. The second phase consisted of testing the heuristics with two panels of evaluators. The heuristic guide was converted into a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. A group of ten packaging professionals with three levels of expertise (i.e., novice, intermediate, expert) used the evaluation guide to evaluate six packaged products. Qualitative feedback from the evaluators was used to improve the guide. Quantitative data from the questionnaire was used to determine if the evaluator's experience had an impact on the evaluations. A second round of testing was conducted using a panel of nine industry professionals and a new set of packaged products. Again, qualitative information was collected to improve the guide. The resulting heuristic guide has 50 design characteristics grouped into three main areas, one for each packaging function: protection (three sub-areas, 17 heuristics), utility (three sub-areas, 19 heuristics), and communication (four sub-areas, 14 heuristics). Results from the questionnaires did not show significant differences based on the level of evaluator expertise. Qualitative feedback allowed researchers to refine design characteristics and their wording. Industry professionals expressed interest in this innovative tool.
Proceedings of the 22nd IAPRI World Packaging Conference (Monterrey, Mexico), Jun 30, 2020
Concept ideation can be facilitated by using techniques such as design heuristic to stimulate div... more Concept ideation can be facilitated by using techniques such as design heuristic to stimulate divergent thinking. Heuristics are general design principles extracted from existing solutions that can help designers create novel solutions. While extensive research has been done on design heuristics when applied to product design, there are no reports of their application to innovative packaging design. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of design heuristics on the level of innovation of packaging concepts. Fifty-five undergraduate students were randomly assigned to three groups. Participants in the control group generated ideas without the help of design heuristics (i.e., group A). Participants in group B ideated with the help of existing product design heuristics. Participants in group C created ideas using design heuristics tailored specifically to packaging design. A total of 293 packaging concepts were rated using three 5-point Likert scales for morphological, technological, and functional innovations. An overall level of innovation was calculated by adding the three scores. Participants who used design heuristic cards (i.e., experimental conditions B and C) created on average more than one additional idea than participants who ideated without heuristic help (i.e., control group). Idea generation using packaging-specific design heuristics yielded more innovative ideas than idea generation using product design heuristics. Forty-nine percent of the ideas in group C had significantly higher levels of innovation compared to 35% of the ideas in group B (χ2 (1) = 4.023, p = .045) and 32% in the control group (χ2 (1) = 5.996, p = .014). Product design heuristics can be extremely useful to make ideation processes more efficient and productive. However, this study provides evidence that there needs to be a match between heuristic description, examples of application of the heuristics, and the target domain (i.e., the type of product being created). Findings suggest a significant and positive effect of using field-specific heuristics for early ideation sessions of novice students with minimal design background.
Proceedings of 29th IAPRI Symposium on Packaging (Enschede, The Netherlands), 2019
Mobile eye-tracking technology provides data that can be linked to user attention during visual p... more Mobile eye-tracking technology provides data that can be linked to user attention during visual perception. The relationship between a fixation and its subsequent saccade has been proposed to identify ambient versus focal visual processing. Short fixation durations followed by long saccades are characteristic of ambient processing. Longer fixation durations followed by shorter saccades suggests focal processing. The objective of this study was to apply a novel parametric scale (i.e., coefficient K) to eye movement data from packaging usability trials of known difficulty to investigate the relationship between fixations, saccades, and cognitive-challenging phases in user-package interactions. A panel of 40 participants (20 females, 20 males) were asked to open a folding carton and extract its contents. Each participant stood behind a counter of a fixed height wearing an ASL Mobile 5 glasses and completed one task in a lab facility. They were instructed to imagine an emergency scenario where all package contents had to be removed as quickly as possible. Half of the participants were randomly assigned a package with a pull tab on the top of the container (i.e., easy task) while the other half tested a package with a press-in mechanism on the bottom of the folding carton (i.e., difficulty task). Coefficients for each trial were calculated using fixation durations and either saccade durations or saccade amplitudes. Two-sample t-tests based on the coefficients K were conducted to compare mean differences across the two tasks. For coefficients K calculated using saccade durations, results revealed a significant difference in mean coefficient K for each type of task (t(27)=2.57, p≤0.05). For coefficients K calculated using saccade amplitudes, results revealed a significant difference in mean coefficient K for each type of task (t(34)=2.72, p≤ 0.01). Moreover, mean coefficients K for the easy task were negative, signalling ambient processing, while mean coefficients K for the difficult task were positive, an indication of focal processing. Gender differences are also reported. Findings have critical implications for understanding user-package interaction problems and support the use of algorithmic processing of eye-tracking data for automatic usability problems detection.
Proceedings of 28th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2017
Based on previous studies suggesting the existence of a range of optimal peel angles (α≈45) where... more Based on previous studies suggesting the existence of a range of optimal peel angles (α≈45) where peeling force is minimized and that peeling force is proportional to the width of the peeling line, we propose that there should exist for every semi-rigid package, a theoretical optimal path that follow the midpoints of the shortest peel lines. Moreover, we hypothesize people will adjust peeling direction by trying to peel on the optimal path (defined by angle β) at an optimal peel angle (defined by angle α). A motion capture system was used to measure peel angles (α) and peel direction angles (β) during an opening task under two experimental setups (i.e., unrestrained and restrained). Sixteen participants opened lidded trays with retro-reflective markers attached to the lids and trays. Peel angle was measured by using two approaches: α I or Initial Peel Angle (an average of the first half second of the pulling phase data) and α T or total peel angle (an average of the entire pulling phase data). Peel direction angle (β I) was calculated by averaging the first half second of the pulling phase data. Mean peel angle (α) measurements (43°, 44°, 44°, and 49°) fell in the optimal peel angle range (α≈45°) in which pulling force is minimized. For the restrained opening condition, between 62-75% of all participants used peel angles within optimal range. For the unrestrained opening condition, between 69-81% of all participants used peel angles within optimal range. The initial peel direction angle (β I) measured during the unrestrained opening condition (β I =48°, sd=22°) approximated the theoretical angle of β=45° confirming that most participants pulled the tab in this direction during the initial stages of the opening task. The initial peel direction angle β I measured with the restrained opening condition (β I =34°, sd=13°) was significantly lower but still in the range if standard deviation is considered. On average, most participants used peel angles and peel direction angles close to the hypothesized values (α≈45 and β≈45°). Experimental setup had an effect on opening time and peel direction angle but did not have a significant effect on peel angle.
Proceedings of 28th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2017
The objective of this study is to characterize and analyse how affordances of packages are percei... more The objective of this study is to characterize and analyse how affordances of packages are perceived by users and what type of behaviour affordances trigger. In order to characterize the effect of individual design features on user attention and behaviour, a commercially available package for epinephrine was redesigned and tested with a panel of participants (n=39). Each experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three factors: location of opening mechanism (top or bottom), type of opening mechanism (press-in or pull tab), and colour contrast in opening area (with or without). By crossing all possible conditions (2x2x2), eight different folding carton designs resulted. Each participant was treated as a block and presented all eight designs in a random order. Participants stood behind a counter of a fixed height wearing an ASL Mobile 5 glasses and completed eight opening tasks in a lab facility. They were instructed to imagine an emergency scenario where they needed to remove all contents from each package as quickly as possible. Each opening trial was analysed using task analysis (TA) and eye tracking analysis (EA). TA relied on video feeding from the eye-tracker's scene camera and eye movement information to divide the human package interaction in five subtasks (i.e., reaching package, scanning for opening mechanism, improper attempt to open, proper attempt to open, and removing contents). EA used eye-movement data and three areas of interest (i.e., package's opening end, package's body text, package's non-opening end) to determine; overall mean fixation duration, overall number of fixations, number of fixa-tions per AOI, total dwell duration per AOI, percentage of total dwell duration per AOI. The TA revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in time spent in four subtasks (i.e., scanning for opening mechanism, improper attempt to open, proper attempt to open, and reaching for contents) when comparing designs with a pull tab and designs with press-in mechanisms. TA also revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in time spent in two subtasks (i.e., scanning for opening mechanism, improper attempt to open) when comparing designs with an opening mechanism at the top and designs with an opening mechanism at the bottom of the package. The TA revealed no significant differences (p<0.008) for colour contrast (with and without) in the opening area. The EA shed light about the efficiency of different design factors in grabbing the participants' attention and conveying information. Significant differences (p<0.008) were found in overall number of fixations when comparing designs with a pull tab and designs with a press-in mechanism. A closer look at the number of fixations per AOI, revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in number of fixations at pack-age's non-opening end when comparing designs with a pull tab and designs with press-in mechanism. EA also revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in total dwell duration at packages' non-opening end when comparing two design factors; opening mechanism (pull tab vs press-in mechanism), and opening location (top vs bottom). Further analysis comparing percentage of total dwell time spent on each AOI revealed significant differences in packages' opening end and non-opening end when comparing two design factors; opening mechanism, and opening location. All these findings have critical implications to understand how packaging design can guide cognitive efforts effectively towards areas that accurately deliver information to fulfil a task.
Proceedings of 27th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging (Valencia, Spain), Jun 2015
Packaging plays a significant role in consumers' everyday decision making and in forming their ch... more Packaging plays a significant role in consumers' everyday decision making and in forming their choices. On the one hand, earlier research suggests that 70% of purchasing decisions are made in store. On the other hand, the proliferation of e-commerce has impacted shoppers' traditional purchasing habits by increasing their online purchasing behavior and shifting their product selections from " local " to " global ". These changes are evident among the Millennial Generation, the first generation with access to internet since childhood, which is hypothesized to significantly affect their perceived relationships with packaging. This paper presents an international packaging survey aimed at the Millennial Generation (people between the ages of 18-30). The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the Millennials and their perceptions of packaging. The study was carried out by several IAPRI member institutes. The survey data (N=802) was collected between November 2014 and March 2015 among university students in ten countries representing four geographical regions: Europe (Finland N=80, Norway N=48, Denmark N= 36, Switzerland N=67, Spain N=72), Latin America (Mexico N=101, Argentina N=105), USA (South Carolina N=87, California N=65), and Asia (Thailand N=141). The questionnaire was available in three languages (English, Spanish, and Thai) and it took approximately 15 minutes to be completed. The results show that Millennials have high expectations for packaging, particularly for the experiential value (i.e., emotions and experiences) delivered though packaging. Fiber-based materials have a positive environmental image among the Millennials across all continents. In countries with developed recycling systems, pro-environmental packaging was perceived as recyclable or made of recycled content. Conversely, in the countries with low recycling rates, waste reduction by composting, light weighting, and reuse were emphasized.
Proceedings of 27th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging, 2015
In the United States, most drugs stored in crash carts of emergency rooms are packaged in folding... more In the United States, most drugs stored in crash carts of emergency rooms are packaged in folding cartons with opening mechanisms that involve pressing and tearing the bottom of the package. Anecdotal evidence and a previous study conducted by the research team suggest that these packages are counterintuitive for lay users. The concept of affordances, how design features communicate actionable possibilities, can be applied to improve the usability of packaging. In order to measure the effect of individual design features and previous experience on opening time and error frequency during first opening attempt, a commercially available package for epinephrine was redesigned and tested with two panels of participants; 33 lay users and 17 healthcare providers. Each experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three factors: location of opening mechanism (top or bottom), type of opening mechanism (press-in or tab), and colour contrast in opening area (with and without). By crossing all possible conditions (2x2x2), eight different folding carton designs resulted. Each participant was treated as a block and presented all eight designs in a random order. Participants stood behind a counter of a fixed height and completed eight opening tasks in a lab facility (lay users) and an emergency room (healthcare providers). They were instructed to imagine an emergency scenario where they needed to remove all contents from each package as quickly as possible. Results show that colour contrast had no significant effect on opening time, having a tab significantly reduces time to open. More specifically, tabs cued the user as to the correct end containing the opening feature regardless of it was positioned on the top or bottom of the package. When there was no tab, then having the opening at the top resulted in a significant reduction in time to open, compared to having the opening at the bottom. In an analysis comparing the eight designs, the actual commercial packages ranked as the worst designs in terms of opening time and error frequency. Findings have critical implications for designing packages that are more usable and for eliminating errors during product use.
Proceedings of 23th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging, 2007
Current trends indicate that consumers are looking for convenient and easy to use products. Produ... more Current trends indicate that consumers are looking for convenient and easy to use products. Product designs that are created with the consumer in mind can provide manufacturers with a competitive edge. Methods that quantify and qualify the human package interface are needed. This study compares two tests that quantify the surface area of contact between people and the packages that they use. The "lifted handprint" (LH) and the "three dimensional tracing" (3DT) methods were each used with 65 subjects to quantify the surface area of touch. The average surface area across all replicates and subjects, as calculated using the LH technique, was 35.00 cm 2 ; the average surface across all replicates and subjects using the 3DT method was 41.81 cm 2. To examine the null hypothesis, " there is no difference in the measured contact area of the hand and package when quantified with the lifted handprint and the three-dimensional tracing methods, " a paired t test was conducted with the usable data set (n=65). Paired t test results indicated that a significant difference existed between the area returned by each method (p<0.0001). A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to examine the correlation of the two methods. Results indicated a high correlation (r=0.90853) between the surface area quantified by the lifted hand method and the three-dimensional tracing method. This work represents a first step in quantifying the human/package interface.
In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) d... more In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) designs intended to identify infant bottle-feeding events and appropriate feeding volume recording intervals using accelerometer data recorded from a custom designed "Smart Bottle" system. To properly identify and distinguish these events with an accuracy of 99.8%, while accommodating the constraints of the deployment environment, two concurrent FFNNs were implemented. Clinical Relevance-Infant feeding patterns are highly correlated with obesity in adulthood; the Smart Bottle system presents an opportunity to collect accurate data with minimal disruption to the feeding interaction.
Health Education & Behavior, 2020
Drug manufacturers are expected to provide labeling information needed to yield safe and effectiv... more Drug manufacturers are expected to provide labeling information needed to yield safe and effective product use. However, it is not clear that consumers dose sunscreen, an over-the-counter drug, appropriately; in fact, existing evidence suggests underdosing as a common phenomenon. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dispensing device and labeling on self-administered doses of sunscreen in young adults. To investigate those effects, a 2 × 2 factorial laboratory experiment crossing dispensing device (two levels) with labeling treatment (two levels) was conducted. Participants applied sunscreen from each of the four treatments; dosing concentration, measured in mg/cm2, served as the response variable. Participants (n = 94) were recruited on the campuses of Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) and California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, CA). Each participant applied sunscreen from each unique treatment to sites on their arms and legs (four applications). Postapplication, a survey was completed to characterize demographics, risk perception, and sunscreen use patterns. Results indicate participants applied approximately 30% less sunscreen from the pump bottles than the squeeze bottles (difference estimate of 0.3059 mg/cm2, standard error = 0.0607, p < .0001); there was no evidence of a difference based on label treatments. Post hoc recognition tests indicated only 55% of participants were able to recognize the two experimental labels they had viewed immediately following sunscreen application. Sunscreen application density was directly related to level of worry regarding skin cancer and frequency of sunscreen use (α = .05). Our results suggest the dispensing device used to deliver sunscreen impacts the dosage amount consumers apply.
Journal of Applied Packaging Research, 2019
Students in scientific/technical-oriented disciplines struggle with achieving good levels of inno... more Students in scientific/technical-oriented disciplines struggle with achieving good levels of innovation when exposed to design problems. Research indicates the need for implementing alternative pedagogical approaches in technical curricula that enhance students’ creative skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a cross-disciplinary pedagogical approach with a focus on teaching innovation in the field of packaging engineering at a university in the United States. A Design Thinking Project-Based Learning (DTPBL) approach was used to improve the levels of innovation in student work. Its outcomes were compared with those of a Traditional Project-Based Learning (TPBL) approach. The implementation of DTPBL across several courses took place between 2015 and 2018. TPBL was the norm in these courses between 2009 and 2014. National and international student design competitions were used to assess the level of innovation of student work externally. Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of innovation of student work between approaches. DTPBL projects placed higher in design competitions, and they were recognized more often by independent expert judges than TPBL projects. At a national level, TPBL generated 172 projects in 11 instances, obtaining 12 awards. DTPBL produced 61 projects in seven instances, and student work was recognized with 21 awards. At a global level, student work created with TPBL was never recognized, while student projects generated using DTPBL received seven recognitions in three participation instances. This study provides evidence that a Design Thinking Project-Based Learning (DTPBL) approach can be a successful pedagogical strategy to enhance students’ creative skills and produce innovative design solutions.
Journal of Applied Packaging Research, 2018
The global demand for corrugated fiberboard is projected to experience a significant upsurge in t... more The global demand for corrugated fiberboard is projected to experience a significant upsurge in the near future. Based on the end-use, packaging for processed and fresh food categories accounted for approximately 39% of the overall consumption of corrugated fiberboard in 2015. With key advantages such as providing an uninterrupted bottom, laminated corners for higher stacking strength, increased material use efficiency, side cutout options for display at retail and a wide range of styles over other styles of containers, Bliss style boxes find prominence in the agriculture sector. While numerous predictive strength models associating corrugated fiberboard material specifications to the box compression strength (BCT), and ultimately the stacking strength of corrugated containers, have been developed over the past century, there is a considerable lack of studies that include Bliss style containers. The overall aim of this empirical study was to develop a mathematical relationship based on the simplified McKee formula towards predicting BCT of four styles of Bliss boxes. Effects of box styles, length of load-bearing walls and number of internal corners on the overall BCT were explored using data collected from lab-based testing. The proposed mathematical model includes a box design constant (k), edge crush test values, board thickness, and three lengths of load-bearing walls (total, single-wall, and double-wall) of the containers. The k-values for each bliss box design, explored through linear regression analyses, explain up to 98.1% of the differences in BCT between the styles. The proposed mathematical model can assist practitioners with accelerating packaging development cycle times and optimizing packaging designs.
Journal of Biomechanics, 2015
Loss of hand function can have adverse effects on an individual's ability to maintain independenc... more Loss of hand function can have adverse effects on an individual's ability to maintain independence. The ability to perform daily activities, such as food preparation and medication delivery, is dependent on the hand's ability to grasp and manipulate objects. Therefore, the goal of this research was to demonstrate that three dimensional (3D) modeling of hand function can be used to improve the accessibility of handheld objects for individuals with reduced functionality through informed design. Individual models of hand functionality were created for 43 participants and group models were developed for groups of individuals without (Healthy) and with reduced functionality due to arthritis (RFA) of the hand. Cylindrical models representative of auto-injectors of varying diameters were analyzed in 3D space relative to hand function. The individual model mappings showed the cylinder diameter with the highest mapped functional values varied depending on the type of functional weighting chosen: kinematic redundancy of fingertip pad positional placement, fingertip pad orientation, or finger force directionality. The group mappings showed that for a cylinder to be grasped in a power grasp by at least 75% of the Healthy or RFA groups, a diameter of 40 mm was required. This research utilizes a new hand model to objectively compare design parameters across three different kinematic factors of hand function and across groups with different functional abilities. The ability to conduct these comparisons enables the creation of designs that are universal to all – including accommodation of individuals with limits in their functional abilities.
Packaging Technology and Science, 2015
The term affordance describes an object's utilitarian function or actionable possibilities. Produ... more The term affordance describes an object's utilitarian function or actionable possibilities. Product designers have taken great interest in the concept of affordances because of the bridge they provide relating to design, the interpretation of design and, ultimately, functionality in the hands of consumers. These concepts have been widely studied and applied in the field of psychology but have had limited formal application to packaging design and evaluation. We believe that the concepts related to affordances will reveal novel opportunities for packaging innovation. To catalyse this, presented work had the following objectives: (a) to propose a method by which packaging designers can purposefully consider affordances during the design process; (b) to explain this method in the context of a packaging-related case study; and (c) to measure the effect on package usability when an affordance-based design approach is employed.
Packaging Technology and Science, 2012
The study consisted of three objectives: (a) to test the relative prominence and conspicuousness ... more The study consisted of three objectives: (a) to test the relative prominence and conspicuousness of a warning required by US law to be conspicuous; (b) to explore whether or not the conspicuousness of the said warning can be enhanced graphically; and (c) to develop preliminary data for power analysis that would guide decisions related to sample size in future studies. Seventeen subjects viewed four over-the-counter drug packages (each with a different style of warning)along with
five other products while wearing an eye-tracking device. Four styles of warning were used on the over-the-counter drug packages: no outline and no fill, outline and no fill, no outline and fill, and outline and fill. The surface area and the placement of the warnings were held constant across all four designs andwere consistent with those on commercially available products. Collected data were broken into five zones: warning, brand name, strength, product benefit, and net weight. Despite the fact that US law requires it to be conspicuous, the tested warning was significantly less noticeable than the brand name (objective one) for all dependent variables analyzed (a=0.05). No significant difference was indicated for the varied warning designs (objective two). This could be because not much can be done to enhance prominence when constrained to the limited space that is typically used for such warnings or because of the limited sample size. Power calculations suggest that a sample size of nearly200 subjects would be required to detect a 2.5-seconds mean difference at 80% con
fidence (objective three).
Journal for Patient Compliance, 2011
Although significant resources are devoted to developing healthcare products that are safe and ef... more Although significant resources are devoted to developing healthcare products that are safe and effective pharmacologically, significantly less effort is devoted to ensuring products perform as intended in the hands of providers and patients. Poor designs result in user confusion and frustration, and have the potential to lead to errors and adverse events. the interaction that occurs between people and healthcare products is an area in need of study.
Journal for Patient Compliance, 2012
The objective of this research was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of two groups (older ... more The objective of this research was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of two groups (older adults and people with disabilities) regarding child-resistant (CR) drug packaging. Six participants with disabilities and eight older adults participated in two separate focus groups. Analysis of focus group transcripts revealed two major themes.
Designing Inclusive Interactions, 2010
Health Expectations, 2009
Research has documented the drastic reduction of unintentional poisonings of children since the i... more Research has documented the drastic reduction of unintentional poisonings of children since the introduction of child resistant (CR) packaging. However, studies also indicate that consumers report difficulty using CR packages, in part because tests which determine the senior friendliness of CR designs that are used throughout the world disallow people with overt or obvious disabilities from being test subjects. Our review of drug package usability suggests that the current tests of CR packaging can and should be revised to correct this problem. We use US legislation, regulation and data to exemplify these points, but the conclusions are applicable to all protocols that include the exclusionary provision.
43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society (EMBC), 2021
In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) d... more In this work, we present the results of a comparison of simple artificial neural network (FFNN) designs intended to identify infant bottle-feeding events and appropriate feeding volume recording intervals using accelerometer data recorded from a custom designed "Smart Bottle" system. To properly identify and distinguish these events with an accuracy of 99.8%, while accommodating the constraints of the deployment environment, two concurrent FFNNs were implemented. Clinical Relevance-Infant feeding patterns are highly correlated with obesity in adulthood; the Smart Bottle system presents an opportunity to collect accurate data with minimal disruption to the feeding interaction.
Proceedings of the 22nd IAPRI World Packaging Conference (Monterrey, Mexico), Jun 30, 2020
A heuristic evaluation is a type of inspection technique utilized to analyze and assess a product... more A heuristic evaluation is a type of inspection technique utilized to analyze and assess a product using a heuristic guide. It involves a small set of expert evaluators who examine the product and evaluate its compliance with recognized design principles (i.e., heuristics). Heuristic evaluations are a cost-efficient method to help identify problems before evaluations with users. A review of the literature reveals the lack of heuristic guides for new packaging development projects and the evaluation of existing packaged products. This study's objective was to fill this knowledge gap by developing a comprehensive heuristic guide that individuals could use, regardless of their level of packaging expertise. The study was divided into two phases: guide design and testing. The guide design phase involved identifying design characteristics of packages and refining their description to make them focused, easily understandable, and universally applicable. It required several iterations of refining and grouping. The second phase consisted of testing the heuristics with two panels of evaluators. The heuristic guide was converted into a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. A group of ten packaging professionals with three levels of expertise (i.e., novice, intermediate, expert) used the evaluation guide to evaluate six packaged products. Qualitative feedback from the evaluators was used to improve the guide. Quantitative data from the questionnaire was used to determine if the evaluator's experience had an impact on the evaluations. A second round of testing was conducted using a panel of nine industry professionals and a new set of packaged products. Again, qualitative information was collected to improve the guide. The resulting heuristic guide has 50 design characteristics grouped into three main areas, one for each packaging function: protection (three sub-areas, 17 heuristics), utility (three sub-areas, 19 heuristics), and communication (four sub-areas, 14 heuristics). Results from the questionnaires did not show significant differences based on the level of evaluator expertise. Qualitative feedback allowed researchers to refine design characteristics and their wording. Industry professionals expressed interest in this innovative tool.
Proceedings of the 22nd IAPRI World Packaging Conference (Monterrey, Mexico), Jun 30, 2020
Concept ideation can be facilitated by using techniques such as design heuristic to stimulate div... more Concept ideation can be facilitated by using techniques such as design heuristic to stimulate divergent thinking. Heuristics are general design principles extracted from existing solutions that can help designers create novel solutions. While extensive research has been done on design heuristics when applied to product design, there are no reports of their application to innovative packaging design. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of design heuristics on the level of innovation of packaging concepts. Fifty-five undergraduate students were randomly assigned to three groups. Participants in the control group generated ideas without the help of design heuristics (i.e., group A). Participants in group B ideated with the help of existing product design heuristics. Participants in group C created ideas using design heuristics tailored specifically to packaging design. A total of 293 packaging concepts were rated using three 5-point Likert scales for morphological, technological, and functional innovations. An overall level of innovation was calculated by adding the three scores. Participants who used design heuristic cards (i.e., experimental conditions B and C) created on average more than one additional idea than participants who ideated without heuristic help (i.e., control group). Idea generation using packaging-specific design heuristics yielded more innovative ideas than idea generation using product design heuristics. Forty-nine percent of the ideas in group C had significantly higher levels of innovation compared to 35% of the ideas in group B (χ2 (1) = 4.023, p = .045) and 32% in the control group (χ2 (1) = 5.996, p = .014). Product design heuristics can be extremely useful to make ideation processes more efficient and productive. However, this study provides evidence that there needs to be a match between heuristic description, examples of application of the heuristics, and the target domain (i.e., the type of product being created). Findings suggest a significant and positive effect of using field-specific heuristics for early ideation sessions of novice students with minimal design background.
Proceedings of 29th IAPRI Symposium on Packaging (Enschede, The Netherlands), 2019
Mobile eye-tracking technology provides data that can be linked to user attention during visual p... more Mobile eye-tracking technology provides data that can be linked to user attention during visual perception. The relationship between a fixation and its subsequent saccade has been proposed to identify ambient versus focal visual processing. Short fixation durations followed by long saccades are characteristic of ambient processing. Longer fixation durations followed by shorter saccades suggests focal processing. The objective of this study was to apply a novel parametric scale (i.e., coefficient K) to eye movement data from packaging usability trials of known difficulty to investigate the relationship between fixations, saccades, and cognitive-challenging phases in user-package interactions. A panel of 40 participants (20 females, 20 males) were asked to open a folding carton and extract its contents. Each participant stood behind a counter of a fixed height wearing an ASL Mobile 5 glasses and completed one task in a lab facility. They were instructed to imagine an emergency scenario where all package contents had to be removed as quickly as possible. Half of the participants were randomly assigned a package with a pull tab on the top of the container (i.e., easy task) while the other half tested a package with a press-in mechanism on the bottom of the folding carton (i.e., difficulty task). Coefficients for each trial were calculated using fixation durations and either saccade durations or saccade amplitudes. Two-sample t-tests based on the coefficients K were conducted to compare mean differences across the two tasks. For coefficients K calculated using saccade durations, results revealed a significant difference in mean coefficient K for each type of task (t(27)=2.57, p≤0.05). For coefficients K calculated using saccade amplitudes, results revealed a significant difference in mean coefficient K for each type of task (t(34)=2.72, p≤ 0.01). Moreover, mean coefficients K for the easy task were negative, signalling ambient processing, while mean coefficients K for the difficult task were positive, an indication of focal processing. Gender differences are also reported. Findings have critical implications for understanding user-package interaction problems and support the use of algorithmic processing of eye-tracking data for automatic usability problems detection.
Proceedings of 28th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2017
Based on previous studies suggesting the existence of a range of optimal peel angles (α≈45) where... more Based on previous studies suggesting the existence of a range of optimal peel angles (α≈45) where peeling force is minimized and that peeling force is proportional to the width of the peeling line, we propose that there should exist for every semi-rigid package, a theoretical optimal path that follow the midpoints of the shortest peel lines. Moreover, we hypothesize people will adjust peeling direction by trying to peel on the optimal path (defined by angle β) at an optimal peel angle (defined by angle α). A motion capture system was used to measure peel angles (α) and peel direction angles (β) during an opening task under two experimental setups (i.e., unrestrained and restrained). Sixteen participants opened lidded trays with retro-reflective markers attached to the lids and trays. Peel angle was measured by using two approaches: α I or Initial Peel Angle (an average of the first half second of the pulling phase data) and α T or total peel angle (an average of the entire pulling phase data). Peel direction angle (β I) was calculated by averaging the first half second of the pulling phase data. Mean peel angle (α) measurements (43°, 44°, 44°, and 49°) fell in the optimal peel angle range (α≈45°) in which pulling force is minimized. For the restrained opening condition, between 62-75% of all participants used peel angles within optimal range. For the unrestrained opening condition, between 69-81% of all participants used peel angles within optimal range. The initial peel direction angle (β I) measured during the unrestrained opening condition (β I =48°, sd=22°) approximated the theoretical angle of β=45° confirming that most participants pulled the tab in this direction during the initial stages of the opening task. The initial peel direction angle β I measured with the restrained opening condition (β I =34°, sd=13°) was significantly lower but still in the range if standard deviation is considered. On average, most participants used peel angles and peel direction angles close to the hypothesized values (α≈45 and β≈45°). Experimental setup had an effect on opening time and peel direction angle but did not have a significant effect on peel angle.
Proceedings of 28th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2017
The objective of this study is to characterize and analyse how affordances of packages are percei... more The objective of this study is to characterize and analyse how affordances of packages are perceived by users and what type of behaviour affordances trigger. In order to characterize the effect of individual design features on user attention and behaviour, a commercially available package for epinephrine was redesigned and tested with a panel of participants (n=39). Each experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three factors: location of opening mechanism (top or bottom), type of opening mechanism (press-in or pull tab), and colour contrast in opening area (with or without). By crossing all possible conditions (2x2x2), eight different folding carton designs resulted. Each participant was treated as a block and presented all eight designs in a random order. Participants stood behind a counter of a fixed height wearing an ASL Mobile 5 glasses and completed eight opening tasks in a lab facility. They were instructed to imagine an emergency scenario where they needed to remove all contents from each package as quickly as possible. Each opening trial was analysed using task analysis (TA) and eye tracking analysis (EA). TA relied on video feeding from the eye-tracker's scene camera and eye movement information to divide the human package interaction in five subtasks (i.e., reaching package, scanning for opening mechanism, improper attempt to open, proper attempt to open, and removing contents). EA used eye-movement data and three areas of interest (i.e., package's opening end, package's body text, package's non-opening end) to determine; overall mean fixation duration, overall number of fixations, number of fixa-tions per AOI, total dwell duration per AOI, percentage of total dwell duration per AOI. The TA revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in time spent in four subtasks (i.e., scanning for opening mechanism, improper attempt to open, proper attempt to open, and reaching for contents) when comparing designs with a pull tab and designs with press-in mechanisms. TA also revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in time spent in two subtasks (i.e., scanning for opening mechanism, improper attempt to open) when comparing designs with an opening mechanism at the top and designs with an opening mechanism at the bottom of the package. The TA revealed no significant differences (p<0.008) for colour contrast (with and without) in the opening area. The EA shed light about the efficiency of different design factors in grabbing the participants' attention and conveying information. Significant differences (p<0.008) were found in overall number of fixations when comparing designs with a pull tab and designs with a press-in mechanism. A closer look at the number of fixations per AOI, revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in number of fixations at pack-age's non-opening end when comparing designs with a pull tab and designs with press-in mechanism. EA also revealed significant differences (p<0.008) in total dwell duration at packages' non-opening end when comparing two design factors; opening mechanism (pull tab vs press-in mechanism), and opening location (top vs bottom). Further analysis comparing percentage of total dwell time spent on each AOI revealed significant differences in packages' opening end and non-opening end when comparing two design factors; opening mechanism, and opening location. All these findings have critical implications to understand how packaging design can guide cognitive efforts effectively towards areas that accurately deliver information to fulfil a task.
Proceedings of 27th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging (Valencia, Spain), Jun 2015
Packaging plays a significant role in consumers' everyday decision making and in forming their ch... more Packaging plays a significant role in consumers' everyday decision making and in forming their choices. On the one hand, earlier research suggests that 70% of purchasing decisions are made in store. On the other hand, the proliferation of e-commerce has impacted shoppers' traditional purchasing habits by increasing their online purchasing behavior and shifting their product selections from " local " to " global ". These changes are evident among the Millennial Generation, the first generation with access to internet since childhood, which is hypothesized to significantly affect their perceived relationships with packaging. This paper presents an international packaging survey aimed at the Millennial Generation (people between the ages of 18-30). The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the Millennials and their perceptions of packaging. The study was carried out by several IAPRI member institutes. The survey data (N=802) was collected between November 2014 and March 2015 among university students in ten countries representing four geographical regions: Europe (Finland N=80, Norway N=48, Denmark N= 36, Switzerland N=67, Spain N=72), Latin America (Mexico N=101, Argentina N=105), USA (South Carolina N=87, California N=65), and Asia (Thailand N=141). The questionnaire was available in three languages (English, Spanish, and Thai) and it took approximately 15 minutes to be completed. The results show that Millennials have high expectations for packaging, particularly for the experiential value (i.e., emotions and experiences) delivered though packaging. Fiber-based materials have a positive environmental image among the Millennials across all continents. In countries with developed recycling systems, pro-environmental packaging was perceived as recyclable or made of recycled content. Conversely, in the countries with low recycling rates, waste reduction by composting, light weighting, and reuse were emphasized.
Proceedings of 27th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging, 2015
In the United States, most drugs stored in crash carts of emergency rooms are packaged in folding... more In the United States, most drugs stored in crash carts of emergency rooms are packaged in folding cartons with opening mechanisms that involve pressing and tearing the bottom of the package. Anecdotal evidence and a previous study conducted by the research team suggest that these packages are counterintuitive for lay users. The concept of affordances, how design features communicate actionable possibilities, can be applied to improve the usability of packaging. In order to measure the effect of individual design features and previous experience on opening time and error frequency during first opening attempt, a commercially available package for epinephrine was redesigned and tested with two panels of participants; 33 lay users and 17 healthcare providers. Each experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three factors: location of opening mechanism (top or bottom), type of opening mechanism (press-in or tab), and colour contrast in opening area (with and without). By crossing all possible conditions (2x2x2), eight different folding carton designs resulted. Each participant was treated as a block and presented all eight designs in a random order. Participants stood behind a counter of a fixed height and completed eight opening tasks in a lab facility (lay users) and an emergency room (healthcare providers). They were instructed to imagine an emergency scenario where they needed to remove all contents from each package as quickly as possible. Results show that colour contrast had no significant effect on opening time, having a tab significantly reduces time to open. More specifically, tabs cued the user as to the correct end containing the opening feature regardless of it was positioned on the top or bottom of the package. When there was no tab, then having the opening at the top resulted in a significant reduction in time to open, compared to having the opening at the bottom. In an analysis comparing the eight designs, the actual commercial packages ranked as the worst designs in terms of opening time and error frequency. Findings have critical implications for designing packages that are more usable and for eliminating errors during product use.
Proceedings of 23th IAPRI World Symposium on Packaging, 2007
Current trends indicate that consumers are looking for convenient and easy to use products. Produ... more Current trends indicate that consumers are looking for convenient and easy to use products. Product designs that are created with the consumer in mind can provide manufacturers with a competitive edge. Methods that quantify and qualify the human package interface are needed. This study compares two tests that quantify the surface area of contact between people and the packages that they use. The "lifted handprint" (LH) and the "three dimensional tracing" (3DT) methods were each used with 65 subjects to quantify the surface area of touch. The average surface area across all replicates and subjects, as calculated using the LH technique, was 35.00 cm 2 ; the average surface across all replicates and subjects using the 3DT method was 41.81 cm 2. To examine the null hypothesis, " there is no difference in the measured contact area of the hand and package when quantified with the lifted handprint and the three-dimensional tracing methods, " a paired t test was conducted with the usable data set (n=65). Paired t test results indicated that a significant difference existed between the area returned by each method (p<0.0001). A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to examine the correlation of the two methods. Results indicated a high correlation (r=0.90853) between the surface area quantified by the lifted hand method and the three-dimensional tracing method. This work represents a first step in quantifying the human/package interface.
PhD Dissertation, Michigan State University , Aug 15, 2013
The ability to easily peel the lid of a container is a critical issue for semi-rigid packages use... more The ability to easily peel the lid of a container is a critical issue for semi-rigid packages used to protect and deliver a myriad of products including medical devices, foods, and beverages. An in-depth search of the scientific literature revealed very little information and several gaps about the fundamentals of peelable semi-rigid packaging opening. Therefore this research had the following objectives: (i) to perform a thorough literature review on packaging usability with special focus on semi-rigid packaging, (ii) to describe the relationship between peel angle and peel force, (iii) to evaluate peel direction during real package opening, and (iv) to evaluate the relationship between tab size and grip choice. A wide range of research methods were used to achieve these objectives including kinetics (the study of forces), kinematics (the study of motions), anthropometrics, computer simulations, package testing, and observational techniques.
MS Thesis, Michigan State University, Aug 18, 2006
Safety Commission's (CPSC's) protocol that excludes people with any obvious disability from the "... more Safety Commission's (CPSC's) protocol that excludes people with any obvious disability from the "senior-friendly" test. Instead of forcing manufacturers to develop CR packages that people with difficulties can use, the government permits pharmacies to dispense drugs in non-CR packages upon request, and allows the manufacturers of over-thecounter medications to package one size in non-CR packages. This assumes that people with disabilities do not live with children, and thus limits their choices.
Abstract: People with disabilities and older adults are significant consumers of prescription dru... more Abstract: People with disabilities and older adults are significant consumers of prescription drugs. However, most testing protocols for child resistant (CR) packaging do not take these individuals into account. One example is the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission's ( ...