Nina Warburton, Alloy
Smara Ayacatsica
Dr Lukia Koutsogeorgopolou, rheumatologist
Many people with RA use wrist splints to protect and immobilise their joints when they feel tired and or need extra support. Most splints on the market are unattractive medical aids that can stigmatise those who wear them. My Glove proposes a complete contemporary rethink of the wrist splint designed to promote wearability and integration with individual style choices. Closures use a series of lateral rubber teeth that interlock and are secured by a magnet. The closing mechanism is completely adjustable, quiet and requires little force to open and close.
The force and turning actions needed to open bottles or turn keys can pose a serious challenge for people with RA. Unlimited is a keyring that pairs a bottle opener and key lever in one stylish tool. It consists of a twisted plane with a rubber-lined opening that fits over a wide variety of bottle caps. Bottles can easily be opened using a simple push. The opposite end has a mounting point for two keys, held by a quick release mechanism. With the key flipped out, the keyring acts as a lever to easily turn a key.
RA often causes loss of feeling in the fingertips, which can sometimes make it difficult to lift and tear paper. Ripping paper rolls is a two-handed and sometimes difficult action which requires a reasonable amount of strength particularly for kitchen paper. Easy-Go replaces the current straight perforated paper towels with wider perforations that reduce by half the strength needed to remove each paper section. Undulating edges make individual pieces easier to locate and lift for those with limited dexterity.
