Output details

Fact or friction: a model for understanding the openability of wide mouth closures

Yoxall undertook a series of studies around the products that initial research had indicated were problematic. These studies included semi-structured interviews, observations and ergonomic analysis, the results of which influenced the discussion and conclusions of the work. Yoxall's contribution indicated that the major significant problem was lack of dexterity as opposed to strength, as originally thought by the Australian team. Subsequently, Bell and Walton contributed to a recently published second study measuring dexterity and pack use, (Rowson et. al. (2013), 'Rating Packaging Accessibility: A medical Packaging Example', Packaging Technology and Science (published online, DOI: 10.1002/pts.2049). The methods developed from this work have been used to assess several new packaging formats at SHU and are also included in the upcoming ISO standard 17840: 'Guidelines for Accessible Packaging'.

Dr Karen Walton from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Wollongong, Australia, was exploring issues surrounding nutrition and health in older populations in hospitals and care homes. Walton’s research team approached Yoxall to aid with understanding the issues surrounding the use of packaged food and drink in hospitals.

Yoxall was approached due to his established track record in developing techniques for measuring and understanding packaging use by older people (Yoxall, A. et. al. (2010) 'How wide do you want the Jar?: The effect on diameter for ease of opening for wide-mouth closures', Packaging Technology and Science, 23 (1), pp. 11-18; Yoxall, A. et. al. (2010) 'Squeezability. Part 2: Getting stuff out of a bottle', Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 224 (6), pp. 1261-1271; and Yoxall, A and Jansen R., (2008) 'Fact or Friction', Packaging Technology and Science, 21 (3), 137-147.).