Learning how to use chopsticks for the first time is no easy task—especially if your appetite isn’t willing to take a backseat while learning a new food-to-mouth delivery method.
For those with motor impairments such as Parkinson’s Disease, the experience can be exponentially frustrating.
Aiming to solve a problem that affects millions worldwide, Japanese chopstick craftsman Katsuyuki Miyabo has created an ergonomic chopstick solution for those suffering from these impairments that fits an assisting spring into the chopsticks to act as a built-in assistant.
Previously, we’ve seen this problem explored (and solved!) with LiftWare from LiftLabs. Similar to Miyabo’s chopstick design, the re-engineered and motion-stabilizing spoon features an easy to hold handle and traditional design aesthetic that doesn’t scream “I’m disabled!”…which really is just as important as the design itself when designing for disability:
While the LiftWare uses an electronic system to balance out hand and arm shaking, the chopsticks employ the same concept with the spring—essentially reducing the amount of hand strength needed to grab an object. When released, the spring gently re-opens the sticks to create a full-cycle support system requiring minimal physical effort from the user.
As of late, Miyabo has been busy tailoring his chopstick design to fit the specific needs of each user based on injuries and anthropometric needs.
You can check out more on Miyabo and his well-crafted chopstick designs over at Miyabow.com. Heck, these are great for anybody who is learning how to use chopsticks.
