2021 Award Winner!
Benjamin Chew
Ever since I was young I always had an interest in creating things. It didn’t matter if I was making movies, writing stories, drawing made up characters or building castles out of cardboard, I enjoyed letting out my creativity. As an adult I have a passion for helping people and solving problems. At Humber I have learned the practical side of industrial design and have acquired new skillsets so that I can apply my imagination in a practical way. I've always been quite imaginative, and I hope to show that through my designs.
Meet Benjamin
A short video about the designer.
The Four Essential Pillars for Design Excellence
The four essential pillars encompass human-centric design approach and the understanding of full-bodied, three dimensional physical interaction of user, product and environment. The projects generate innovative solutions using research-driven, evidence-based designs which focus on the user experience.
Enhancement of Human Lifestyle
The chair boosts the user’s serotonin levels naturally through therapeutic pressure and 4 different body exercises.
Salus can also connect the user to therapists and can record the user’s voice. This allows the user to vent out his/her problems and can act as a recorded journal for when a therapist is available.
Human-Interaction & User-Centric Design
Salus meets the design criteria by interacting with more than three major external body-part areas.
By helping the user exercise, Salus utilizes the users’ arms, back, chest and legs. Salus allows the user to work out their entire body all from the comfort of their own smart chair.
Ergonomics & Human Factors Design
Using smart technology similar to massage chairs, 6 rubber balls are located behind a fabric material and pushed forward to morph into the shape of the user’s spine.
The shape can be adjusted, which allows for the backseat to be flat for bench-press and other exercises. Adjustable armrests were also designed. Using automated controls, the armrests raise and lower according to need.
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Sustainability was implemented by using new materials such as Piñatex, durable polyurethane foam, and steel.
Piñatex helps the pineapple industry reduce their waste and creates a new biodegradable vegan leather for the chair. Steel is also one of the most sustainable building materials and is the most recycled material in the world.
Salus - Physical & Mental Health Enhancing Smart Chair
Project Statement
Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are prevalent in the young adults of today’s western society. In recent years, the rate of depression has been increasing in young adults and continues to grow. Approximately 800,000 people lose their life to suicide every year, making it the second leading cause of death in 15 to 29-year olds. Substance abuse, major traumatic events, and changes in life stages are all common triggers for depression and anxiety. However, maladaptive coping methods such as excessive overthinking, withdrawal, and avoiding help are proven to be the primary causes. This is especially true in young adults where these traits are more common than any other age group. For these reasons, young adults are the primary target user for this project.
Thesis Visual Presentation
Click the image to enlarge.
Thesis Summary Motion Presentation
A video about the journey, process and features of Salus.
3D Design Development & Modeling
CAD Modeling Video
A short video about the CAD development process and rendered animations created on KeyShot.
Physical Model Video
A short video about the 1:4 scale 3D printed physical model.
EXPLORE OTHER THESIS PROJECTS
Cameron Barber
Forge - Debris Recycling Station
Commercial, Industrial & Professional
Henry Boy
Vagaboard - Enhancing Micromobility
Mobility & Transportation
Kristie Bulbrook
F(lower) - Improving Gardening Experience for Arthritis
Recreation & Sports
Stephen Bykowy
HORIZON - Enhanced Sleeper Semi-Truck
Mobility & Transportation
Megan Cheung
PENTA - Inclusive Active Play
Recreation & Sports
Benjamin Chew
Salus - Physical & Mental Health Enhancing Smart Chair
Medical, Health & Safety
Logan Dohar
NURISH - Modular Foodbank Supply Vehicle
Mobility & Transportation
Luca Domenis
LIFELINE - Earthquake Search & Rescue Solution
Commercial, Industrial & Professional
Thomas Edmonds
Float - Arthritic Braces for Rehabilitation
Medical, Health & Safety
Timothy Entin
MONTARO - MSD Solution for Construction Equipment
Commercial, Industrial & Professional
Emilie Fung
MERA - Mobile Health Care Facilities for Post Flood Disasters
Medical, Health & Safety
Moriah Gonidis
pakk - Evolving the Camping Experience
Recreation & Sports
Casey Ho
Asa - Prosthetic Accessibility for Vietnam
Medical, Health & Safety
Incia Khalid
Cocoon - Adaptive and Sensory Friendly Clothing For Children With ASD
Medical, Health & Safety
Cristian Loria
ArootZ - Sustainable Tree Planting System
Commercial, Industrial & Professional
Juan Carlos Manago
DELFIN - Underwater Scooter for the Physically Challenged
Recreation & Sports
Mackenzie O'Mahony
Raptor - Enhancing Rural Winter Transportation
Mobility & Transportation
Philip Orellana
I.C.A. - Intelligent Compression Apparatus
Medical, Health & Safety
Robert Joshua (RJ) Piccioni
SERAPHYM - Sustainable EMS Vehicle for Harsh Winter Environments
Mobility & Transportation
Sinead Summerfield
Kensho - Alternative Life Departure
Medical, Health & Safety
Adriane Spence
Wāv - Modular Tank System for Water Scarcity
Commercial, Industrial & Professional
Bradley Staite
Neo Ink - Re-imagining the Tattoo Workstation
Commercial, Industrial & Professional