**3.2. Concept drafts**

**Figure 6.** Intensity of elder interaction in horticulture class.

**Figure 5.** Behavior of tool use.

114 Occupational Therapy - Therapeutic and Creative Use of Activity

adopting a standing posture could result in these symptoms. In addition, **Figure 5** reveals considerable difference between the dominant and nondominant hand in the rate of tool use, indicating that the elderly did not use their two hands in turn for equal lengths of time. Even when engaged in bare hand operations, the elderly spent significantly longer on average oper-

There are more elders staring into space and resting behavior in class two. Even though class two has a longer duration, there is no increase in time between the interaction of plants and elders. Furthermore, elders in class two have at the highest, a 39.47% increase in time duration to observe others (**Figure 6**). The observation reveals that the unequal attention from instruc-

The instructor in three horticulture classes pointed out that sedentary positions are more suitable for elders in gardening activities that prevent fatigue from stooping or repetitive movements. Only class two has three gardening platforms, providing more assistance during gardening. The operating platforms make it easier for elders to reach, which makes it a more suitable platform for elders to use. On the contrary, there is a high discrepancy between dominant and nondominant hand users in gardening work in class two. Moreover, observations of the three classes reveal that elders who use tools use their dominant hand 32.62% of the time more than their nondominant hand. Elders who use their bare hands use their dominant hand 17.31% of the time more than their nondominant hand. It is one point where the platform design can improve. We also know that elders more frequently use tools than bare hands to work with soil

ating with their dominant hand than with their nondominant hand or both hands.

tors causes the unattended elders to look around at other elders in boredom.

Horticultural therapy courses were conducted in groups. Most flower beds available on the market could be used by multiple users. However, this study aimed to develop a flower bed featuring sufficient personal space and the ability to support multiple users, thereby enhancing a sense of exclusiveness in the users. From the starting point of user space, modularized separable designs were developed to meet the aforementioned requirements (**Figure 7**).

Eventually, a hexagonal design was adopted. A set of flower beds comprising six pieces was created and modularized. The advantage of hexagon-based modularization was that the comprising pieces could be assembled into various shapes in response to varying class requirements. During the design process, the researchers considered the possibility of future production and designed the flower beds to be self-assembly pieces for the convenience of those purchasing and using the products. Hence, all components were made from planks and

addition, a round hole was designed on the top to place 5–7″ potted plants or hoes and shovels. Moreover, most of the elderly would hold on to the chair or the flower bed when standing or sitting. Therefore, iron bars were installed to surround the operating platform with raised edges for the elderly to hold on to. Multiple methods of flower bed arrangement were simulated to ensure the design was compatible with multiple course requirements. In addition to facilitating teaching, the operating platform served as a display platform after class to enhance the elderly's sense of connection with the plants they had planted. We have designed a new wooden flower bed based on all of the conditions and concerns on the sizing and interaction design factors. The flower bed is a trapezoidal desk, which allows everyone to gather around in a circle. We hope it

New Flower Bed Design and Verification Supporting Horticultural Therapy Classes Based…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78311

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In addition, top pulleys were adopted for the casters, which featured a stamp-and-press switch to stop slippage, enable the flower beds to be arranged in class, and prevent flower bed movement when the elderly hold them for support. Because horticultural therapy classes are often implemented outdoors, all flower beds were finished with wood oils that were extracted from plants and exhibited UV-resistant and water-proof features. Subsequently, simple loading and drainage tests were conducted. A sealed pot containing approximately 30 liters of water was used in the loading test, and the results indicated that the flower bed remains stable both under normal use conditions and violent shaking. Furthermore, the drainage system was proved to be effective in leading the water to drain through the framework-turned-channels

This discussion takes the new design of the flower desk into the curriculum. The test group has a total of five participants, including four women, one man, where three of them are in wheelchairs. They sit equidistant from the teacher in a circle. The five new flower desks are

In the test group during the horticulture class, the elderly used the dominant hand 26.30% of the time, nondominant hand 17.58% and both hands 12.32% of the time (**Figure 9**). The test group has a much higher usage of hands in all three categories compared to the control group, especially in the nondominant hand category. The test group uses bare hands 56.21% of the class, which is much higher than the control group of 25.28%. Previous observations revealed that inappropriate flower bed dimensions can lead to a forward-leaning sitting posture. When the table top was too low, or when the elderly could not approach the flower bed with ease from their chair, they could not make effective use of the work table. However, the newly designed flower bed "Elder Green" may effectively prevent bad posture in its users. As a result, this new flower bed design stimulates both hand usage and balance in the elderly. From flipping soil to digging a hole to placing a seed to burying soil, all elders fulfilled the hand movement goals. It could be the design of "Elder Green" that allow elders to feel more intimate toward the product. The total time that the test group spent using their dominant hands was 26.32% for tool use and 26.30% for bare hand operations. In contrast, time spent in the control group was 34.60%

arranged radially, with an opening for the instructor to freely walk in and out of it.

is more convenient for the instructor to communicate with the elderly than before.

under the sealed pot to the sides of table legs to be discharged.

**4. Discussions**

**Figure 7.** Development of design concepts.

**Figure 8.** Flower bed dimensions.

tubes. To meet the requirements of various older users, the use of height of an ordinary elderly in the sitting and standing postures as well as that of the elderly in wheelchairs were considered. A 1:1 model was produced by measuring available wheelchairs on the market to obtain the most appropriate dimensions (**Figure 8**): 104 cm (l) × 45 cm (w) × 81 cm (h). Furthermore, the height under the table was set to 62 cm, to be compatible with the knee height of most the elderly in a sitting posture, and to allow wheelchairs to enter and exit easily.

In a satisfactory drainage system, flower bed design should be considered. The drainage system was first placed at the center of the table; however, experimental results indicated that the drainage effect was poor. Subsequently, a pipeless drainage system was designed, in which table beams were used as water channels to guide water to be discharged through table legs. With a pipeless design, water pipes or water pot damage caused by prolonged use could be prevented, and the space under the table could be effectively minimized to allow the elderly to enter and exit more easily. The soil pot that was readily available was Model-600 sealed pot, which could be used once it was pierced along the directions of the water channels, and furthermore, it could be replaced conveniently. Previous observations have suggested that approximately 15 items should be used in each gardening course session, including hoes, shovels, potted plants, and the elderly's personal belongings. Considering users' need for storage, operating platforms and drawers were added to both sides of the newly designed flower bed. The operating platforms were designed to be inclined surfaces with water drainage holes to facilitate water discharge. In addition, a round hole was designed on the top to place 5–7″ potted plants or hoes and shovels. Moreover, most of the elderly would hold on to the chair or the flower bed when standing or sitting. Therefore, iron bars were installed to surround the operating platform with raised edges for the elderly to hold on to. Multiple methods of flower bed arrangement were simulated to ensure the design was compatible with multiple course requirements. In addition to facilitating teaching, the operating platform served as a display platform after class to enhance the elderly's sense of connection with the plants they had planted. We have designed a new wooden flower bed based on all of the conditions and concerns on the sizing and interaction design factors. The flower bed is a trapezoidal desk, which allows everyone to gather around in a circle. We hope it is more convenient for the instructor to communicate with the elderly than before.

In addition, top pulleys were adopted for the casters, which featured a stamp-and-press switch to stop slippage, enable the flower beds to be arranged in class, and prevent flower bed movement when the elderly hold them for support. Because horticultural therapy classes are often implemented outdoors, all flower beds were finished with wood oils that were extracted from plants and exhibited UV-resistant and water-proof features. Subsequently, simple loading and drainage tests were conducted. A sealed pot containing approximately 30 liters of water was used in the loading test, and the results indicated that the flower bed remains stable both under normal use conditions and violent shaking. Furthermore, the drainage system was proved to be effective in leading the water to drain through the framework-turned-channels under the sealed pot to the sides of table legs to be discharged.
