Use Case | Packaging
Packaging Concepts | Use Case
Advanced design of medicinal bottle caps to improve ability to open
The elderly often struggle to open medicine bottles. Many are unable to provide enough twisting force to open bottles independently and without frustration. A pharmaceutical manufacturer tested three different types of bottles to better understand ease of use and level of frustration.
The Challenge // Packaging
- Create a safe bottle cap that is easy for the aging population to open
- Understand how much force an elderly person must exert to open a medicine bottle at ages 65–85
The Research // Goals
- Perform testing in a lab with three different bottle types and five different age groups
- As the control, employ on bottle that requires a simple twist to open and no safety mechanism
- Identify muscles affected by twisting two new medicine bottles
- Understand level of force required to twist and open each bottle
- Understand ability to be successful opening each bottle
- Understand how to avoid negative experience
The Solution // Technology
- Recorded EMG on the forearm to measure muscle activity
- Measured twisting force with a torque transducer
- Video each participant to measure the time and observe frustration level
- Collected self-reported participant responses on their experience with each bottle
The Results
- Researchers were able to compare three different bottle designs across five age populations to determine the most efficient bottle design that is both safe and easy to open
- Torque and muscle use metrics were applied while looking at EMG as a strong indication of difficultly
- Each bottle required a different level of twisting force
- EMG data showed forearm muscle activation for all three bottles
- Ease-of-use and frustration level for each bottle were assessed by looking at participant behavior on video
- The bottle with a push-and-twist design performed better than the bottle with a pinch- and-twist design across all five age groups
Benefits
- Ensure product and messaging alignment
- Test the consumer’s emotional response and align with the product and brand promise
- Test the user experience with the packing
- Shelf visibility testing—in-store and virtual
Technology Options
Electrodermal Activity (EDA) indicates level of arousal
Facial Electromyography (fEMG)—corrugator and zygomaticus muscle activation indicates level of frustration
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) for muscle oxygenation indicates muscle function
Related Use Cases
Consumer Product Development
Product Design
Usability Studies
Workspace design
Other Industries
Consumer Electronics
Consumer Packaged Goods
Selected Citations
- Guo, F., Liu, L., & Lv, W. (2020). Biomechanical analysis of upper trapezius, erector spinae and brachioradialis fatigue in repetitive manual packaging tasks: Evidence from Chinese express industry workers – ScienceDirect. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 80, 103012. This study aims to assess the effects of repetitive motion-induced fatigue during manual packaging on kinematics and muscle activity of the arm, back and shoulder. BIOPAC Product: MP150
- Ray, G. G., & Biswas, S. P. (2012, July). Investigation on hand twisting force developed by the Indian elderly for opening different kinds of bottle packaging | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore; in 2012 Southeast Asian Network of Ergonomics Societies Conference (SEANES) (pp. 1-5). IEEE. Most liquid, semi-solid or granular foods are bottled to preserve and protect from external impacts. But, `open-ability’ of packaging is a major issue for the elderly. Most of the elderly population experience problems in opening a bottle or jar, as they are unable to develop sufficient hand twisting force. BIOPAC Product: AcqKnowledge
- Droulers, O., Gallopel-Morvan, K., Lacoste-Badie, S., & Lajante, M. (2017). The influence of threatening visual warnings on tobacco packaging: Measuring the impact of threat level, image size, and type of pack through psychophysiological and self-report methods. PloS one, 12(9), e0184415. The first aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness, in terms of emotional and behavioral reactions, of moderately vs. highly TVWs (Threatening Visual Warnings) displayed on tobacco packs. BIOPAC Product: MP 150
- Cuesta, F., Paida, G., & Buele, I. (2020). Influence of olfactory and visual sensory stimuli in the perfume-purchase decision. International Review of Management and Marketing, 10(1), 63. Neuromarketing has evolved in marketing practices, especially in the study of consumer behavior; however, in Ecuador this technique is still unknown, because they are limited to traditional marketing. The current research aims to determine the influence of olfactory and visual sensory stimuli in
the decision-making to purchase perfumes, using an experimental and conclusive investigation. BIOPAC Product: ETV Eye Tracking - Ishihara, S., Nagamachi, M., & Ishihara, K. (2014, June). Electronic Product Development with Kansei Engineering/Kansei Ergonomics. In KEER2014. Proceedings of the 5th Kanesi Engineering and Emotion Research; International Conference; Linköping; Sweden; June 11-13 (No. 100, pp. 1385-1395). Linköping University Electronic Press. Successful products cannot be made with only ergonomic considerations, and Kansei engineering provides eloquent answers to the problems that arise. BIOPAC Product: MP150
WHAT'S NEW
Biology research covers a wide variety of studies all aiming to understand living organisms...
Stay Connected