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Gadget Review

 

At times, life can take some planning. Everyday activities, such as a quick shopping trip, can suddenly become a real chore. With increasing pressure from society to do more in less time, how do you find the time to cope with daily stresses and find a balance in your life? How do you lessen the load but retain your dignity?

At MS Gateway we are often asked if we know of any useful tools or gadgets that would help make our visitors' lives easier. We have done some research and come up with some ideas and useful gadgets in an attempt to answer these questions. In addition to the more specialised living aids, we particularly looked for smart tips, clever ways to use tools that are commonly available and stylish discreet gadgets that aren't too expensive.

At the end of each section we have listed some suppliers for the items we have described. However, these lists are not intended to be comprehensive (and we welcome your suggestions for new additions) so we have also listed some key words that will help you when searching online for a supplier in your area.

 

Getting a grip

For the style-conscious, chunky pens are currently in fashion and have the added benefit of making writing easier since they can be gripped with less effort. They are generally available in the stationary section of your local department store. Also look out for fat pens that provide a cushioned support for your fingers.

If you already have a large collection of slim pens, you can buy various slip-on grips that enlarge the diameter of pens. The Arthwriter is a lightweight plastic ball with a small central hole, designed to help people with hand or finger disabilitites to comfortably write, eat and continue with other daily activities. Writing aids help reduce the shake and muscle pain of writing.

Foam plastazote foaming is available in various sizes and widths to help build up handles and make them easier to grip. The tubing is non-absorbent, non-sticky, washable and dishwasher safe, and is ideal for building up the handles on cutlery, pens, toothbrushes and combs.

However, there are some times when nobody's grip is strong enough. Everyone has faced the jar lid that will not budge despite trying all the usual tricks of twisting the lids whilst wearing rubber gloves etc. For these situations, manual and powered jar and bottle openers are an option and are commonly available in kitchen stores. The universal opener is ideal for opening everything from a large jar of coffee to a tube of toothpaste. Jar and bottle grips can be used to increase the friction between your hands and the jar or bottle. Clamps and holders hold jars stable so that they can be opened with one hand. Slip-resistant mats stop bowls and plates from sliding around, and boards with spikes and raised edges hold food in place for cutting.

A device known as a boa constrictor, which opens jars and bottle, can also be used as a tap turner or to turn on radiator valves and light fittings. Other devices for turning taps include tap turners, moulded plastic lever handles, can be hooked onto or attached to standard taps. Moulded handles have also been used to make door handles and key turners that have an easy grip and good leverage. Plastic finger loops are also available for turning keys in doors and car ignitions. Gripkit is a plastacine-type compound that adheres to objects and can be moulded to any shape to create custom build handles and levers.

 

Pens

Arthwriter, multi-openers and rubber twisters

Plastazote tubing

Universal opener and jar and bottle grips

Tap turners

 

If you cannot find suppliers for your area listed above, use these keywords to search for suppliers:

Ergonomic pens, Grippit, Writing Bird, Arthwriter, Gripkit, Plastazote, EZY twist, Universal opener, Boa constrictor, Selectagrip, Capgrippa, Dycem Grip-it, Grizzly Universal Bottle Opener, Safety Lid Lifter, Medici tap turner, crystal and crosshead tap turner, X-Tap tap turner.

 

 

Cutting-edge gadgets

A wide range of ergonomically designed scissors and shears are available that reduce motion and pressure on the hands and joints eliminating hand cramps and fatigue.

Look out for scissors/shears with

  • cushioned handles

  • no slip grip

  • a self-opening spring-loaded action to reduce fatigue

  • a simple lock mechanism for safe storage and portability

  • a blunt tip for safer cutting

  • a tapered tip for precision cutting in tight places

  • a rolling rather than squeezing action
    These scissors use ball bearings and do not have a pointed blade or sharp edge.

  • a flat bottom
    These scissors glide smoothly over a cutting surface and are useful for longer cuts.

  • blades that separate for easy cleaning in the dishwasher

  • notched blades for gripping wire

  • a longer looped handle to increase leverage
    These require less strength.

  • battery powered scissors
    Useful if you find it difficult to perform a cutting action.

 

 

If you cannot find suppliers for your area listed above, use these keywords to search for suppliers:

Friskars Softouch Craft Snips, Rolling scissors, micro-tip scissors, large-handled scissors, battery-powered scissors, rotary cutter, PowerGrip, Damar, handtools, single-handed shears

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The information on this page was last updated/verified on:

March 9, 2001

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