Urgos Kettle - Extra support for the less-abled
Donation protected
Getting to know the Urgos team:
The Urgos team consists of 3 team members, Tarrall Yanzu (Founder) specialises in Product Design, Batsirai Muguti (co-founder) specialises in Digital Marketing and Mujeeb Falowo (co-founder) who specialises in system engineering.
Our invention, the Urgos Kettle, is an exciting kettle that is safe and energy-efficient with great features that are beneficial to the less-abled, the environmentally conscious and the elderly market. Tarrall Yanzu Started the project in 2015 and whilst studying product design technology at Staffordshire University, he decided to tackle the problem of companies excluding the less abled and the elderly market when designing consumer products such as kitchen appliances.
Tarrall decided to improve the design and functionality of the kettle as it an appliance that is predominantly used within the household, therefore, it should be able to be used safely and efficiently by people of all ages and capabilities.
Our journey so far...
Since we began our journey in September 2015, the project has moved from strength to strength, we have invested over £7,000 of our own money and secured £10,000 European Union match funding. What is the match funding? Match funding is capital that can only be unlocked with "matching" funds already contributed by the person or organisation that is has been awarded to. We also formed valuable partnerships within the local community including academic institutions such as Keele University and Staffordshire. Highly reputable firms with international reputable such as Santander bank and Stopford environment and energy . In January 2019 Urgos was granted its first patent by British intellectual property office(IPO) for the Urgos Kettle invention.
We have spent over £6,000 on the 1st stage of product development which included:
Functional specification
Electronic specification
Mechanical specification
Feasibility assessment
Block prototype
All carried out in conjunction product design partner Innovate Product Design
What we we've built so far - Our non electronic block prototype
What we want to build - A fully functional electronic prototype
The problems we aim to solve:
• Aid and Customer Inclusion
There are very few kettles designed to support the less-abled and those which are available are not aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. The elderly and people with physical impairments, generally struggle to adapt to the new age of using appliances independently, For Instance, a kettle. It was reported that 3.8 million individuals over the age of 65 live alone in the United Kingdom (ONS, 2017). We also aim to make people a little more independent, who's impairments are not physical, for instance, people living with dementia.
• User Interaction and Ease Of Use
It can be difficult managing everyday situations if you have ailments such as dementia, particularly because, dementia progresses as you get older but products in the home are becoming more complex to interact with as technology evolves. It is important to strike the right balance between independence and unnecessary harm. There are appliances available to use hand in hand with the kettle to make the use easier for the less-abled users (e.g. the kettle tipper), but none provides support in lifting the kettle/filling it up, they barely help with the pouring process.
• Energy Consumption and Inefficiency
In 2012, approximately 34% of the total electricity used for cooking was consumed by kettle usage. Electric kettles are one of the most inefficiently used appliances in the home (according to a survey of 86,000 homes). £68million per year is wasted in the form of electricity in the United Kingdom as a result of overfilling kettles when boiling water. (BBC News 2013).
Our solution - The Urgos Kettle :
The idea of assisting the less-abled and the elderly with their independence is one of the design inspirations of the Urgos Kettle. The dual handle design on the kettle plays a key role in ensuring user safety. The kettle illuminates, and an auditory device makes a sound to assist visual and hearing impaired user interact with the kettle. Daily use of the kettle must be as efficient and comfortable as possible. As a team, we strongly believe that ergonomics, safety, efficiency and aesthetics are key when designing a product that people interact with on a day to day basis.
Though the Urgos Kettle design and functionalities strongly address heartfelt issues, we put in extra effort to ensure we don't add to the stigma that inclusion can only mean functional and not aesthetically pleasing.
We've slightly increased the water capacity of the kettle for prolonged usage, therefore, fewer trips to the sink for a top-up. We find that most times standard kettles are put on only to make a cup of tea or coffee, rendering the rest of the heated water as waste, hence why we have incorporated our ultra-fast water dispensing system, this way we can all contribute to making our planet a little more environmentally friendly.
We also double down on safety. Our kettle has been designed to prevent users from the constant lifting and pouring system that you will find in existing kettles on the market. With our dispensing system, you simply need to place your cup underneath it and press a button once the kettle is ready for use. The expandable support system designed to rest at the edge of the sink which helps with weight distribution when collecting water from the sink. Can also be used as a handle if required for extra carrying support.
Our product also offers other great features and a superior approach to design with creativity and innovation, providing our consumers with more than just a product. We focus on consumer needs for an ergonomic appliance, that is very easy to use and offers support to those that cannot use appliances independently. Our design has been tailored to enable all our users to have a sense of independence and confidence within themselves when interacting with our products.
How the funds will be used:
The funds will be used within 4 to 5 months after a successful go fund me campaign in the following areas:
- To create a functional prototype
- The functional prototype will then be used by our target market for further research and development before launch
Extremely grateful for your support:
We will like to thank you for supporting this great project. We are extremely excited about the products we aim to release in the near future, there are no limits to our ambition and we aspire to become a trusted brand. Your donation is going to play a pivotal role in taking this project to the next level.
The Urgos team consists of 3 team members, Tarrall Yanzu (Founder) specialises in Product Design, Batsirai Muguti (co-founder) specialises in Digital Marketing and Mujeeb Falowo (co-founder) who specialises in system engineering.
Our invention, the Urgos Kettle, is an exciting kettle that is safe and energy-efficient with great features that are beneficial to the less-abled, the environmentally conscious and the elderly market. Tarrall Yanzu Started the project in 2015 and whilst studying product design technology at Staffordshire University, he decided to tackle the problem of companies excluding the less abled and the elderly market when designing consumer products such as kitchen appliances.
Tarrall decided to improve the design and functionality of the kettle as it an appliance that is predominantly used within the household, therefore, it should be able to be used safely and efficiently by people of all ages and capabilities.
Our journey so far...
Since we began our journey in September 2015, the project has moved from strength to strength, we have invested over £7,000 of our own money and secured £10,000 European Union match funding. What is the match funding? Match funding is capital that can only be unlocked with "matching" funds already contributed by the person or organisation that is has been awarded to. We also formed valuable partnerships within the local community including academic institutions such as Keele University and Staffordshire. Highly reputable firms with international reputable such as Santander bank and Stopford environment and energy . In January 2019 Urgos was granted its first patent by British intellectual property office(IPO) for the Urgos Kettle invention.
We have spent over £6,000 on the 1st stage of product development which included:
Functional specification
Electronic specification
Mechanical specification
Feasibility assessment
Block prototype
All carried out in conjunction product design partner Innovate Product Design
What we we've built so far - Our non electronic block prototype
What we want to build - A fully functional electronic prototype
The problems we aim to solve:
• Aid and Customer Inclusion
There are very few kettles designed to support the less-abled and those which are available are not aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. The elderly and people with physical impairments, generally struggle to adapt to the new age of using appliances independently, For Instance, a kettle. It was reported that 3.8 million individuals over the age of 65 live alone in the United Kingdom (ONS, 2017). We also aim to make people a little more independent, who's impairments are not physical, for instance, people living with dementia.
• User Interaction and Ease Of Use
It can be difficult managing everyday situations if you have ailments such as dementia, particularly because, dementia progresses as you get older but products in the home are becoming more complex to interact with as technology evolves. It is important to strike the right balance between independence and unnecessary harm. There are appliances available to use hand in hand with the kettle to make the use easier for the less-abled users (e.g. the kettle tipper), but none provides support in lifting the kettle/filling it up, they barely help with the pouring process.
• Energy Consumption and Inefficiency
In 2012, approximately 34% of the total electricity used for cooking was consumed by kettle usage. Electric kettles are one of the most inefficiently used appliances in the home (according to a survey of 86,000 homes). £68million per year is wasted in the form of electricity in the United Kingdom as a result of overfilling kettles when boiling water. (BBC News 2013).
Our solution - The Urgos Kettle :
The idea of assisting the less-abled and the elderly with their independence is one of the design inspirations of the Urgos Kettle. The dual handle design on the kettle plays a key role in ensuring user safety. The kettle illuminates, and an auditory device makes a sound to assist visual and hearing impaired user interact with the kettle. Daily use of the kettle must be as efficient and comfortable as possible. As a team, we strongly believe that ergonomics, safety, efficiency and aesthetics are key when designing a product that people interact with on a day to day basis.
Though the Urgos Kettle design and functionalities strongly address heartfelt issues, we put in extra effort to ensure we don't add to the stigma that inclusion can only mean functional and not aesthetically pleasing.
We've slightly increased the water capacity of the kettle for prolonged usage, therefore, fewer trips to the sink for a top-up. We find that most times standard kettles are put on only to make a cup of tea or coffee, rendering the rest of the heated water as waste, hence why we have incorporated our ultra-fast water dispensing system, this way we can all contribute to making our planet a little more environmentally friendly.
We also double down on safety. Our kettle has been designed to prevent users from the constant lifting and pouring system that you will find in existing kettles on the market. With our dispensing system, you simply need to place your cup underneath it and press a button once the kettle is ready for use. The expandable support system designed to rest at the edge of the sink which helps with weight distribution when collecting water from the sink. Can also be used as a handle if required for extra carrying support.
Our product also offers other great features and a superior approach to design with creativity and innovation, providing our consumers with more than just a product. We focus on consumer needs for an ergonomic appliance, that is very easy to use and offers support to those that cannot use appliances independently. Our design has been tailored to enable all our users to have a sense of independence and confidence within themselves when interacting with our products.
How the funds will be used:
The funds will be used within 4 to 5 months after a successful go fund me campaign in the following areas:
- To create a functional prototype
- The functional prototype will then be used by our target market for further research and development before launch
Extremely grateful for your support:
We will like to thank you for supporting this great project. We are extremely excited about the products we aim to release in the near future, there are no limits to our ambition and we aspire to become a trusted brand. Your donation is going to play a pivotal role in taking this project to the next level.
Organizer
Urgos Team
Organizer
England
