The Directory - Faculty of Engineering - University of Leeds

16
> KrISTIE BECK
v.A.B.A (vARIABLE
ADULT BUOYANCY
AID)
One in five people in the UK alone cannot swim.
Swimming aids designed for adults are almost
non-existent, and those that can be used by weak
and non-swimmers are few and far between.
This presents a problem for those adults that
desperately want to learn to swim, but do not have
enough confidence. One of the main problems
coaches find is that there are no specific buoyancy
aids for those that struggle to float, and have a fear
of sinking in the water.
v.a.b.a is designed to be a one off purchase that an
adult can use while learning to swim in a pool. It has
been designed to be as discreet as possible, while
also encouraging the correct swimming strokes
and placement in the water, both of which are very
important when learning to swim.
“ Enhance an adult’s confidence in
the water, and make the experience
of learning to swim as enjoyable and
stress free as possible.”
> Contact Details
Dhoon Farm, Maughold,
Isle of Man, IM7 1HL
kristiebeck@hotmail.com
> Career Aims
Play a major role in the improvement
of inclusively designed sports equipment.
This aid allows the user to concentrate on
swimming, rather than worrying about staying
afloat, an issue that was highlighted during the
user research and can affect the user’s confidence
dramatically while they are learning to swim.
Furthermore it is fully adaptable and allows the
user to choose whether they wear it on their front
or back; this could be dictated by the stroke
being learnt. The design also features adjustable
buoyancy pockets that can be easily altered
depending on the user’s ability and size.
v.a.b.a is unique as there are no products like it
currently on the market, that have been designed
with adults specifically in mind. When used, it
will enhance an adult’s confidence in the water
and make the experience of learning to swim as
enjoyable and stress free as possible.