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Book 26, Question 117 · Video

How did a peeler for sore hands lead to tools everyone likes to hold?

Video · 1:54 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 26

In the late 1980s, an American businessman, Sam Farber, noticed that his wife Betsey, who had arthritis, had a hard time gripping a skinny metal vegetable peeler. He and a design team made kitchen tools with thick, soft, oval handles that are easy to hold. The tools helped people with sore hands, and they turned out to feel better to everyone. That is called universal design: making things easy for as many people as possible.

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How did a peeler for sore hands lead to tools everyone likes to hold?

The Big Idea

A skinny vegetable peeler was hard to hold for someone with sore hands. One family decided to fix it! It led to tools everyone likes.

The Problem

Step one: The Problem. In the late 1980s, businessman Sam Farber noticed that his wife Betsey, who had arthritis, had a hard time gripping a skinny metal vegetable peeler. He wanted to help.

New Handles

Step two: New Handles. He and a design team made kitchen tools with thick, soft, oval handles that are easy to hold. The tools helped people with sore hands.

Everyone

Step three: Everyone. The tools turned out to feel better to everyone. That's called universal design, making things easy for as many people as possible.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Oval fits the hand. Soft grips don't slip. Thick handles are easy. Everyone feels comfy.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Good design can solve one person's problem and help thousands of other people. Started with a peeler. Good for everyone. Thick grips help.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Write a sentence with a thin pencil. Then wrap a pencil in a thick foam grip. Write the same sentence. Which is easier to hold? Who else might like the thicker grip?

Outro

A peeler for sore hands led to tools with thick, soft, oval handles that help people with arthritis and feel better to everyone. That's universal design! Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

Why I wrote this