Introduction
Cooking is one of the many skills that allows one to take care of themselves. Not everyone takes the time to sharpen those skills but everyone should have the choice to. One of the best ways to become a better cook is to use the proper tools and appliances. For people with disabilities this is much more than just choosing a fancy new blender; many more factors have to be considered. Enter: assistive technology. Assistive Technology (AT) is defined as a category of tools that allow people with disabilities to accomplish goals and solve problems. Today, let’s talk about one example of AT, Rocker Knives.
A rocker knife can be used almost anywhere but is mainly found in culinary environments. It allows people to cut food and other items in a non-traditional way: rocking back-and-forth not up-and-down. Its two main features are an ergonomic handle and rounded blade.
The handle allows for people who face troubles with fine motor skills to grip the knife effectively since it does not require the user to hold it at a specific angle. The blade is rounded, usually in the shape of a semi-circle or crescent. This shape allows the user to cover more surface area when making contact with the item they want to cut. From there, they can use a rocking motion to finish cutting the item instead of more traditional ways of cutting that would require them to lift and reposition the knife multiple times.
Comparison to Traditional Tools
Let’s compare it to a staple of kitchen tools, the chef’s knife:
The chef’s knife has a more linear build; the triangular blade is on the same plane as the handle, instead of stacked on top of each other, requiring a seemingly complicated grip from the user.
The shape of the blade is uneven, meaning its user would get a different result depending on which part of the blade comes in contact with the item they are cutting. A proper hold for the chef’s knife requires the chef in question to use their middle, ring, and pinky fingers to grip the handle and use the pointer and thumb to grip the base of the blade. The shape and hold in combination with body positioning in relation to the cutting surface can be difficult for people with a disability that affects their motor skills.
Applying Disability Models
So far, the rocker knife seems great in comparison to traditional tools, but how can we further understand the impact of the rocker knife? We must first understand disability itself. Disability is a very complex topic but we can start to conceptualize it with the help of models. Models help us understand disability on many different levels. Let’s explore the rocker knife through these ideals.
The Medical Model claims that disability is a problem caused by disorders, disease, trauma, or other health conditions; a biological problem that diminishes quality of life.
- The rocker knife does not exactly have a place in this model but one could argue that the need for a rocker knife could be the result of being a person with a medical disability. In this case, the knife would increase the user’s quality of life.
The Social Model points out that society creates disabling conditions. This model is complemented by the Functional Solutions Model which aims to assist people with disabilities via technological advancements. In both of these models, the individual is not the problem, instead just a part of their environment.
- Rocker knives fit in here since they can be used by people of varying ability but work especially well for those who need a bit of assistance, aiming to fix at least part of a user’s complications with cutting.
The Charity/Tragedy Model treats disabilities as unfortunate or tragic conditions worthy of special treatment.
- These knives do not necessarily apply here since there is no call to action for the temporarily-able-bodied community. They are not marketed in a way that seeks sympathy from anyone, but rather showcases opportunity for those who wish to try them.
Conclusion
All in all, rocker knives can be used by many to improve efficiency in cooking and other essential tasks and are a great example of Assistive Technology.