Description of the Product:
The product is a Shoes Cleaner Brush. It is blue in colour. This product is special in the sense that there are nylon fibre on both sides of the brush. The material used to make the handle is plastic. It is used to clean shoes thats why it is called Shoes Cleaner Brush. It is smooth and sleek. Its design is simple but it still carries out its function properly. It gives the user a firm grip. It is durable and handy. There is a curve on the handle, making it unique and different from others.
Design Considerations when Designing the Product:
Although its design is different from other similar shoe brushes, it must still carry out its usual function which is to clean shoes.
The design must not be too complex for the user. If it is, the user will have problems using it. So simplicity may be the best.
Would an elderly face difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face?
Yes.
1. The elderly may not have enough strength to rub off the stains on the shoes.
2. As the brush has nylon fibres on both sides, when the elderly uses one side, the nylon fibre on the other side may be obstructing the elderly for cleaning the shoes as it might hit the elderly's hand or obstruct the movement of his/her hand.
3. The handle of the brush maybe be too big for the elderly to grasp fully. If the elderly is frail, he/she may not be able to life the brush up as he/she is weak.
4. The surface of the handles is too smooth, therefore the elderly's hand may slip off.
What do you think can be done to improve on the design of the product to suit the elderly?
1. Have nylon fibres only on one side of the brush, but increase the amount of nylon fibres on that side.
2. Make the Handle smaller.
3. Make the Handle lighter.
4. Have a firm grip on the handle(eg. rubber-to increase friction).
5. Make it Collapsible.
Improved Product: (Sorry its upside down)
When it is folded(Collapsible)
Hey JJ.You said in your problems in the existing design that the nylon fibers are on both sides which may cause problem. But your improved design has the same characteristic. One more thing. Your collapsable version has nylon fibers on one side only. The foldable version means that it will be flabby and difficult to use. There is no method of stopping the handle from folding.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, to fold it, a force is required. Therefore, it will not be flabby.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I did say that the nylon fibers on both sides may cause problems. However, my improved product and the existing one is different. If you did observe carefully, you can see that my improved product has all the nylon fibres on one side but two surfaces. The existing product has nylon fibres on both sides but one surface.