Reflections

What have I learnt?


I have learnt how to brainstorm on different ideas and how to narrow it down.
Pointers that remained in my mind: Innovative and Creative Products
This would help me when it comes to selecting good ideas.
Techniques I used to brainstorm: Mindmap, Drawings.

I have learnt how to think critically. I kept going back to my product and picturing it in my mind of the different scenarios my product is used. This would give me a rough idea and identify the disadvantages of my product and how to further improve it. Therefore, I had to keep re-looking into my product idea. This helps me learn along the way as I got to learn from errors that should not be made.


I have learnt to be focus on the main key idea. I must be moving along the way that my products must help the elderly in their needs. That must be the focus, or else the outcome would be different.


I have learnt how to draw three-dimensional drawings. This would help in picture my product. I also could sketch out the detailed parts of my product.


I could apply what 

we have learn from the first semester.

-Ideation
-Shape Borrowing
-SCAMPER

What are the difficulties that I encountered?


1. Brainstorming Ideas- My mind was a total blank during the first few weeks of this semester. I had totally no idea on what to focus on and what to make. I tried to do research on a wide/general elderly-friendly items to get inspirations from but it was of little help. This was an obstacle I had to overcome.
2. Wrong Ideas- During the process, I realised that I made the wrong choices for many different things. In the process of building up my idea, I realised it is not feasible and therefore, I threw it away.
3. Prototyping- I had problems finding the suitable materials for my prototype. When constructing it, I had problems as my masking tape could stick the pieces together.


How do I overcome them?


1. I tried to get ideas from my friends, family, and most importantly my grandparents. They gave me inspirations, leading to my product. I had to gather all my courage and go with the idea I had, no matter what the outcome is. My indecisiveness may be the reason of myself not being able to go on with the idea.
2. I had to come up with another idea immediately. However, I did not want the research I have done to go to waste. Therefore, I created another product that still relates to my main topic under the Elderly Challenge: Household Chores- Cleaning Of Windows.
3. I replace the original materials with other materials that I could find that could still fit the purpose of it. I had to use lots and lots of masking tape to tape over my product.

Reflection - Prototype

What are the difficulties that you have encountered during the process?

There was not much of a difficulty as we had to just make sure that the product is able to pick objects that are dropped onto the floor. The only difficulty is the brainstorming area when thinking about how to ensure that the product fulfill its criteria.

How do you overcome the difficulties encountered?

We had to discuss and participate actively in the group, sharing our thoughts and ideas.

What are the 2 key takeaways for this lesson?

Learning more about the prototype and design considerations(qualitative or quantitative).

Ergonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)

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)

Ergonomics 2

1. What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics derives from two Greek words: ergon, meaning work, and nomoi, meaning natural laws, to create a word that means the science of work and a person’s relationship to that work. Ergonomics is the science of making things comfy. It also makes things efficient. And when you think about it, comfy just another way of making things efficient. However for simplicity, ergonomics makes things comfortable and efficient.
2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?
The five aspects of Ergonomics are Comfort, Aesthetics, Safety, Ease of Use & Productivity/Performance.
3. For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.
Comfort:

It has an elastic support on the back frame, which provides outstanding comfort. It has a leg rest for elderly as their legs can tired easily. It also has a convenient push handle at the back of the chair for it to be inclined, for elderly if they are tired. Lastly, it has an elastic open seat base which provides support for the elderly.

Safety:
I think that the floor tiles can be a good example. If the floor tiles are slippery and the elderly is not careful, he/she may slip and fall causing himself/herself to get injured. Therefore, the floor tiles should be rough to have more friction.

Ease Of Use:
An example would be the sign boards. Elderly's eyesight may not be very good. Therefore, they might not be able to see properly when they are far away. If the boards are too complex(too many words and directions), the elderly might be confused. So, for the ease of use, it should just be simple but do not lack the important information.

Productivity/Performance:
One thing is the table. If your table is cramp with stuffs, the productivity rate will drop as you may find it hard to concentrate on doing what you are suppose to do and may have not find you items.

Aesthetics:
Aesthetics is a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation with beauty. We must look for items that are well furnished and have good appearance. So, probably a nice looking wheelchair would be good for the elderly. It must still have all the usual functions and must do its job of helping an elderly walk.

Citations:
http://ergonomics.about.com/od/ergonomicbasics/a/ergo101.htm
http://www.medicalproductsdirect.com/chforelpecoc.html

Ergonomics 1 - Question 4

Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?

Ergonomics is important when designing as the efficiency and work rate of people working in office has been very low, particularly due to cluttered office and poor design of the working environment. It is important as it affects one’s mood, efficiency, work rate and even versatility. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. Having a more comfortable place can increase the considerably good factors and thus become a conducive environment.

Ergonomics 1

1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.

Comfort and Simplicity- The Liberty Chair allows one to incline the chair and provides a lot of space, whereas A Work ng Chair has little space and people have a problem adjusting the height of it, which may cause the person to feel uncomfortable.

Incorrect Height and Depth- Some people have problems looking at the computer screen, maybe because of poor eyesight. However, the monitor could not be moved. In the 2nd design, the M7 Monitor Arm allows the computer screen to be pulled forward, allowing the person to see and does not need to squint his/her eyes.

Task Lighting- The lighting is too bright, causing people not to be able to see properly. The Different Light allows the lamp to be pulled towards the work, making it more convenient.

Freedom of Movement- The arm rest in the first design was too high. Therefore, people would have problems moving around, just like the man which almost spilled the drink. However, for the second design, the arm rest for the chair was adjustable. So, he could drink without the arm rest hindering him.

As there is reflection, sometimes, the angle of the laptop will makes it hard for people to see the screen. For the 1st design, the man used books and files and placed them below the laptop to make it higher, easier for the man to read. For the 2nd design, it was easier as the man just had to place a laptop holder under the laptop.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 4

Recently, I have observed that public transports are getting crowder these days. As there are limited seats, an elderly would not get a chance to sit down. Even with the reserved seats, younger people would not even bother about the elderly and would just take up the seats. Many elderly people would then be left with no choice but to stand. If their journey is very long, it would affect their knee bone and their muscles would ache. Standing up on the MRT would also increase the chances of them falling down when the MRT breaks.




This picture is taken in the afternoon. If we place an elderly in this scenario where by she/he has just entered the MRT and have no place to seat, how would he/she feel? This would also affect the good reputation of Singapore. In my opinion, I think that there should be more reserved seats. Anyone who does not fit the purpose of these seats and still seats on them will be fined. This action would then help the elderly.

JJ(: