dinsdag 13 mei 2014

prototype 32

Variant of prototype 25 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw + rotary
1 stability tube

Expected +: Cheap/easy
                 ''More stable stystem''
                 Easily adjustable
Expected -: Not so accurate? 
                 Enough visible light?
                 Enough stability?

Tested +: Light and durable 
              Charges properly in low light
              Easy adjustable (+)
              Enough visible light
              Accurate enough
              Kathleen likes de design/system
Tested -: stability +

User experience:
Designer experience:


prototype 31

Variant of prototype 25, 

Expected +: solid
Expected -: not transparent
Tested +:  Light and durable 
               solid
               Kathleen likes the design/system
               extra stbility
Tested -:  not transparent

user experience:
designer experience:


press text

Tasks that seem obvious for us can be a real challenge for a visually impaired person. Checking if the water bowl of her guiding dog was empty was a time-consuming and physically demanding job for Kathleen. As Bengo, her guiding dog can’t bark, even when he’s hungry or thirsty, his drinking bowl was sometimes empty for some time. This brought a feeling of guilt to Kathleen but thanks to a close cooperation we were able to solve this problem.
During a first creativity session a lot of different ideas and solutions flourished. So we went to visit Kathleen in a really early stage of the creation process to set up a list of her wishes and demands. One of the ideas we had completely fit her expectations. This gave us the opportunity to make a working prototype on the spot. Kathleen was really happy and relieved when we came to visit her for the second time as our prototype was broken. The fact that she really missed it was a sign that we were on a good track.

Our solution is a balance system that’s being put under the drinking bin. When the weight of the water in the bin is too low a switch is turned on. This triggers a solar powered flashing light that immediately draws the attention a Kathleen and impels her to fill Bengo’s water bin. To make the system as efficient as possible we offer the possibility to adjust the contact to the right weight in a very user-friendly way. 

Perstekst

Taken die voor ons vanzelfsprekend lijken kunnen voor slechtziende personen een hele opgave vormen. Zo had Kathleen het probleem dat ze nooit kon inschatten wanneer de drinkbak van haar geleide hond Bengo leeg was. Als geleide hond mag Bengo niet blaffen. Ook niet wanneer hij dorst of honger lijdt. Waardoor Bengo soms een tijdje zonder water kwam te staan. Dit gaf Kathleen een schuldgevoel, maar dankzij de nauwe samenwerking werd dit probleem succesvol opgelost.
 Na een eerste creatieve brainstormsessie waaruit tal van verschillende oplossingen en ideeën bloeiden werd al vlug een afspraak gemaakt met Kathleen om een eisen- en wensenpakket op te stellen. Een van de bedachte prototypes kwam perfect overeen met haar verwachtingen. Dit gaf ons de mogelijkheid om ter plaatse meteen een functioneel prototype te maken. Toen we voor de 2e maal op bezoek gingen was Kathleen heel opgelucht ons te zien want ons prototype had het al een paar dagen begeven. Het gemis dat dit bij haar veroorzaakte was voor ons het bewijs dat we op het goede spoor waren.

Onze oplossing bestaat uit een balanssysteem dat onder de drinkbak geplaatst wordt. Wanneer het gewicht van het water in de drinkbak niet groot genoeg meer is dan wordt een contact gemaakt waardoor een op zonne-energie gedreven lampje gaat branden. Dit trekt onmiddellijk de aandacht van Kathleen waardoor die onmiddellijk de drinkbak kan bijvullen. Om het systeem zo efficiënt mogelijk te maken is het contactpunt instelbaar om op een heel gebruiksvriendelijke manier te kunnen kiezen bij welk gewicht het lichte moet gaan branden. 

dinsdag 29 april 2014

prototype 30

Variant of prototype 25 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw + rotary
1 stability tube

Expected +: Cheap/easy
                 ''More stable stystem''
                 Easily adjustable
Expected -: Not so accurate? 
                 Enough visible light?
                 Enough stability?

Tested +: Light and durable 
              Charges properly in low light
              Easy adjustable (+)
              Enough visible light
              Accurate enough
              Kathleen likes de design/system
Tested -: ''Still not enough stability!''

user experience:
designer experience:




prototype 29

Variant of prototype 25 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw + rotary
3 stability tubes

Expected +: Cheap/easy
                 ''More stable stystem''
                 Easily adjustable
Expected -: Not so accurate? 
                 Enough visible light?
                 Enough stability?

Tested +: Light and durable 
              Charges properly in low light
              Easy adjustable (+)
              Enough visible light
              Accurate enough
              Kathleen likes de design/system
Tested -: ''Still not enough stability!''

user experience:
designer experience:




prototype 28

Variant of prototype 25 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw + rotary
1 central stability base

Expected +: Cheap/easy
                 ''More stable stystem''
                 Easily adjustable
Expected -: Not so accurate? 
                 Enough visible light?
                 Enough stability?

Tested +: Light and durable 
              Charges properly in low light
              Easy adjustable (+)
              Enough visible light
              Accurate enough
              Kathleen likes de design/system
Tested -: ''Still not enough stability!''

user experience:
designer experience:




prototype 27

Variant of prototype 25 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw + rotary
Optimizing stability of spring system (connecting the two seperate spring modules)

Expected +: Cheap/easy
                 ''More stable stystem''
                 Easily adjustable
Expected -: Not so accurate? 
                 Enough visible light?
                 Enough stability?

Tested +: Light and durable 
              Charges properly in low light
              Easy adjustable (+)
              Enough visible light
              Accurate enough
              Kathleen likes de design/system
Tested -: ''Still not enough stability!''

user experience:
designer experience:




zaterdag 26 april 2014

prototype 26 - visiting Kathleen

Variant of prototype 25 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw + rotary
Stability bases
Expected +: Cheap/easy
                 More stable stystem
                 Easily adjustable
Expected -: Not so accurate? 
                 Enough visible light?
                 Enough stability?

Tested +: Light and durable 
              Charges properly in low light
              Easy adjustable (+)
              Enough visible light
              Accurate enough
              Kathleen likes de design/system
Tested -: Still not enough stability!

user experience:
designer experience:



vrijdag 25 april 2014

prototype 25

Variant of prototype 24 , with solar powered leds
Adjustable with screw

Expected +: Cheap/easy
Expected -: Not so accurate, enough visible light?

Tested +: Light and durable, charges properly in low light, easy adjustable 
Tested -: Leds are not so visible in daylight, but still enough? -> Yes

user experience:
designer experience:





dinsdag 22 april 2014

prototype 24

-Variant of prototype 23

Expected +: Cheap/easy
Expected -: Difficult to adjust

Tested +: Light and durable, charges properly in low light
Tested -: Not so visible in daylight, a bit fidgety.

user experience:
designer experience:




zaterdag 19 april 2014

prototype 23

-Variant of prototype 10 & 15
-Solar powered, cheap parts 


Expected +: Cheap/easy
Expected -: Difficult to adjust
Tested +: Light and durable, charges properly in low light
Tested -: Not so visible in daylight, a bit fidgety.

user experience:


designer experience:

 
 

prototype 22

-Variant of prototype 10 & 15
-foldable, fits in the bowl to carry along

Expected +: Easy to adjust, small.
Expected -: Lots of parts build steps.

Tested +:  Stable, nice folded up shape
Tested -:  Needs proper sliding axle/different springsystem altogether

user experience:
designer experience:



prototype 21

-Variant of prototype 10 and 15: electrically determine if there's still water
-use of spring system of a vacuum cleaner.

Expected +:More reliable 'spring system'
                 
Expected -:Too hard resilience
                Stability?

Tested +: reliable spring system. good resilience
Tested -: stability still a bit of a problem

user experience: 
designer experince: