bpk 180 week 12 product design

Explain the key characteristics that differentiate consumer products from industrial products.

Consumer: diverse users, aesthetics matter, minimal training, lower durability. Industrial: trained users, durability/safety focus, regulated, task

Describe some benefits of applying ergonomics to the design process.

Improved usability, reduced injury risk, higher satisfaction, fewer errors, better market success, fewer warranty issues.

How can you tell if a product is "ergonomic"?

It fits user size/strength, reduces effort and awkward posture, is intuitive, comfortable, and safe for intended tasks.

What is the difference between the "manipulation interface" and the "engagement interface"?

Manipulation interface = physical interaction (buttons, grips). Engagement interface = cognitive/emotional interaction (labels, symbols, aesthetics).

What is the difference between the traditional engineering approach and the spiral approach?

Traditional = linear, limited iteration. Spiral = iterative cycles of design–prototype–test–refine with user input.

What stage of the design process typically takes the longest?

Testing and evaluation (especially user testing and repeated refinement).

What is a "cultural probe"?

A set of tools (camera, diary, maps) given to users to document daily life and provide contextual design insights.

What is a "functional analysis"?

A breakdown of what the product must do, its primary and secondary functions, and the requirements needed for each.

Describe two associative techniques for developing solutions and why they are useful.

Brainstorming (rapid idea generation), Analogy

Give an example of a low

fidelity and high

What are some barriers to applying ergonomics to consumer products?

Cost, time pressure, lack of expertise, aesthetics prioritized over usability, diverse user population, limited testing resources.

What ergonomic considerations should be applied in the production of consumer goods?

Anthropometric fit, grip design, accessibility, safety, material comfort, intuitive controls, clear instructions, minimized injury risk.

Describe the matrix in which Dr. A. Hedges places consumer products and why it is helpful.

Matrix: frequency of use × consequence of failure. Helps identify what products need more ergonomic and safety

Choose a consumer product in your house and identify poor design features and redesign possibilities.

Example: TV remote with too many identical buttons and poor contrast. Redesign: fewer grouped buttons, better contrast, textured grip, asymmetrical shape, voice input.

ergonomic design process (5)

1. product planning

2. design

3. testing and verification

4. production

5. marketing

whats involved in product planning (the first step of ergo design process

market research - defining issues with current design, measurable facts about competitors, statistics, trade journals, interviews, focus groups, questionaires

• design objectives - comfort, speed, accuracy, learnability, function analysis, performance requirements, specific objectives

• constraints

• what characteristics will affect their behaviour with the system (user proflies)

whats involved in design (step 2 of ergo design process)

• function allocation

• task analysis

• hazard analysis

• solution identification and development and prioritization

• defensible design, (ensure safety, do no harm, understand applied science, should be able to defend every design decision, test and validate design)

• ergonomic principle application (biomech, antrhopometry, perception, control dispaly design, hazard analysis)

• adapt existing solutions

• scamper - substitute, change, adapt, modify, put to other uses, eliminate rearrange

whats involved in testing and verification (step 3 of ergo design process)

• prototyping, simulation

• paper mocups (user interface represented on paper - use for early usability testing

• static mockups(for looks non functioning) - use after task analysis, and after conceptual design, to test different options, before real prototype

low vs high fidelity prototyepes

low- built out of materials that are far away from finished product suh as concept drawings storyboards interactive paper and static mockups

high - prototype built in a medium closely resembling final product - dynamic prototypes

dynamic mockups

• used later in process after task and process analysis for evaluating, usability, training, makreting

• - needs to demonstrate interactivity to users

• prior to manufacture if possible

• it is a simulation of user interface and interation

what happens during step 4 production of design process

• design for manufacturability - does it casue msi

• can it be manufactured and shipped and assembled without causeing problems to the secondary users

what happens in step 5 of the desing process (marketing)

• use resluts from testing and verification

• use product reviews