Reflection - Prototype

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

I did not realized that the purpose of building a prototype is to test the product out, so I did not thought of how to use the prototype to gather data to prove that the product works. I also have problem deciding on which kind of testing should I use for which design considerations.

2. How do you overcome the difficulties encountered?

I spent more time to think about how I could use the prototype to prove that the idea works, how to collect the data. I consider the pros and cons of using the type of testing for each considerations and figure out which will ended up with a data that will benefit me more.

3. What are the 2 key takeaways for this lesson?

I learnt that we should always know the purpose of doing a task and not just blindly follow instructions. For any issues, we should look at both sides of it.

Sketch Pracs (1)

Sketch Up Pracs (2)

Ergonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)

Describe the product. (Appearance, Color, Function, etc)

The product is white in color. It is used to clean the stove. The brush made of copper is to clean the oil stain around the stain while the retractable knife is to remove the dirt then block the hole that the fire come out from. The knife is jagged.There is a hole for the user to hook it to a hook.

What are the design considerations when designing this product?

The design considerations are that it should be durable and can be use for a long period of time. It should always remove oil stains and dirt around the stove easily.

Would an elderly faced difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face?

The elderly will faced difficultly retracting the knife as there is much friction between the knife and the place where the knife originally is is. They cannot grip it will as the product is not designed for better grip. It should be modified to make it safe for the elderly. The elderly could have accidentally cut themselves due to the knife.

What do you think can be done to improve on the design of the product to suit the elderly?

A cloth will ve use to cover the knife and also absorb the sweats of the user so that it will not slips out of his hands. The cloth will also give a better grip as it has texture. Velcro will be used so that the elderly can remove the cloth easily when they want to use the knife. The knife can be slide in and out ( Penknife concept).

Ergonomics II

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the study of the work.

What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?

• Safety
• Comfort
• Ease of Use
• Productivity / Performance
• Aesthetics

Source: http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ergonomics

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.

• The Couch Cane - Help a elderly to stand up from a couch or a chair to prevent falls (safety)

• Easi-Grip Arm Support Cuff - Help those elderly with weak hands and wrists as the easy-grip towel, etc (others products from the same company) (Comfort)

• Tek-Pal Simple TV Remote Control - A remote control which is palm-sized with large lighted buttons for elderlys with low visions (Ease of Use)

• Pill Organizers - Minimize the stress and the possibility of medications errors by sounding an alarm to remind elderly to take his medications (Productivity / Performance)

• Instructions on Medicine Bottles - Increase the font to enable the elderly to see the instructions clearly

For More Information about the Products mentioned:

• The Couch Cane
• Easi-Grip Arm Support Cuff
• Tek-Pal SImple TV Remote Control
• Pill Organizers

Holiday work - Part 3: Tools to be learnt in Semester 2

Ergonomics I

1.Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations. (Man A is the person in the workplace at the left, Man B is the person in the workplace at the right)

Man A is keep on fidgeting when he is working in his workplace which shown that he is not comfortable. Man A cannot adjust his chair into a suitable height. Man A also has difficulties figuring out the image on his screen as it is to far away from him. Man A could not adjust his task lighting as it is too warm to be touch and it will be too bright if he switch on another lighting. Man A does not have the freedom to move in his workplace, the armrest of his chair is blocking his way. Man A displayed discomfort of using the laptop for a long period of time, causing his neck to ache as the laptop is at a very low level. Man A does not have sufficient space to place all his stuff on his desk. In the end, he placed his keyboard on his cup.

Man B could adjust his chair to a height he wanted and lean back in his chair comfortably. Man B could also adjust the position of his monitor to his comfort. Man B could adjust his task lighting to bright up a certain place he wanted, for example the hard copy document. Man B could adjust his armrest up to rest his arms and adjust his armrest back to its original position if he want to have the freedom of movements. The laptop holder enable Man B to adjust the position of his laptop screen so that his neck will not ache. The access rail have all the stuff of Man B, such as the task lightnings, monitor screen "attached' to it. The desk of Man B is more tidy in this way.

2.Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.

Man B's workplace is preferred. Working in Man B’s workplace is more comfortable than working in Man A’s workplace. Man B’s workplace allows Man B to move in his workplace freely, have usable desk space, etc but not Man A’s workplace.

5.What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?

We should consider whether is it comfortable and user-friendly for the user if he work for long periods of time at his workplace. For example, the user must have the freedom of movement or he will be numb sitting at his seat for prolonged period. The design of the workplace should allow to have usable desk space too.

4.Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?

Ergonomics is important when designing as the standards of living has increase. People now want to work in a more comfortable work place and Ergonomics is needed to design equipments and furnitures to fit the users’ needs, such as to prevent aches, so that they will buy it.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 2

Elderly cannot afford to fall down as it can result in loss of mobility or even life. When elderly lives or is left alone at home, he or she could not get help easily if he or she fell down and need to be sent to hospital for medical treatment. The elderly would be just left there without anyone knowing it. I am wondering if we could have a wristband for the elderly that could allow he or she to press on it on a message will be sent to the police, the neighbors or the guardian to notify them to get there and help him or her. In case the elderly fainted and could not press the wristband, the wristband will make a sound hourly (other than the time the elderly is sleeping), pressing on the wristband will then stop the sound. This is to ensure that when elderly is unconscious, others will still be notified to help.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 1

I realized that the elderly do not go to recreational places, for examples shopping malls, frequently. Mostly only children and adults will visit those places. I conclude that elderly do not frequent those places due to their mobility. Most elderly need their caretakers to accompany them, to provide support when they move around, to provide help to push their wheelchairs. The caretakers have to be free to take them out. I think that the elderly need exercise to ensure that their muscles still function well. Shopping could be a nice exercise for them, not too vigorous. Shopping may also make them feel engaged in the community, a chance to meet more people, make friends. I feel that we, as the family of the elderly, should make a point to bring elderly out, so that elderly do not feel bored or lonely. This will also increase family time. A active elderly will be a healthy elderly.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 4

My granny's anti nausea wristband

Yesterday, my granny came to Singapore to stay with us for a week. Today, we went out to have lunch. As my granny has diabetes, she had to be careful with whatever she eat. She also cannot eat food that are too hard for her dentures, for example fried food and crunchy vegetables. She also cannot eat spicy food. When my mum cook dinner, she had to cook the vegetables longer to soften them for my granny. I am wondering if hawker centers could provide “Elderly Meal”, just like Kids Meal. When my dad drive us around Singapore to show my granny around, my granny has this anti nausea wristband then will prevent her from getting motion sickness, which I thought is quite a nice invention. In the past, before my granny has it, she always have to eat something sour like lemon to prevent herself from vomiting.

Elderly Challenge - Observation 3

During my stay at my grandparents’ house in Malaysia, I observed that both my grandparents move around the house very slowly, need more support to move around. That is also a new handle for my granny to hold on when she walk up and down the stairs. The handle was built for her safety as she had previously fall down the stairs before. She always make sure that the chair is in the right position before she sit down. She also told me that when she wear slippers nowadays when she enter the kitchen and the toilet so that she will not slip and fall due to puddles of water. As she grow weaker, she don’t carry heavy stuff anymore, leaving it to my uncle and aunt who stayed with my grandparents. She also squat down to get things and get up more slowly. She still do light housework like feeding the chickens and brewing coffee as she will feel bored if she has nothing to do. When she was still fit, she could cycle to the streets to buy stuff. However, she can no longer cycle so my uncle will drive her to the streets whenever she need to buy some things.

The handle for my granny.

My granny's slippers.

Holiday work - Part 1: Understanding the ‘The Elderly Challenge’

FOUR key recommendations of the report:

• Housing for Seniors : There were be different types of housing to meet the different needs of seniors to get them to live as a part of the family and community.

• Accessibility for Seniors : Improvements should be made to the environment to allow the seniors to move around more easily.

• Caring for Seniors : Healthcare and Eldercare services should be more affordable, more efficient, have a variety services and accessible to seniors living in the community easily.

• Opportunities for Seniors : More activities should be organized to encourage the seniors to be more active in the community, allowing them to make friends.

ONE way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly :

The CAI report is recommending that the government should consider introducing guidelines for the provision of accessibility and safety features in the homes for seniors, through a review of the Code on Barrier-Free Accessibility, to create a more elderly-friendly environment.

TWO ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable :

• The government should top up Medisave accounts of less well off Singaporeans where there are budgetary surpluses to ensure that seniors have the means to afford healthcare services.

• MOH should review the ElderShield scheme, to improve the coverage for elderly Singaporeans who require long term care.

THREE things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges :

• I could design some equipment to help the seniors to move more easily around their environment. For example, I could design wheelchairs which allow seniors to move up and down then stairs conveniently so that they could have access to places with stairs.

• I could arrange activities for the senior to make them more active in their social life. For example, I could invite them to our school to share about their experiences so that we can learn from them and they would feel happy that they had contributed to the community in some ways.

• I could treat seniors around me such as my neighbors and grandparents and help them whenever they need help. For example I could help those who are wheelchair-bound to get around.

Personal Reflection (NEwater visit)

From today visit, I learnt what are the 4 nation "taps", how household used water is being treated into portable water (NeEwater) and how clean is NEwater.

After visiting the NEwater Visitor Center, I understood that with the advanced technology, lots of things are made possible. I also understood that the importance of water.

Something that I have learned interesting today will be that 15% of Singapore's from NEwater.

As a citizen, I can help with water conversation by not wasting water. Ways to make full use of our precious water will be turning off the tap while brushing our teeth and use a basin of water to wash our dishes instead of under a running tap.

Personal Reflection (8th Mar 2010)

For today's lesson, I learnt that to create a presentation of good quality, every team members must put in their best efforts. I also learnt that identifying our targeted audience can allow us to come up with a better design. Another thing that I have learnt is that noticing each details of the problem can allow us to come up with a solution that works better.

After the lesson, I had understand that a design had to be simple so that the people can understand to operate it quickly and easily. I also understood that a design have to fit the way people want to do it in order for it to be accepted by the targeted audience.

One interesting thing that I learnt today is that if we look at different perspective of views, a design can be improved better to benefit the world.

Photography..People..

snap this picture while Serene is trying to take hers..

trying to take a picture of the school while Reuven thought that I am taking picture of him..

might as well take his at the same time..

taking picture of Arthur and Yifan while they are taking picture of something far out there..

End of our Taking-picture-of-other-people Session..

Photography

Different types of photography

• Street photography
• Sports photography
• Documentary photography
• Aviation photography
• Fusion Photography
• Rollout photograph
• Astronomical photography
• Still life photography
• Wildlife photography
• Landscape photography

Equipments needed for Photography

• Camera
• Reflector
• Tripod for greater stability during long exposure

Aperture

• Adjustment of the lens opening
• Measured as f-number
• Controls the amount of light passing through the lens
• Has an effect on depth of field and diffraction

Focus

• Adjustment to place the sharpest focus where it is desired on the subject

Shutter Speed

• Adjustment of the speed of the shutter to control the amount of time during which the imaging medium is exposed to light for each exposure
• May be used to control the amount of light striking the image plane

ISO Speed

• Are employed on modern digital cameras as an indication of the system's gain from light to numerical output and to control the automatic exposure system.
• Higher the ISO number the greater the film sensitivity to light; the lower ISO number, the film is less sensitive to light
• Correct combination of ISO speed, aperture, and shutter speed leads to an image that is neither too dark nor too light

Metering

• Measurement of exposure
• Control the highlights and shadows

White Balance

• Control the color temperature

For more information on color temperature: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature

Composition

• Rules of Thirds - dividing the image by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines, the 4 intersection of these line will be the most interesting places for main subject(s)

For examples for Rules of Thirds: http://www.photo96.com/blog/?p=371

Sources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search=photography+type&go=Go *

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography

Difference between Perspective, Isometric, Oblique and Orthographic Drawing

Perspective Drawings:

If you look along a straight road, the parallel sides of the road seem to meet at a point in the distance. This point is called the vanishing point. To draw in perspective, draw a horizontal line and continue to dot a point as the vanishing point.Straight lines are to be drawn from the vanishing point to the sides of the paper as guide lines. Objects in a perspective drawing are drawn smaller as their distance from the observer increases. As their distance from the observer decreases they are drawn larger.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_(graphical)

http://mathforum.org/sum95/math_and/perspective/perspect.html

Drawing taken from:

jhh.blogs.com/anthos/ 2006/01/add_windows_to_.html

Isometric Drawings

Isometric Drawings are all 3D drawings. Only 3 sides of the object drawn is shown. Drawing in Isometric requires us

to draw all the vertical lines vertically but all horizontal lines at 30 degree to the base line.

References:http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/demosites/series9/905/2_draw/draw_t3/htm/draw3_2_2.htm

Drawing taken from:

library.thinkquest.org/ TQ0310106/iso.html

Oblique Drawings

Oblique Drawings are also in the 3D format. But how is it different from isometric drawings? The objects in a oblique drawing is drawn with the most distinguishing features facing directly towards the observer, showing the true shape of these features. Circular features like round holes can be drawn on this front face as true circles. In other 3D forms like isometric drawings, circular features must be drawn as ellipses.

References:

http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/demosites/series9/905/2_draw/draw_t3/htm/draw3_2_2.htm

Drawing taken from:

library.thinkquest.org/ TQ0310106/oblique.html

Orthographic Drawings

When drawing orthographic drawings, the observer present a 3D image in two dimensions.

When producing an orthographic drawing you will generally produce three views. A plan view,end elevation and a front elevation. The plan view is the view of objects when we look directing down on the top of the objects End elevation is either or sometimes both the remaining side views. Last but not least, front elevation is the view when we look straight on the front of the objects.

References: http://www.design-technology.org/lesson2.htm

Drawing taken from: www.hollyzell.com/ art121a.htm

Definitions of Theme Environment

Definitions of the Theme Environment found on the Web...

- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/environment :

The circumstances or conditions that surround one; surroundings.

e.g. haze and smoke

- http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=25957&dict=CALD :

The air, water and land in or on which people, animals and plants live

- http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/environment :

The area in which something exists or lives

e.g. schools or houses

My Definition of Environment...

The area which something exists or live in with objects like air, water and land surrounding it.