Angie+Kam

=Angie Kam's Personal Page CCT 333 Tutorial Discussion =


 * __Week 1 __** 

1) Inside the Apple iPod Design Triumph http://www.designchain.com/testprint.asp?issue=summer02&template=coverstory Question: Describe the unusual business model used in the ipod's fabrication as developed by Apple. The Apple iPod design was not created by Apple, but rather from PortalPlayer – a third party firm – which designed the base platform of the iPods. The different components of the iPod were created by several companies that made up a sub-design chain in constructing the iPod. Apple and PortalPlayer had also signed as design chain partners where PortalPlayer was responsible in selecting other members to join the sub-design chain. The strategy that was used in the design chain is to form relationship with other companies that have particular expertise in certain components of manufacturing the parts of the iPod. These expertises together with a good price point yield to the success of the Apple iPod.

2) Jonathan Ive at the Design Museum Question: What distinguishes the work of the team of Jobs and Ive in relation to products designed by Apple? What new materials are enabling different design? http://www.designmuseum.org/design/jonathan-ive The most fundamental aspect in the designs of Ive’s team is their “obsessive attention to details that are often overlooked.” By looking into the design of details beyond the functional imperative, Ive’s team also carefully designs other components such as cables and power adaptors. Moreover, the design of Ive’s team follows the theme of ease and simplicity that are different than other designs. The new materials that enable a different design of Apple includes: the use of plastic in the design that was previously not possible; Twin shooting materials that allows moulding plastic together that was previously not possible; The twin-shot plastic allows the design of the iPod to have no fasteners or battery doors that undermines the ease and simplicity theme. New methods of joining metals also allow their design to use advanced adhesives and laser welding in the design of the iPod.

3) Who is Jonathan Ive? http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_39/b4002414.htm Question: Describe the importance of Apple’s design team. Are other companies trying to compete with Apple by creating their own design teams? The success of Apple is primarily due to their exceptional talented design team. Apple has a small design team, consisting of some thirty to forty members, sharing the same, intense cult. The team members themselves, as talented international designers also had a close relationship between each other, living in San Francisco. Other than the team spirit and passion of the design team, each individual had their individual talents that contributed to the success of the products the team designs. The team’s cult in their design process, individual talents, together with their close relationship which allows the team to have good communication, yields to exceptionally designed products that contributes to the success of Apple. Other companies, such as Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Dell now attempt to create their own designs to compete with Apple. As Apple has a smaller scale compared to these companies, Apple focuses on fewer products, and pays particular effort in perfecting their designs. However, the article does not specify if other companies are trying to create their own design teams in designing their products similar to Apple, the only disadvantage that Apple has is the issue of scalability in their business process compared to these companies.


 * __Week 2 __** 

1) List the three definitions of “ergonomics” - Physical Ergonomics – physical ergonomics is concerned with the human’s physical body responses to physical stress. This area of ergonomics deals with anatomy, physiology and biomechanics in physical activity. (White, 2008) - Cognitive Ergonomics – This area of ergonomics focuses on human’s cognitive ability and limitation in relation to activities, tasks and environment of a product. The main areas of concern are perception, memory, reasoning and other mental processes. (White, 2008) - Organizational Ergonomics- Organizational ergonomics is concerned with the optimization of sociotechnical systems, such as organizational structures, processes and policies. This area is known as “macroergonomics”. The field of organizational ergonomics focuses in areas such as communication, work design, teamwork, crew resource management, job satisfaction, motivation etc. (White, 2008)

2) Add an additional recommendation to one of the case studies in step two as “advice”. Case Study 7: Recommendation: Note: This recommendation deals with the design of the particular vehicles that drivers report discomfort. Advice – designing the joystick and mirrors so that it can be moved (up/down/left/right) according to the driver’s preference in comfort. The position of both of the joystick and mirrors should be able to be changed when the truck is driven by different drivers.

3) Find an example of a product which is ergonomically sound, and add a link to an article about this product Ergonomically designed mouse that also elegantly designed. []




 * __Week 3 __** 

Question: Choose a country on the web site's map, and read through the description of the products designed for that country. List five characteristics of socially responsible product design.

Socially Responsible Product Design Characteristics: 1) Environmental friendliness – Ex. Water/air pollution 2) Does not cause health issues – designed not to damage health or minimize health damage 3) Provides educational purposes for children 4) Affordability 5) Addresses the health conditions of the country


 * __Week 4 __** 

Annie Leonard The video is titled “The Story of Stuff” by Annie Leonard addressing the issue of consumer culture versus sustainability. The video first begins with the explanation of the traditional model of ‘Materials Economy’ which is a linear system of how goods throw through the system. The system contains five major steps: Extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. Leonard argues that this system is incomplete and it is a system in crisis. The linear system fails to recognize the existence of human beings. Also, she argues that we live in a finite planet where natural resources and health is limited, and a linear system causes a significant crisis for us, human beings. The linear system also fails to recognize that it is people that move through the system. Government and corporations have the most authority to influence the system, where corporations have a even higher influence than the government. The issues with each step were further discussed by Leonard. In the Extraction step, Leonard say that we are over using our planet’s natural resources, trashing the planet, and undermining the earth’s ability for people to live in. Natural resources such as water, trees, etc., are being used like there is no tomorrow. The U.S. alone has a population of 5% of the whole planet, but using 30% of the natural resources. In production, we continue to use energy to make toxic chemicals, producing more toxic chemicals in our products. The corporations do not evaluate the health impacts it causes people, and it is inherent in almost all of our consumed goods. More importantly, these toxins negatively impact the health of women who breast feeds her child. Moreover, factory workers, who do not earn an income that supports a “healthier” living, is forced to work in factories that exposes them to a huge amount of pollutants. In distribution, the over all goal is to sell these toxins (goods filled with toxins) as quickly as possible, and keep people buying and buying and buying and keep inventory turnover as high as possible. Leonard further argues that us as consumers, do not really pay for the true cost of things, in order to make things cheaper, corporations externalizes costs. These costs includes skimping health insurance whenever possible, paying workers low, and minimizing the costs with extraction and production. And therefore, the workers, and the people in the third world are those who pay for the products we buy, with their health, environment and education. People throughout the system had therefore pitched in so that the end buyer can pay for less and the corporations can keep their inventories running as quickly as possible. Leonard had also argued that the value of people is determined by their consumption ability, having consumption as our ultimate purpose. Since the 1950’s, people’s happiness continues to drop as the consumerism is in the rise. Advertisements and the media continue to propagate people, telling them that ‘they suck’ and everything they’re doing is wrong. To do it right, they have to go SHOPPING! The economy is designed by large corporations and makes u believe that by shopping, we truly have value. Leonard introduces two terms – planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence. Planned obsolescence is where corporations design products and the media a certain way to make us continue consumption. An excellent example used is desktop computers. The technology of the hardware in desktop computers changes so fast, and each new model not compatible with the earlier one. Forcing consumers to dispose the older one and buy a brand new one. This benefits the corporations as consumers continue to trash old things and continue to buy new ones. Perceived obsolescence is when the media propagates the message that we must throw away old things as these things look different. If we use old things, people will know that you are not working on your value to the economy. Finally, in disposal, we continue to make toxins as we dispose our waste. Leonard concludes the video with the statement that if the people along the system get reunited, we can possibly reclaim and transform this linear system into something new, a new school of thinking: sustainability, equity, zero waste, renewable energy, etc.


 * __Week 5 __** 

Case Study 1 – Visual Impairment In this bodystorming activity, the participant is blindfolded and asked to travel around a neighbourhood, enter an apartment and operate the elevator. According to the researchers, the participant reported that she felt disoriented and heightened use of other senses. The participant reported that she relied on heavily relied on these senses to form decisions when traveling. She also coped with the blindness by counting steps to mentally map the location of the stairs after crossing the street. Case Study 2 – Attention Deficit Disorder The participant in this activity had to correctly recite a phone number while solving math equations on the NDS with the stylus. The participant reports frustration and difficulty in performing task and negative self-esteem impact. The research also suggests that through enjoyable, yet challenging activities, attention can be improved. Case Study 3 – Chronic Arthritis The researchers had fastened the hands and wrists of the participant together with gloves to decrease mobility in mimicking the feeling of chronic arthritis. The fear of injury had led to the participant to be extremely apprehensive in undemanding activities. His anxiety and apprehensiveness had led to the participant’s body temperature to rise. The activity provided insights in using accessible routes, passing space, and tangible objects composed of safe materials to decrease fear. Finally, the researchers reported the importance of speech recognition system research to solve these issues.


 * __Week 6 __** 

According to the video, there are three stages of adoption. In each stage, different types of users adopt the technology. The first stage involves ‘enthusiasts’. These users appreciate and are passionate with technology. Furthermore, these users enjoy exploiting a challenging technology. When the 35mm camera was at its ‘enthusiasts’ stage, it was difficult to operate, requiring extensive technology expertise in the technology. The enthusiasts who first adopted the technology were interested in exploiting the technology.

As time passes on, the enthusiasts then brings the technology to their work. At this phase, the users are interested in the productivity that the technology can bring to their work place. The controls of the technology also become a little more stabilized although it is still difficult to operate. The camera at this stage is primarily used by business uses, primarily used for professional purposes.

As the product continues to be modified in the business phase, the price continues to be lowered until it reaches a point where it is practical for consumers to buy. At that stage, the priorities of the product is now focused on the general public. The most important aspect of the technology becomes style. The features and functions of the product that was once highly complex and manual are now changed to fully automatic. The 35mm camera at this stage has most of its features, such as shutter speed, ISO, and white balance becomes fully automatic functions.

One product that follows this concept of adoption stage is the use of cellular phones.


 * __Week 7 __** 

According to Max Hunter, interaction architecture is defined as an extensible series of rules so that an entire line of products can be designed according to those rules. Kodak decided to create a user experience study to define these rules for a line of cameras. Leading questions can be defined as types of questions that lead to a certain answer. The wording of the question leads to an intended answer, or the available choices of answers also leads to the surveyee to select an intended answer. Hypothetical questions are questions that force the respondent to imagine a situation or issue that he or she had never given thought to. It is suggested that hypothetical questions should not be used in questionnaires or surveys.

<span style="color: rgb(245, 149, 71);"> Jan Chipchase is a ‘human-behavior researcher’ or a ‘user anthropologist’ at Nokia. His role is to analyze human behavior for the company and accumulate these information for their development of technology and marketing activities. He travels around third-world countries where the population generally cannot afford individual cell phones and analyzes the people, culture, environment. Nokia then gathers the information from Chipcase’s studies and designs their products and marketing practices according to his findings. Chipcase’s role can be seen as significantly important for the people in third world countries as he is the person that analyzes their needs and addresses them to a large telecommunications manufacturer – Nokia. By analyzing the people, culture, and environment of different cultures, it creates benefits not only for Nokia in their market expansion plans, but also for those in different cultures that are often ignored by large conglomerates and multinational businesses. In this case, the cellphone is an important communication tool for both the everyday lives and business use for people in different cultures. Many large corporations easily focus the design of their products on mass culture and often fails to incorporate the needs of other cultures. By conducting studies of the needs of different cultures, it benefits both the consumers of the specific culture as their needs are considered in the products they use. By studying the needs of other cultures, Nokia also benefits from being able to successfully expand to those markets. Furthermore, by addressing the needs of third-world countries, it enhances the reputation of the company.
 * __<span style="color: rgb(245, 149, 71);">Week 8 __**<span style="color: rgb(245, 149, 71);">

__** According to Bill Moggridge, ‘design as a collaborative process’ deals with the ‘togetherness’ where people form teams and are willing to be physically intimate in a room to brainstorm together. Each member believes that the shared mind is more effective than the sum of individual minds. Further, he emphasizes that the success factors of a design involves practices, changing contexts and working with people. With increase emphasis in technology of today’s design, it is no longer only the physiology that matters, but also cognitive psychology and other issues such as culture and social issues. Human interaction with technology has significantly shifted. One example used in the lecture by Moggridge prior to today’s technological environment is the design of sunglasses. In designing the sunglasses, the important issues in designing are measurements of human’s physical attributes, sizes and physical structure of the head. In designing a chair, other factors are also important, such as physiology of people’s spine to achieve comfort. In designing the ‘Tangible Earth Installation’, other important issues involving human interaction with technology is the major design issue. An example that illustrates this design principal is the Nokia Aeon.
 * __ Week 9



<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; color: rgb(0, 176, 80);">[] The design is called “SENS”, a mobile phone designed for people that are visually impaired or blind. The design of the keypad, audio feedback of actions, and touch sensing technology allows users to easily operate mobile handsets. During the design process, the design group invited a group of students who are visually impaired to test the product.

<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; color: rgb(107, 168, 245);">Skeleton Key The design mimics the structure of bones, the ‘bones’ creates an effect of strong architectural matrix of support. The polished paint and surface of the ‘bones’ is designed by using a software that mimics how bones grow over time. Echolocation The design utilizes technology to assist people that are vision impaired. By using a sonar-like technology, the product helps these people to prevent collisions. The sonar-like technology is designed by mimicking the way that bats navigate in the dark. As the can sends out sound waves, sensors can detect objects or other obstacles ahead, and then provide a tactile warning to the user from the handle. Leaving No Trace <span style="color: rgb(107, 168, 245);">The designed product is inspired by lotus leaves. This product is a self-cleaning paint from a Germany company. The solution does not contain any toxic detergents. Scientist studied the microscopic structure of lotus leaves, looking at the way it repels water, and uses a similar surface structure to design the paint. <span style="color: rgb(40, 129, 240);">
 * __<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; color: rgb(107, 168, 245);">Week 10 __**

<span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">**Week 11** The Internet is a source of great information and provides many other benefits such as communication and convenience. However, as many of us benefits from the Internet, the Web is not accessible to everyone. Web Accessibility can be described as tools and design that allows people with disability to more easily browse the web.
 * 1. How would you describe web accessibility?**

People with visual, auditory, seizures and cognitive/intellectual disability can benefit from more accessible websites. Visually disabled users, such as color blindness, can benefit from web accessibility when the website avoids colours like red and green, which is th emost common in colour blindness. By providing subtitles in videos, for example, can enhance the accessibility for people with auditory disabilities. For people with seizures, it is important that the website avoids too much flashing in their animation or graphics. For people with intellectual disbaility or cognitive disability, it is common that they suffer from affected attention span, memory, and other cognitive skills.
 * 2. Who do you think benefits from accessible websites and how?**

I think that whether a website or blog should be deisgned to be accessible well depends on the targetted audience. If the website contains public information, it is very important that these websites are designed with web accessibility in mind.
 * 3. Do you think your website/blog should be accessible? Should all Canadian websites?**

I think the biggest challenge of making a website accessible is that it is often difficult to cover all the web accessibiity issues. If all possible issues are addressed in the design, it may be possible that the aesthetics and the overall design to be jeapordized. <span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; color: #548DD4; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
 * 4. What do you think is the biggest challenge of making a website accessible?** <span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">