Part+B.+User+Study

=**Part B: User Study**=

**A) Statement of user study goals. What are the major questions you want answered regarding how users use the technology in question? About what they may want to see as an alternative?** The horseshoe is a technological artifact that is generally used to protect the hoof of a horse. The act of “shoeing” the animal is the process of trimming away the excess nail of the hoof, adjusting the horseshoe to the horse’s hoof and hammering hails into the hoof to lock the horseshoe in place. This is the most common process used to place the horseshoe on the hoof; however several problems can occur. The hoof grows naturally by itself, much like that of a human toenail. It grows in length over time and must be trimmed to allow the horseshoe to fit correctly. The trimming of the hoof is a process that must be carried out carefully; however the placement of the horseshoe as well as the horseshoe itself can be changed. Problems can occur during the procedure. Hammering the nail too close to the sensitive area of the hoof can cause immense discomfort for the animal. This can result in intense bleeding and possible infection. Placing the hoof at an incorrect angle can impede the animal’s movement and place immense physical stress on the animal’s limbs. Though this process has been the common practice for two thousand years, it has unresolved flaws that can be avoided with the help of some technological improvements. Clearly the users have an effective process of getting the horseshoe onto the hoof. The standard materials used to create the horseshoe are durable and strong enough to last through immense pressure and physical damage. Steel and aluminum are usually the most common materials used for a standard horseshoe. They require the skilled process of filing the hoof and hammering nails into the hoof to keep the horseshoe in place. However, the questions to be asked here are: //**- Is this current horseshoe design the only efficient way of protecting a horse’s hoof?**// //**- Can there be less potentially painful and tedious ways of fitting horseshoes by using current technological advancements?**// //**- Why has this technological artifact stayed the same for years if it is apparent that there is room for innovation in the design and fitting process? - What are the after effects of mistakes made when shoeing a horse? - What do the farriers think of the horseshoe design and shoeing process and can they be changed productively?**// By asking these questions to the users that require horses on a regular basis (jockeys, farmers, farriers, mounted policemen), the input gathered by these individuals can help conceptualize the new concept model for both the horseshoe along with the improving the process of shoeing. New materials such as carbon fiber, Kevlar and other materials might be used to construct the new horseshoe. Other design elements such as an outsole grip can be utilized in the design to make the horseshoe durable for all types of terrain. Overall, creating a new horseshoe prototype will benefit both the animal’s level of performance and make the difficult process of shoeing simpler. **B) Provide notes on research methods considered to answer the questions noted above. Why these methods? Why not others?** There are many ways of approaching the revitalization of this technological artifact with appropriate methods of research. First, the group must consider what are the standard materials and procedures used to create this object. In order to develop an understanding of what the newly developed horseshoe will look like, we must first borrow from the original concept to create a new one. The object is obviously shaped like a “U” in order to protect the bottom of the horse’s hoof. The same design shape must be incorporated for obvious anatomical reasons. Generally, iron and then steel was used as the main material for the horseshoe. However, we currently possess materials that are as durable as steel and as flexible as rubber. Researching materials such as carbon fiber, Kevlar and other strong materials is essential to redesigning this artifact. Researching and incorporating outer grip technology from running shoes, automobile tires and other traction enhancement with horseshoes may also make this redesigned artifact better for different types of terrain. Also incorporating clasp, buckle and binding design used for ski boots will also be developed in an effort to enhance the stability of the new horseshoe. Second, the group must research who the target audience is for this redesign. Horses are the subject users of this innovation, but human beings are the ones who are going to fit this item. Possible interviews with farmers, horse jockeys and horse-back riders and gathering their input on this product would be great way to determine the design outcome of the new horseshoe. Other interviews with veterinarians concerning the physical dangers of the physical placement of horseshoes will give our group insight in the development of a safer approach to placing the horseshoe on the hoof and making it convenient to take off. Interviewing running shoe makers will also provide us with information regarding proper outsole design and aesthetic for our innovative design. Surveys may also be conducted for the development of this innovative process. Asking regular citizens on their thoughts of this redesigning concept on whether or not it is a good idea as well as recording their input. All of these collective forms of information will help develop the blueprint for our new and innovative design. The general user audience is likely to be composed of horse breeders, riders, equine competitors and individuals living in rural farm lands. Utilizing technological advancements may well result in promoting prosperity. Questions of affordability of the product must be considered when developing it. The innovation must encompass all input and modes of research in order to assemble this new addition to the history of the horseshoe. This process is not about reinventing the horseshoe; it has proven to be a successful design that has lasted for thousands of years. However, it leaves room for reasonable additional work that can benefit communities that depend on these animals for their living.

**C) Are there any ethical issues that you may encounter? How will you address these? ** Our recreation of the horseshoes not only benefits the horses but they should also benefit the people that put them on. The main focus is to create a horseshoe that reduces pain to horses and the farriers which can also create efficiency in the work process. Thus, through the recreation of the horseshoes, several ethical uses have been brought up. First, the process of putting on the horseshoe might harm both the horses and the farriers if not properly produced. The current design of the horseshoe still requires a certain amount of skills which even an expert farrier might make mistakes on. When shoeing mistakes happen, it could result in bleeding and pain of the horse since the nails might get through to the sensitive part of the hooves. Ethically, we considered these processes as violation to the animal rights but history and facts told us the contrary- the importance of the horseshoe. Second, though the horses are the subject in this innovation, the human beings are also the ones who are going to fit these items. In the process of putting on the horseshoes, farriers might injure themselves if it was not properly employed. This could be caused by nails, clips of the shoe or large movements of the horse. Thus, protection to the human being is also considered in our recreation of the horseshoe. Third, we questioned the time effort of the process which brought up two ethical issues- efficiency and job stability. Creating a more convenient horseshoe might reduce time and effort for the farriers which create efficiency. On the other hand, their specialties and skills are not as important anymore which their jobs are of the risk of being obsolete. We want to interview and discuss with individuals of horseshoe-related professions such as farmers, horse stable workers, horse jockey, veterinarians, animal activist and most importantly farriers (people specialize in horseshoeing). We have different questions prepared for asking different interviewees seeing as we want to acquire different perspectives and knowledge regarding the horseshoe technology. For the farmer and stable worker we want to ask the following questions · Do the horses wear the horseshoe while resting at night? · Are there any differences in terms of performance of the horse with a glued or nail or different kinds of horseshoe? · Are there different types of horseshoes made specifically for different types of horses? For the horse jockey we want to ask the following questions · Does different kind of horseshoe affect the performance of the horse on the race track and training? · What major problems relating to the horse’s limb concerns the horse jockey? For the veterinarians and animal activist we want to ask the following questions · What health problems arise for the horse when wearing a bad horseshoe? · What stress and strains are put on the horse because of wearing horseshoe? · Is it really ethical for horses to wear horseshoe? · What improvements or changes will you like to see made regarding on the horseshoe and why? For the farrier we will ask most of the questions mentioned above and a few more additional questions, because farrier are the specialist for putting the horseshoe on for the horse in every different environment and care for the horses’ lower limbs. · Are there practices of the horseshoe making that are aim to match different priorities- cheaper and faster instead of more durable and safer?
 * D) We plan to find individuals who will have different but insightful perspectives to help develop and innovate for the improved horseshoe. **

The questions are note for initiating discussion with the individual to allow us to better communicate and to collect insightful and useful data for our design. We will locate each possible candidate for interviews and contact them through e-mail or phone.