Pneumatic adjustable system – Project topics materials

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Aproach and implementation

Definition of the problem:

To find a solution, the first step is to define the problem, in order to do that it’s necessary to contact the company which is going to explain it in detail to have an overall idea of it.
So that the project started with a brief made in cooperation with “Form O Miljö” in Stockholm, and presentation of the actual product. In the brief there were all the specifications and requirements for designing the table.

Goals:

The aim of the project is to design a product that allows the stakeholders to adjust the surface to their height necessities so they don’t have any health problem derivate of the misuse of this product, and integrate it in the school environment.
Therefore, the principal goal is to evaluate the stakeholder’s requirements.

Requirements:

The requirements given during the briefing at the beginning of the project where:

The table should be intuitive (no manuals needed where possible)
The table should facilitate the best position of the user while it is sitting down in order to avoid health problems.
The way the user adjusts the table has to be as simple as possible so that it’s always in the right position and the user has its eyes at the correct height.
The product should be suitable for children between ages 7- 16 mainly.
It needs a correct geometry that allows the children work in groups without problems while using the table.
It has to use a specified system to adjust it defined for the company.
The table has to implement small wheels to enable moving it all around the room.
It is necessary to take into account the stakeholders belongings while going to the school (where to place them)
Take into account the class room noise.
Take care of the aesthetics according to the environment it’s going to be used in.

CATWOE:

This method is used in order to understand better the problem to solve and its objectives.
Situation: Apply a new adjustable table for children’s schools that provides a better use of electronic devices.

Customer: Children in the school who are going to write or use electronic devices on it.
Actor: Schools
Transformation process: Adjust the height of the surface of the table while working
World view: The children’s health isn’t affected by the using of electronic devices
Owners: Schools
Environmental constraints: Room space, materials used.

Collect information:

Product design specifications (PDS):

Technical specifications: characteristics of the product.

Performance:

The product should be suitable for the stakeholder’s expectations (7-16 years’ children).
The product should be intuitive an easy to operate.
The product should meet the health requirements specified in ergonomics.
The product must be adjustable.
The product must be suitable for children with wheelchairs or disabilities.
The product must allow children to work in groups using it.

Environment:

Resistant to children’s aggressions.
Resistant to dust and dirt.
Desirable a life in service between 5-10 years. Maintenance
Easy maintenance of the adjustable mechanism in case it breaks. Aesthetics:
The product should be attractive for children
The product should be suitable to be in a classroom
The aesthetics must follow the simplicity and distinctive code of the company Materials:
Certified environmental friendly materials

Ergonomics:

It must be easy to adjust to the correct height
Avoid sharp edges that can damage the user
Follow the ergonomics normative for dimensions (provided by the company)

READ THE DATA AND THE TREATMENT OF THE DATA

Safety and security:

Avoid any damage on the user because of the use of the product.
Round edges
Avoid possible entrapments while using the adjustable mechanism
It has to be stable

Standards and requirements:

Follow Svensk standard SS-EN 527-1:2011 for office furniture, tables and desks
Follow Svensk standard SS-EN 527-2 for office furniture, tables and desks
Follow Svensk standard SS-EN 527-3 for office furniture, tables and desks

Stakeholder analysis

The center of the project is the stakeholder, as it is an ergonomic product based in a specific stakeholder and designed for it. That’s why this analysis becomes the most important while doing the research.
In order to know more about the key stakeholders, the first step is to set some questions that are going to be solved later with the techniques used. The questions based on the needs for the design are the following:
Since the table is going to be designed for a specific environment and for this specific public that has to feel comfortable with it:

What interest do these stakeholders have?
What are their motivations?

Regarding to the use itself, it has to be and adjustable table and it has to be for children, it is necessary to know what are they capable to do and what not:

What motor skills characterizes them?

It is necessary to know their manners and how they behave so that the design is suitable for their habits within the school.

How do they behave in the environment it is going to be placed?

Mood boards:

The following mood boards are divided depending on groups. Each group determinates some changes on the children meaningful behavior for this kind of product.

Learning theory:

It is a fact that the experiences that a person has during his whole life influences that person’s behavior. Erik Erikson (1902-1994) proposed a psychosocial theory based on Sigmund Freuds (1856-1939) idea. Freud holds that people’s personality is made by all the conflicts that the person has had during his childhood. This conflicts come up every time there is a difference between what they want to do and what society wants them to do.
Erik Eriksson maintains are not those conflicts but the way that people resolve conflicts what directly affect their behavior at different ages. So is the interaction what makes the person change their behavior.
The learning theory explains how this behavior changes depending on the way that person has been treated while his learning process during his whole life.

1 Introduction
1.1 BACKGROUND
1.2 OBJECTIVES
1.3 PURPOSE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4 COMPANY
1.5 DELIMITATIONS
1.6 DISPOSITION
2 Theoretical background
2.1 DESIGN THINKING
2.2 EVOLUTION OF SCHOOL DESKS
2.3 HUMAN FACTORS
2.4 CLASSROOM DESIGN
2.5 PNEUMATIC ADJUSTABLE SYSTEM
3 Method
3.1 PROBLEM DEFINITION
3.2 PRODUCT DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS (PDS)
3.3 STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
3.4 EVALUATION OF THE EXISTING ADJUSTABLE TABLE
3.5 TASK ANALYSIS
3.6 ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCT ENVIRONMENT
3.7 MARKET ANALYSIS
3.8 ERGONOMIC ANALYSIS
3.9 RELATED STANDARDS
3.10 IDEA GENERATION
3.11 IDEA SELECTION
3.12 IDEA IMPLEMENTATION
4 Aproach and implementation
4.1 DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
4.2 COLLECT INFORMATION
4.3 REQUIREMENTS
4.4 MARKET ANALYSIS
4.5 ERGONOMICS ANALYSIS
4.6 CONCEPTS GENERATION
4.7 CONCEPTS EVALUATION
4.8 SECOND CONCEPTS
4.9 FINAL CONCEPT SELECTION
4.10 DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
4.11 RESULT
4.12 MODEL BUILDING
5 Discussion and conclusions
5.1 DISCUSSION OF METHOD
5.2 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
5.3 CONCLUSIONS
6 References
7 Appendices