CCT333+Labs

CCT333 Labs


 * Lab 1: 01/02/12**


 * Q1:** Compare and contrast a Sony Walkman, a Discman, and an Apple iPod, and describe the differences in their produce and interface design, as well as how they deliver music technically.

(Look and Feel) ||< * Mechanically based, movable mechanical parts
 * A:**
 * = **Design Aspect** ||= **Sony Walkman** ||= **Sony Discman** ||= **Apple iPod** ||
 * = Analog vs Digital ||< * Analog
 * Cassette Based ||< * Digital
 * Music is stored digitally in wav or in an MP3 format on a cd ||< * Digital
 * Almost all files can be found in MP3 format ||
 * = Physical Design
 * Player is compatible to fit a cassette tape ||< * Mechanically-based, moveable mechanical parts in conjunction with optics (laser)
 * Player is compatible to fit a CD ||< * Sleek design
 * Few to no mechanical parts, parts, buttons, and interface is contact-driven ||
 * = Operating Function ||< * Magnetic playhead reads/writes to a linear magnetic tape medium
 * Relies on physical contact and interaction between player and content ||< * Battery powered
 * Focuses on an optically-driven laser which places attention to specific areas to access magnetic content imprinted onto a physically-rotating compact disc ||< * Software-driven OS/Firmware to access content on solid-state hard drives ||
 * = Music Delivery ||< * Access to content is linear and in real-time (FF, RWD, Play, Stop) ||< * Users have the ability to access content on the CD at any reference point required with ease
 * Playback can be seen as an issue (skipping CD) ||< * Users have the ability to access content the digital file at any reference point easily and quickly ||


 * Q2:** If you were to build a web site dividing the characteristics of these devices into categories for a web site, what category titles would you use? List 6 categories which would be in your navigation bar.

1. Hardware and Operation 2. Design (Physical Appearance) 3. Quality of Sound 4. Value 5. Durability 6. Issues/Possible Improvements for Design


 * Tutorial Question # 1: Review the Tutorial 1 movies, and describe Jonathan Ives and his theory of 'undesign' in relation to his work at Macintosh. (200 words)**

Jonathan Ives is the senior vice-president of design at Apple whose design innovations include the iPod, iMac, iPhone and iPad. Jonathan Ive's theory of 'undesign' refers to a concept which he believes to be the most efficient when designing new products. When designing a product, Ive's ensures that his research is done meticulously with a great emphasis placed on the product being user friendly and not overly complicated. When the user is able to realize and understand how to use the product the goal of the 'undesign' is achieved. The underlying factor is that the consumers will feel that the use of product is inevitable and intuitive. For example a classic video iPod would have a circular trackpad with the left option to go back and the right to go forward. There arent other buttons on the iPod which can complicate the listening experience. Ive's idea of 'undesign' has allowed the creation of successful Apple products which all ages can embrace.


 * Lab 2: 01/09/12**

Why did Ron Rivera say the project to build ceramic water filtration units failed, and how did he correct this so the communities continue to build the units properly?
 * In Class Question:**

For the first 20 years of the project, the results failed because the company were trying to train potters from outside of the country and when the potters are idle for a long period of time they are incapable of providing the desired results. In order to remedy the situation Ron Rivera works closer with NGOs who from a microenterprise which allows the training to be consistent and to ability to achieve a high degree of productivity.

Choose a country on the map 'Design for the Other 90%' at[| **http://other90.cooperhewitt.org/**] and read through the description of the products designed for each country.
 * Tutorial #2 Wiki Questions:**


 * 1. Which product interests you the most, and why? (200 words)**

The country that I selected to do further research on was Asia. Some of the products that I found the most interesting would have to be the Aquastar Plus! and Flow Through, Bamboo Treadle Pump, Sugar Cane Charcoal and Life Straw. I garnered an interest in these products because I found each individual product a unique way of using materials in ways that you probably wouldn't consider firsthand. For example the Bamboo Treadle Pump uses bamboo sticks which when connected to metal cylinders which are operated by walking allows farmers to access ground water during the dry season. This is a creative way of using bamboo sticks as it is a method that one would not think of.


 * 2. Which category would interest you to research further for your group project, and why? (100 words)**

The category that I found to be the most intriguing would have to be Aquastar Plus! and Flow Through. The way the mechanism works is that unsafe water is placed in the bottle and exposed to UV-C light, which damages the DNA and RNA in the pathogens, rendering them non-infective. AquaStar Flow Through treats water in larger batches. A small water-purification service can generate income while helping out the community. This is a fascinating way of purifying unclean water and can be further improved to ensure a fantastic result each time.


 * Lab 3: 01/16/12**

__[]__(200 words)
 * Q1**. Describe the benefits of microfinancing according to 'Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty' at

According to the article ' Can the Cellphone Help End Global Poverty' microfinancing can be beneficial it provides microloans to women in poor countries so that they can buy assets such as cows and goats. The creation of the Grameen Phone Ltd. in 1996 has been able to launch multiple careers for women who are phone ladies. Women can use microcredit to buy special kits which can cost about $150 each equipped with a long lasting battery. They set up jobs as their village phone operator, charging a small fee for people to make and receive calls. This creates more jobs and the opportunity to generate revenue through coming in contact with other potential customers and buyers.

In the spirit of this quote, describe four instances of how owning a cellphone enables users to better their lives. (4 paragraphs/ one for each instance)
 * Q2**. “It’s really quite striking,” Hammond says. “What people are voting for with their pocketbooks, as soon as they have more money and even before their basic needs are met, is telecommunications.” (World Resources Institute)

The creation of the cellphone has allowed for multiple breakthroughs when it comes to communication. Four instances in particular will be explored in the following paragraphs.

Cellphones can allow for communication between two parties. Household lines require a telephone line (now wireless) to communicate to another person. The cellphone allows communication through a small device which can fit inside your pocket and can be brought in different locations with ease.

Not only are cellphones used for verbal communication, cellphones are also used for sending instant messages. You can type messages to another party which can be sent to them without having to hear the voice of the receiver. This can be beneficial as no one during the day has free time to answer every single call that they receive. Text messaging allows messages to be relayed without the time constraint that a voice call would have. Lastly, text messaging is also a cheaper form of communication as poor countries can use text messaging without having to place an actual call unless it is absolutely necessary.

Cellphones also have a cool application which allows a GPS tracking system to be activated. If you are lost, you can easily find your location and hopefully find your way back to your desired location.

On that same note, cellphones are equipped with internet browsing. If you need to access emails, important documents and more, the opportunity to browse the net on your phone is extremely convenient as you can access all these important documents through your handheld without having to be in front of a desktop computer to get the job done


 * Lab 4**: 01/23/11


 * Q1:** Analyze the information architecture of the "Story of Stuff" web site, and describe how it has been designed to maximize its content as a teaching tool to deliver complex information. (2 paragraphs)

The architecture of the "Story of Stuff" website is well structured. I am a fan of cartoons so the images already provided an edge for me to continue to want to surf through their website. The tool bar at the top of the webpage, divides each section with extra options for me to read on. I was impressed with the use of a blog and how they incorporated their audience to provide feedback and ideas. Active sites like these are always pleasing to the viewers because you feel like you are making an impact, even if it is a small comment agreeing or disagreeing with the ideas that were presented.

There were also the option of viewing videos which were a joy to watch. Some people just don't want to read paragraphs and movies are a quick way to learn the same material but compressed with sounds and images. Everything on the website is accessible and organized well that the audience can not get lost in the website. It is straight forward and it gets its point across well.


 * Describe each stage of the material economy. (6 paragraphs/one stage each paragraph)**


 * The material economy:**


 * Extraction:** Extraction is taking the planets resources. The resources can include wood, minerals, coal, fossil fuel, water, plans and animals. This can play a crucial role in how we maintain our environment because we are using more resources than we can renew. In the process of over using environmental tools it alters the climate and can even cause pollution. Pollution being one of the main issues, it can be hazardous to one's health and this can be detrimental to the people that may live in that particular area. Since this particular field involves extracting natural resources, the workers are constantly placed in dangerous situations because they are exposed to safety threats and forestry is one of the most dangerous occupations out there. In order to minimize extraction changes have been made including increasing materials efficiency, mining reform, sustainable forestry, renewable energy and more.


 * Production:** We use energy to add toxic chemicals to the natural resources to make toxic products. Our natural production systems use vast amounts of natural resources to churn out pollution and toxins which can harm other people. Industrial production systems create wide ranging environmental problems, including climate change, water depletion, waste and toxic pollution. Today’s industry relies on a toxic brew of synthetic chemicals which end up both as products and released as pollution. This stage also boasts many factors which can place the workers in danger. They are continuously exposed to dangerous chemicals, therefore protecting the workers is imperative. To lower the rate of pollution industrial processes can run with renewable energy, non-toxic inputs and greatly reduced materials use.


 * Distribution:** Distribution focuses on transporting and selling stuff at the lowest cost possible. The goal is to keep prices down and continuing the flow of goods which also focus on a cheaper price then the actual production itself. Since, distributing goods requires generating a lot of energy, this means that the constant need for more energy is on the rise and in order to make this happen, it takes up farmland and even the local waste systems. Considering that the products are being sold cheap, the workers are not getting paid a sufficient amount and can potentially place more stress and harm on the workers. Successful strategies include Fair Trade certification, Community Benefits Agreements to ensure new businesses benefit the community, Green Buildings, Sustainable Land Use Planning, and Local Living Economies which build communities with a healthy social and natural environment.


 * Consumption:** Consumption patterns are unsustainable and must be changed. Our choices at super markets are pre-determined and limited by political and institutional forces beyond the store. Over consumption can impact our mental and physical health. This affects workers because longer work hours lead to more consumption, less life satisfaction, less time for building community and a bigger ecological footprint. In order to focus less on consumption, it is important to focus on what is of true priority which can be family, personal health and giving back to the community.


 * Disposal:** All the resources that we acquire eventually need to be disposed of somewhere. Waste needs to be designed out of the system through a cleaner production, a better design, composting, recycling, and finishing with less stuff. All of the waste that we dispose of has the opportunity to leak, and although recycling is the ideal method it is hard to achieve with overwhelming amounts of waste and especially when the people do not properly recycle. Emission from land fills can cause health problems and can affect the people living in that particular community. Workers have many work related injuries as well as health concerns. By combining Clean Production at the front end with Zero Waste approaches throughout the materials economy transforms wasteful, linear systems of production and disposal to be cyclical, safe, sustainable and socially sound.


 * Lab 5:** 01/30/12


 * Q:** As part of 'Experience Prototyping', bodystorming has been developed as a method of enquiry for interactive design. Research the definition of 'bodystorming', and write three paragraphs describing its characteristics. (3 paragraphs)


 * A:** Bodystorming is a method which is considered a form of prototyping in context and is enacted instead of technology directly supporting collaborative embodied cognition. This means that you can test the product first before you place it out on the market for customers to purchase.

Bodystorming can be used in three ways. The first way consists of being in the environment for the product that you are designing. The idea behind being in the environment directly will allow for better results.

Strong prototyping deals with the space or place where the product of service will be used. The last method involves prototyping the space and place of your product’s use by employing living personas or “actors” and “props.


 * Lab 6:** 02/06/12

[] and describe how these principles could be applied to make a company more efficient in its design processes. (3 paragraphs, 200 words)
 * Q:** Look over examples of her biomimetic principles applied to products in the slideshow located at []and on the article at


 * A:** Biomimicry is an innovation that seeks sustainable solutions that are well adapted to life on earth and over the long haul. With our earth evolving at a fast rate it is quintessential that we find ways where we do not use up all our available resources.

Biomimicry could assist companies in being successful because it allows future companies to be efficient with their materials without disrupting the natural balance of the earth. Although this is an ideal concept, it can be achievable in more ways than one. Biomimicry follows Life's Principles which create products that we well adapted to life on earth. By studying the successful strategies of survival it allows companies to ensure that their product can thrive in the marketplace. Creating energy and preserving it is a daunting task and by emulating how plants can store their energy, this can allow companies to save energy and increase profit. Similar to this idea is cutting material costs which allows companies to minimize the amount your company spends on materials while maximizing the effectiveness of their products.

These are a few factors which can assist companies in making use of their material resources to their full advantage. Biomimicry allows companies to emulate natural ways to create products and policies that will survive over a long period of time.


 * Lab 7:** 02/13/12


 * Q1:**Describe how Bill Moggridge defines 'design as a collaborative process'. (3 paragraphs)
 * Q2:**How does Tangible Earth represents a real time interface of data visualization? (2 paragraphs)


 * Q1A:** Bill Moggridge defines design as a collaborative process as a process which involves the designer to be heavily involved in the process.Bill Moggridge highlights three key factors which designers must place an emphasis to create the desired product.

The focus on the physiology involves the way that the product is designed. For example when designing a chair, it is crucial to include comfort and posture so that people who spend long hours in chairs can sit comfortably.

Aside from physiology, it is also imperative to consider cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology focuses on on human interaction with the product. The example that was used was a Chinese commercial that depicted a GPS system and to convey the product of the message it was necessary to create a video with an actor, with the product being displayed and the viewers can envision the type of human interaction that is possible with the product if they were to purchase the item.

The final point that Bill Moggridge includes is anthropology and the importance of the relation that humans have with one another. It explores cultural differences and how people an connect with one another. For example it is difficult for a designer to create a design on his/her own. If you were to join a team of people, people who are willing to brainstorm will believe that as a shared mind, the ideas that will come to fruition from that particular group of people is far greater then when thought out alone.


 * Q2A:** Tangible Earth represents a real time interface of data visualization because the product features an interactive globe which is real time. This means that you can view what is happening around the world, as it is occurring at that particular moment. For example you are able to view a typhoon as it forming and with an included projection of the path that it is going to travel.

The interactive globe also features a magnifying glass where with an actual magnifying glass you can zoom into a particular location and get a better view of the different places around the world.


 * Lab 8**: 02/27/12


 * Q1:** According to the slideshow by Sylvain Cottong, who is an employee at [|http://www.integratedplace.com], describe the tools and methods of 'service design' (2 paragraphs).


 * Q2:** From your personal experience, what would be a scenario in which these methods would be useful?


 * Q1A:** According to Sylvain Cottong, the tools and methods of service design


 * Q2A:**


 * Lab 9:** 03/05/12


 * Q1:** According to this chapter, discuss the importance of the progression from qualitative, generative research to evaluative research as part of their design challenge as part of the Hear: Goals system process. (200 words).

Qualitative research can uncover deeply held needs, desires and aspirations.The research is powerful for analyzing and mapping the relational dynamics between people, places, objects and institutions. This allows for an in depth understanding of the people that are being studied. Generative research is used to inspire imagination and inform intuition about new opportunities and ideas. The evaluative process is used to learn quickly about people's response to ideas and proposed solutions.


 * Q2**: Explain why inclusivity of constituents in the Design Challenge is so important, and why the handbook states that recruiting appropriate and inspirational participants is critical, including "extremes". What is their recommended proportion for constituents? (Note that IDEO uses the word "constituents" instead of "stakeholders".) (200 words)

The handbook indicates that it is imperative to survey different extremes as it will be able to identify the needs of people from multiple spectrums and also to find the middle ground. One third of the participants might be considered as the ideal constituents. These people can be deemed successful and exhibit desirable behaviours. Another third of the participants can be the opposite which can be very poor and exhibiting problematic behaviours. The citizens in between would be "average" people. This can satisfy the economic spectrum because it covers both the extremes of being rich and and poor and the people in between can be considered normal because they are in the middle.


 * Lab 10:** 03/12/12


 * Q1:** Write three paragraphs to define the term 'ergonomics'. (3 paragraphs)


 * Q2:** What is the 'Gilbreth system of motion analysis' (1 paragraph)


 * Q3:** Who was Henry Ford influenced by the efficiency expert, Frederick Taylor? (2 paragraphs)


 * Q4:** What are the four basic principles of McDonaldization? (List of 4)