BETA/FINAL PROTOTYPE

After additional refinement from last week, we are here now.

1. My artifact is named Kindle Pouch, being that it allows me safely carry my Kindle about.

2. Below are images of the artifact

Casing acting as a stand for the Kindle in portrait mode

Kindle Pouch opened to show the pocket to hold paper, cards, and other writing material as well as the elastic holders for the Kindle.

Case acting as a stand for the Kindle in landscape mode

Case opened and folded

Kindle Pouch closed and locked

Kindle Pouch opened with Kindle inplace

Kindle Pouch side view

3. Gap: In what way may I securely carry my Kindle Paperwhite and writing materials about. 

Key user need:

• The Case protects the Kindle
• The Case should not be bulky
• The Case should be easy to use
• The Case invokes admiration
• Ability to use the Kindle without holding it
• The Case holds writing materials as well
• The Case should be portable
• Case is affordable
• Case should not hinder accessibility
• Case should be durable

I love reading on my Kindle, and I get to carry it about. So a casing would be appropriate to securely carry it about. I have the official Kindle Papewhite casing but I have three main problems with it.

i. It is very expensive

ii. It lacks a form of pocked where I can keep jotting materials like a sheet of paper or my hospital card when I take my Kindle to hospital.
iii. Fixing and removing the Kindle from the case was difficult, as it acts like an almost permanent case.

The Kindle Pouch has solved these three problems and met the key user needs rather well.

4. For further refinement, the stitching would be done with machine rather than the thread and needle I used for this case. The cardboard used for the core (in between the outer material for the case) then to buckle when standing in portrait mode, this would have to be changed to something stronger like a sheet of plastic. Lastly, the strap that locks the kindle blocks the micro USB port meaning it cannot be charged while locked so this can also be fixed by way of a refinement.

5. To reduce the cost of searching for or identifying the Kindle Pouch, assuming it is lying on a shelve in a store, the name of the artifact is written on it.

Artifact showing brand name (Kindle Pouch)

ALPHA PROTOTYPE

From the refinement in previous weeks, I have committed to making the "Vertical Flip" Kindle Case. Beside the choice of the case, user test revealed that a form of magnetic lock would be desired, this has also be incorporated into the Alpha Prototype.

Unlike the initial prototype that was build from cardboards, this one was built out of fabric, something closer to the desired material.

Vertical Flip Case acting as a Kindle Stand

Case Showing Lock

Case while opened

I have passed the prototype to my users to try out and taking of their suggestions.

One of such suggestion is to change the material used from fabric to something stronger maybe synthetic leather.

The casing has a cardboard core, while I was sewing the casing I realized the core needs to be smaller by 2mm around, so that would be taken care of in the next prototype

Question 5.1 Concept Testing

Selected Concept

1. Concept D: the vertical flip case was selected

Sketch of Selected Concept

Gap;

In what way might I securely carry my Kindle Paperwhite and writing materials

Primary Needs:

• The Case protects the Kindle
• The Case should not be bulky
• The Case should be easy to use
• The Case invokes admiration
• Ability to use the Kindle without holding it
• The Case holds writing materials as well
• The Case should be portable
• Case is affordable
• Case should not hinder accessibility
• Case should be durable

2. Process of testing concept

To arrive at this concept I carried out physical tests with users using the 4 prototypes created.

5 users were shown the prototypes and all five preferred the selected concept.

Besides the overall concept, I also tested their preference for some key features. They all thought that holding the Kindle in place by way of elastic wasn't very secure even when I explained I could change the design to make it more secure. So I dropped the idea.

The key deciding factor for picking the concept was the ability to have the Kindle stand in both vertical and horizontal orientation. The selected concept produced the best result.

As for the case holding a pen and paper (writing materials) all five agreed it was cool to be able to hold a jotting sheet or card but only two of the five participants were cool with holding a pen in the case, so I would give that further consideration as the class progresses.

All suggested that some form of magnetic clip for the lock would be most desirable.

Question 4.2: PROTOTYPING

Below are photographs of my prototypes.

C Horizontal Flip

Horizontal Flip Closed

Horizontal Flip acting as Kindle stand

D. Vertical Flip

Vertical Flip empty

Vertical Flip Landscape

Vertical Flip side view

Vertical Flip Portrait

I. Elastic Fixator

Elastic Fixator closed

Elastic Fixator empty (showing elastic)

Elastic Fixator opened

G. Magnetic Clip Lock, changed to Elastic Lock (could not get magnetic clips)

All

Question 4.1: Selection Matrix

Selection Matrix

The concepts to be explored with prototypes are shaded and listed below:

• C - Horizontal Flip
• Vertical Flip
• Magnetic Clip Lock
• Elastic Fixator

3.2 VISUAL EXPRESSION III - 2 POINT PERSPECTIVE

Chair Sketched in 2 Point Perspective

Question 3.1: Design Exploration

1. Decomposition

Decomposition was done by Key/Latent Needs.

a.)  Ability to use the kindle without holding it, which would typically mean having it to rest on a table or some other surface.

b.) Ability of the case to protect the kindle screen.

c.)  Ability of the case to hold writing materials. 

Two decompositions were presented for each need

Integration of Solution

A solution was chosen by picking A-1, B-2, and C-2

Concepts

From various decompositions 10 concepts were developed as illustrated in the drawings below:

Question 2.3: A Sketch of a Chair

An Orthographic Projection of an Arm Chair

Section View of the Arm Chair

Question 2.2: User Needs

1. Gap refinement: 
In what way may I  securely carry my Kindle Paperwhite and writing materials



2. A list of 30 User Needs

The Case protect the Kindle

The case should securely hold the kindle

Kindle does not fall off the case

Case protects the Kindle from scratches

The case provides shock resistance when Kindle is dropped

Case protects the Kindle screen

Case does not let water through

The Case should not be bulky

Case should be comfortable to hold

Dimension of the case should be as close as possible to that of the Kindle

Does not add significant thickness to the kindle

Case protects the edges of the Kindle

The Case should be easily to use

Kindle can easily be removed from the case

Kindle can easily be fixed in the case

Case can easily be opened and locked

The Case invokes admiration

Case is attractive

Case is fashionable

Case is unique

Ability to use the Kindle without holding it

Case can stand in landscape and portrait mode on a desk !

The Case holds writing materials as well !

Case can hold a pen

Case can hold a small sheet for jotting

Case is affordable

Case should be portable

Case allows the Kindle to be held in one hand while reading

Easy to use the Kindle in a bus

Fits into a jeans pocket

Case is light

Case is easy to grip

Case can be held securely

Case should not hinder accessibility

Kindle can be charged while in the case

Power button should be accessible

Case does not cover any part of the screen while reading

Case should be durable

Case is tough

Question 2.1: Design Problem Definition

In what way might I ...
1) Provide a case for my Kindle Paperwhite
2) Securely carry my Kindle Paperwhite and writing materials *
3) Protect my study materials
4) Safeguard my library
5) Ensure learning
6) Enhance my knowledge

1.4 DESIGN FOR YOU

So the gap I chose to fill is the kindle paperwhite casing, with a card and a pen holder. Here is my sketch below:

It has the card holder at the left while the kindle is placed in the right.

1.3 VISUAL EXPRESSION I: THE BASICS

My chair sketch

This is my awesome chair it swivels at the bottom.

1.2 FIND THE GAP

Things that annoy you or cause you extra effort, time, money, or discomfort:

• I do have the first Kindle paper white (I love reading) and I bought the expensive Amazon official casing (normally buy a cheap moko casing - what go into me). Well the problem is the casing doesn't have a holder where I can keep a small piece of paper for taking notes, or my hospital card so I don't rumple it in my pockets. I would like a kind of holder too so I can hang my pen. Kind of a Kindle, card, and pen holder.
• I have two laptops (Windows & Ubuntu) and a handful of other gadgets (tablet, kindle, etc.) I have a problem with keeping them so I don't step on them while wading across the room at night. So I would love a have a kind of rack to keep them (in my small room) so I can easily see and pick what I want while also keeping them from the floor.
• Still on racks, I stack my shoes onto of each other in my closet. A rack to keep them would also be nice. I usually get mud on the sole of my shoes, so stacking them on each other isn't cool.
• Yes my reading chair, ok this one I hate. I am usually not comfortable seating on it to read or work. I sometimes prefer to leave the chair and lay on my belly on the floor to read or use my computers. I notice the main reason is that it got no arms. so I would love a reading chair with arms and some how more comfortable.
• My son does not sit down to eat, you have to chase him round the house with the plate in your hands to feed him, my wife thinks we should get a chair with straps so you can hold him in place. Would that not amount to torture?
• I love cooking more than I love reading, I am sure I loving the eating more anyway. However, I don't enjoy having to move back and forth to get spices and seasonings. So a spice rack would be awesome, and one just above the stove so I pick my spice without moving an inch.
• I write programmes for my work and yes I am in Nigeria and power supply is epileptic. When you write a programme and have to stop midway because your laptop battery is running low is not very productive as the next time you look at the code there is this moment of what was I doing here? So I a form of backup would be nice, maybe power inverters, or a dynamo-generator where I pedal as I programme.
• The other gaps I can thing of now can't be solved readily with the skill I have, rather I would need what I don't have, money, to buy a second screen for my laptop - a 40 inch led would do. That is actually two gaps: Money and A second screen.

So the first gap, the kindle/pen/card holder would be the basis for my design course. It should be smaller (to produce) than the other gaps and I would not need to hit nails and accidentally hit my fingers.

1.1 Good Design

I love the Kindle Keyboard (or Kindle 3). It is very thin and has buttons at the sides for navigating between pages, meaning I don't have to remove my hands from holding position to "flip" pages. Then you see the four way key, it allows me skip to the next chapter, a feature not in new Kindles due to their touch screen feature. Did I mention that is is very thin and comfortable to hold in one hand while reading.