chabots_proposal

PROPOSAL – CCT384 Sandra Chabot – 994990319 February 4, 2010    The goal of this design project is to create a product solution to the problem of excessive handling and misuse of salt and pepper shakers, specifically in a consumer environment. //SmartShakers// **ã ** will be beneficial to people with diverse abilities as well as the general public.  This product will consist of two glass shakers with a thick rubber enfold around the lower two thirds of the shaker. The enfold will be white for the salt shaker and black for the pepper shaker, creating consistency with the user’s expectation of salt as white and pepper as black. Both shakers will be placed in a //smart base// that will work in conjunction with the rubber, which has touch sensory. On each enfold the name of the spice will be imprinted within the rubber. Once the user places their fingers on this area, the name of the spice will sound and the printed name will illuminate. This function allows the design to communicate necessary information effectively to the user regardless of their sensory abilities. The action of grabbing and lifting the shakers remains the same, ensuring no additional strain or physical effort. The circumference of the rubber enfold will progressively widen towards the bottom of the shaker, accommodating variations in hand and grip size. This design permits equitable use and flexibility in use as it is designed for a wide variety of people without stigmatization.  Although this product idea was initially derived as an assistive aid for the visually impaired, it has developed into a product that will prove useful to all persons. A blind person can now depend on their most basic sense of touch rather than sniffing, reading Braille, asking, or testing before use. This will also enhance the ease of use for low vision and hearing impaired persons whom can depend on the verbal and visual cues. Furthermore, the general public will profit as this product helps decrease the chance of typical human error that may occur. The rubber wraps are also child friendly helping prevent glass breakage. This may also be useful for people suffering from physical disabilities that prevent them from maintaining a steady grip.  In order to reach a wide variety of people, this research will be conducted through the distribution of surveys – particularly to people that frequently dine out and have more experience within the consumer environment. This data collection will enable to gather vital information about people’s habits as well as their needs. Surveys will also be given out with a visual of the prototype in order to gain feedback on the actual design. The design process will consist of creating an initial prototype and making adjustments based on survey results. This will ensure that the most important and basic requirements are met. The basis for this project is research to discover how this product may benefit people in their interactions while eating out. <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Role of Universal Design in the Design of //SmartShakers// __****__<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Times; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol; msoasciifontfamily: Times; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msochartype: symbol; msohansifontfamily: Times; msosymbolfontfamily: Symbol;">ã __**<span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">