OBJECT

The design intent for object, in which was my initial designated role, is to encompass various critical design attributes of our design. This mainly entailed the physical, and classic industrial design aesthetics, manufacture-ability, processes, materials and other such physical aspects of the design. This meant ingraining a sense of understanding for the physical, visible and or tangible components of our group’s design.

These considerations included resolving the form of the product, which embraces a small toy sized product that speaks with a visual aesthetic similar to children’s toys. The base cylindrical form is to have a skin cover placed over it and fastened with an appropriate latch mechanism. Therefore the base colour will remain a neutral un-bias colour allowing each of the users to individualize their own product to their personal liking, which we found fundamental in current communication devices and applications. However the base texture and finishes will be of medical standard plastics and metals that are waterproof and hygienically appropriate for such a sterile environment, meaning it may face frequent sterilization or cleaning. The product adheres to an ergonomically suitable shape, similar to other soft comforting toys, it has a well balanced core that allows it to stand upright and be held without strain or a great deal of effort. The controls are intuitive in use and as the user interacts with the toy it will send an appropriate message according to how it is being interacted with, hugs = pressure in and out at the waist or mid section of the product. Eyes and sounds will dictate identification issues. The designed product is to be manufactured and assembled so that standard accessibility will be restrained with fusion, screws and tight joins restricting the ability to take it apart and damage it easily by the user.

The product is to be assembled with a structural spine that has other mechanisms mounted from the structural spine within the design, this allows it to be robust and treated with a fair level of roughness and intensity with high durability and longevity. While the design is to be mainly housed in a medical environment the life expectancy of the product is fairly high and in regards to cradle to cradle will be used by many various different patients of varying ages. That’s why the individualization capabilities with skin covers allow the product to last a substantial period of time to be used by many users throughout its extended lifecycle. The components within the design adhere to behavioral appropriateness, which Brad will/has explain(ed) further. Such equipment includes potentiometers, accelerometers, vibratory mechanisms, LED lights and appropriate sounds which will help identify which users are interacting with the design at various times.