Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Tool-Building Project

Experimenting with many different tool designs, trying to sketch and prototype as much as possible to get a feel for different tool designs. Considering a few different directions for the project as well:

Direction 1: Build a Simple Tool Set for People With Limited Space (e.g. Apartment Dwellers)

  • Goal: Limit materials, parts, tools, and needless technology (smart design)
  • Goal: Look for opportunities for transformable tools for toolset efficiency
  • Goal: Keep the overall size of the toolbox down while maintaining power and quality

Direction 2: Build Tools For People With Limited Dexterity 
  • Goal: Augment certain tasks that require fine dexterity or complex movements 
  • Goal: Limit materials, parts, tools, and needless technology (smart design)

Direction 3: Create Just-In-Time Wearable Tools
  • Goal: Create "invisible" tools that are there when you need them and gone when you don't
  • Goal: Avoid All-in-One, One-Man-Band gimmicks

Direction 4: Conceptualize the Future of Tools

  • Goal: Iron Man's workshop
  • Goal: Enable visually impaired people to work with tools

----

Direction 1 Concepts: Apartment Toolkit

Work Knuckles: Brass knuckles meet home improvement. Built-in hammer head and removable screw tip, and claw



 












Direction 2 Concepts: Augmenting Dexterity 
C-Grip Hammer and Screwdriver: Enables hammer and screwdriver functionality without requiring any extra wrist movement


















































Direction 3 Concepts: Wearable Tools
Level Rings: Ring-based leveling tool. Could be worn on one hand when not in use (e.g. climbing ladder)

















Collapsable Level: Leveling mechanism that could be collapsed and put in a pocket.















Wrist-based Angler: Wrist-mounted, watch-style tool for measuring 0, 45, and 90 degree angles. Considering merging this with a watch (thanks Julian)





















Direction 4 Concepts: Future of Tools
Coming Soon...

Monday, November 9, 2009

Work Knuckles


The Angler

Wrist-mounted tool concept for determining 0, 45, and 90 degree angles.


Monday, November 2, 2009

Body Products

This week's assignment was to design and create a product that connects or interacts with the human figure in some form or another. I created a wide variety ideas including:

Kidphony
Musical motion-sensing children's clothing. Keeps kids active by playing designated instruments as they run, jump, and spin around (music varies with each motion type). Currently researching the technology to make this happen. It's probably possible using a simple pedometer as the motion-sensor.




Earloom
Currently working out the implementation of a design I've created for a women's necklace that converts into a pair of headphones (while still remaining a piece of jewelry). The purpose is that the headphones will not need to be stuffed into a pocket while not in the use. 






LevelHand

Glove-mounted leveling tool for those difficult times where you need to level something but do not have the extra hand to carry a level. May or may not feature a laser extending from the pointer finger and thumb (for right edges).

[see prototype designs]

Calling All Dogs 
Remote-Alert Canine Collar & Online Network - Owners of lost dogs can remotely trigger an audio announcement on their dog saying "please help, I am lost". Corresponding text messages will be sent to subscribing participants in the areas where the dog may be found. This helps with the problem of spotting a dog and not knowing if it is lost or allowed to be wandering around. It's essentially the modern "lost dog" sign.




TiFi and ScarFi
WiFi enabled tie and/or scarf(need to work on that second product name)