Monday, December 10, 2012

Happy Holidays

So this blog has been a bit neglected. I had great hopes for it at the beginning of the year, but I have not tended to it as I should have. Perhaps some of my students could say the same about their academics. . .but I digress. One of my New Years Resolutions is to be more active here. Hopefully, this will result in more traffic and a bit more back and forth discussion. I am again turning to TED for this post. I was blown away by how revolutionary a simple redesign of a product could be. Watch the video to see how making some simple, yet vital changes to a wheelchair changes the lives of so many.

http://www.ted.com/talks/amos_winter_the_cheap_all_terrain_wheelchair.html

This reminds me of something my older brother was fond of saying. "All engineering should be directed towards pampering the end user as much as possible." Yes, he was a bit of a snob when it came to the products he purchased and rarely settled for second best in anything. However, I think that drive in him made him an awesome engineer and moved him to only produce his best and expect that from those around him. I ask you to think about the items you rely on every day. Do you think they were designed with you in mind? If not, what drove the design process? Are there any that could be better engineered for the end user (you)?

7 comments:

  1. yes, i think that everything that is made is because of what us humans want. we want the new and improved. it's just how we have always been and will always be. the companies always look for what the people want and then make it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So is everything you own exactly like you want it?

      Delete
  2. Most of the time products are designed to make a profit and in order to do that they improve it to what a majority of humans want but in the end they are still wanting a profit. The only things that can be better engineered for me personally is customized to my liking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So what does that mean? What is to your liking?

      Delete
    2. That companies are worried about money mostly and in order for them to get what they want they have to make things that people like so they will buy it. Something that is to my liking is stuff I get from like nikeid or placees like that I can customize about everything about it. Also if I go into a store and like something I will buy it and if I don't like it I won't buy it.

      Delete
  3. I think that all products that are sold are essentially designed for the consumer. If they were not designed for the consumer then the chances of a consumer actually purchasing them would be much less. The item, whatever it is, has to appeal to a buyer for it to be sold and if something is tailored to a buyer they are more likely to buy it. I do not know of any items that are not designed for the end user. I am sure that there are plenty of items that could be re-engineered to be of better use to consumers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. well, something that i use every day is this computer. Im very positive that it was made for the consumer because why not make it for them, because if its not, they won't purchase it. most things fit to how people want them. so yes i agree with they make them for the consumers.

    ReplyDelete

All comments on this blog must first be approved by Mr. Sharp. When you leave a comment it will be emailed to Mr. Sharp. Once he approves the comment it will be posted on this blog.