Andy Gao Industrial Design Portfolio 2013
GLACIA
Self Sanitizing Public Computer Mouse 4 week team project with Samuel Chen Red Dot Design Finalist 2012, Health Category
Problem CFU (Colony Forming Units) /SQ CM Public computer mouses are ranked one of the highest in CFU on a list of most commonly touched items.
690 380 340 130
public computer mouse bus hand strap public restroom handle elevator button train hand strap
86 Mice are the second most bacteria infested commonly touched item.
Bacteria can stay alive for up to 72 hours on a surface.
Mouses are cleaned scarcely due to inconvenience.
Research Contamination Research Controlled samples of the computer mouse at home, office, and public spaces showed different levels of contamination.
home
public spaces
office
91%
91%
100%
Public spaces such as libraries, cyber cafes, and school computer labs showed the highest level of contamination.
80% OF INFECTIONS are spread through hand contact with hands and other objects.
Ideation Sharklet Pattern The patented sharklet pattern is a microscopic pattern manufactured by Sharklet Technologies in which a surface is created where bacteria does not like to grow.
UV Light Ultraviolet light at short wavelengths is a disinfection tool used to kill microorganisms, germs, and bacteria. Very little effort and time is needed to kill germs.
Silicone Cover A silicone cover could be used to easily attach or detach from the surface of a mouse, making it more convenient and safe to
wash under running water and soap.
Zipper Cover A zipper cover with nylon or fabric material could be used to quickly attach or detach from a mouse and thrown in a washer and dryer along with your laundry.
Technology
High Intensity Narrow Spectrum (HINS) A narrow band of visible-light wavelengths which decontaminates the air
and all visible surfaces, regardless of accessibility, through direct and reflected exposure within the treated environment. The HINS-light is being developed for hospital use and is not harmful to humans.
86% 60%
reduction in surface bacterial levels.
more effective than cleaning and disinfection.
Concepts
Friendly round shape
Too intimidating Too old-school
Should be symmetrical Hollow center
Arc styled mouse
Models
Concept 1
Quick foam models used to study ergonomics
Concept 2
Concept 3
Concept 5
Concept 4
Models
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Empty underside of the mouse is uncomfortable. Arc of the mouse fit hand very well.
Empty underside of mouse was not as severe as concept 1, was tolerable. Empty gap in the center did not hinder comfort.
Empty underside of the mouse is uncomfortable. Hole in the center of the mouse did not hinder comfort.
INSIGHTS: Removed space from the center was more comfortable than removed space from the bottom. The height of the mouse should not be too high.
Concept 4
Concept 5
The length of the mouse was too short. Hole in the center of the mouse did not hinder comfort. Mouse felt too bulky in height.
Mouse felt too bulky in height. Empty gap in the center did not hinder comfort.
There should be a comfortable arc to shape around the palm.
Features
Reduced Contact Surface The removed area in the center of the mouse reduces the amount of contact area the user's hand has with the surface, which reduces the amount of bacteria the hand comes into contact with.
Interval Cleaning The mouse cycles through the HINS light every hour for 30 seconds to ensure thorough cleaning, convenient for hourly interval reservations at libraries and cyber cafes.
Features
Idle Cleaning By pressing the button in the center, the mouse is raised revealing the HINS light. In this idle cleaning mode, users who leave for
prolonged periods can have a peace of mind knowing their desks will be sanitized.
Manual Cleaning When lifted off the surface, the HINS light turns on and can be used manually to clean other objects, extending the functionality of the mouse.
GLACIA Self Sanitizing Public Computer Mouse
SONY SB
Stabilized Single Serve Blender 3 week personal project
Problem
The vibrations from the motor causes shaking and inbalance.
Traditional blenders take up a lot of countertop space.
A large amount of options available usually go unused.
Goals During the design, I wanted to make sure I address all of the issues listed above while also maintaining the performance and aesthetics that Sony is synonymous with.
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Space
2
Simplify
3
Stabilize
4
Branding
Reduce the footprint of the blender while maintaining functionality.
Should be approachable by novice users without overwhelming options.
Must reduce the amount of shaking without sacrificing performance.
Accentuate Sony's powerful, high performance, professional aeshetic.
Inspiration Sony’s Mission Statement "To experience the joy of advancing and applying technology for the benefit of the public."
Sony SA NS300 The Sony SA NS300 is a wifi network speaker with a cylindrical body. The form emphasizes structural stability, distributing the wait down to the wide base.
TomTom Window Mount The TomTom Window Mount increases suction to window by rotating a ring that pulls the suction tighter. The amount of instances where the GPS fell was greatly reduced.
Research
An increase in the health concious lifestyle has also increased the popularity of blenders. There lies a white space for stable and convenient blenders.
Stable
WHITE SPACE
Inconvenient
Convenient
Unstable
Concepts
Wider base LED display screen
On/off indicator light
Beveled ring for suction
Concepts
Features
Threaded lid creates an airtight seal with the container.
Offset blades create an even and thoroughly blended drink.
Beveled ring is twisted to secure the suction underneath the base.
LED ring is bright and vivid to indicate that the blender is on.
Removable cord magnetic end makes it easy to move blender around.
Suction underneath the blender secures the blender.
How It Works
Using the Suction The main feature of the Sony SB is the suction underneath the base which secures the blender in place when the beveled ring is turned.
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Place
2
Twist
3
Lock
4
Blend
Place the blender on a clean surface
Twist the beveled ring, which raises the suction underneath, creating a tighter seal.
Make sure the beveled ring is fully turned and check to see if the base is secured.
Enjoy your drink!
SONY SB1 Stabilized Single Serve Blender
Cloth Towel Container and Dispenser 3 week group project
Problem
One year of paper towel usage amounts to 23 pounds of waste.
One year of usage requiress 250 gallons of water to produce.
Switching over to cloth towels is a greener alternative.
Goals
target user: Environmentally Conscious Open Minded Cares about kitchen aesthetics
1
Must streamline the process of storing, using, and cleaning.
2
Has to look beautiful enough to want to be displayed in the open.
3
Should be able to be placed in multiple areas of the kitchen.
Silicone dispenser
Concepts
Replace wall paper towel holder
Removable bin
Slit for holding towel Dishwasher safe container
store
Have an elegant package to place your clean and dirty towels in.
hang
Have quick access to a towel when you need to dry your hands.
dispense contain
Quickly dispense towels when needed for a larger mess. Easily contain and transport dirty towels to be washed.
Process
1 2
3 4
5 6
Take off green bin and place clean towels inside. Dispense towels from bottom.
Hang towel in slot for quick access to dry hands with. Quickly dispense towels from bottom for heavy cleaning.
Take green bin out when filled up with used towels. Use green bin for transportation to keep mess contained.
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6
VUE
Bicycle Camera and Light 6 month senior thesis project
Problem
There is an increasing number of cyclists each year. approx. 400,000 - 700,000 in the US.
There are 50,000 bicycle injuries each year,
23% ARE HIT AND RUN
Research
There have been several incidents in 2012 where cyclists were able to capture their accidents on video, which provided enough information for police to find and charge the assailants with hit and run.
Evan Wilder, WA
Bruno, CA
Dirk Friel, CO
Hit-and-Run caught on GoPro during commute to work. Assailant apprehended.
Hit-and-Run caught on unspecified camera, during group ride. Assailant apprehended.
Car harassment caught on cell phone during countryside ride. Assailant apprehended.
Surveys
Surveys were posted on cycling forums and Craigslist to determine why more cyclists are not using cameras on their commutes. Over 100 participants completed the survey and many insights were gathered.
Portable
Affordable
Intuitive
Market
A list of attachable cameras currently in the market were examined to see the pros and cons. Most showed either a very high price point or low convenience for cyclists.
Name
GoPro HD Hero2
ContourROAM HD
Arkon Mount
OWL rear camera
Veho MUVI
Price
$200
$130
$5
$180
$45
Rating
4/5
4/5
3.5/5
3/5
3/5
Features
11mp sensor Low Light Performance 1080p
MicroSD Waterproof 170* wide-angle
Compatible w/ ATV’s Easy to install 360* rotation/tilt
Shows rear traffic Mounts on handlebar
MicroSD Small 2 hours of recording
Inspiration
A rise in popularity on Kickstarter involving bicycle related accessories has demonstrated trending materials, colors, and styling in which I drew inspiration from.
Testing
I was able to test the GoPro cameras as well as a $10 eBay camera. When testing, I wanted to keep in mind the quality of the video from the eBay camera in order to see if it was possible to have useable footage while keeping the price of the camera low.
GoPro Testing When testing the CoPro camera, the clear case and bicycle attachment were hard to maneuver. Although difficult to set up, the video quality was very clear.
$10 eBay Camera Similar to the GoPro, the set up was difficult and unintuitive. There was no bicycle mounting hardware, so it was rigged to fit using tape. The video quality was not as clear as the GoPro, however license plates were still clear from close distances. It is possible to have
useable footage while keeping the price low.
Mockups
Several quick mockups were made to test forms and sizing that best suited both the handlebar attachment as well as the seatpost attachment.
Concepts
Uses too many LEDs
Seen from sides and front
360* ring of LED
Too thin
Ports should face other side
Asymmetric doesn’t work on front end
Concepts Seen from sides and front
Attach magnetically
Rotate to lock
Ring uses too much power
Should be symmetrical Quick to attach
Keeping an eye out for you VUE comes standard with a wide angle lens, ensuring that
everything important is recorded during your ride. Since the camera is integrated into a bicycle light, you will not need to add an additional item to your daily cycling gear.
Features
Segmented Saving The camera is programmed to save in 15 minute increments for up to two hours, at which point it will discard the oldest 15 minute file. This way, you will not need to worry about constantly clearing your files manually in order to make room on your microSD card after every ride.
Maximum Visibility The front and rear lights are designed so that it there is maximum visibility to cars comng from the directly in front of the lights as well as the sides.
Features
Silicone Wrap The silicone wrap is sturdy yet flexible enough to accomodate a large range of seatpost and handlebar sizes. The wrap is held in place by two hex bolts, as hex wrenches are an essential tool for cyclists.
Auto Shutoff When your bike takes a fall, the accelerometer in VUE will sense it, at which point it will continue to record for an additional 30 minutes before automatically turning off. This will ensure that the
battery life is conserved and the recording of the crash is saved without being recorded over.
Features Charging/Downloading Charging and downloading files are a breeze when you connect VUE to your computer via mini USB. This will ensure that the
battery life is conserved and the recording of the crash is saved without being recorded over.
Convenient Attachment The embedded neodynmium magnets in the silicone wrap and the camera body make it easy to attach and detach, but strong enough to stay on during a crash. The camera and light will turn on
only when attached, preventing it from accidentally turning on while in your bag or pocket.
Materials
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Affordable Tech Unlike the GoPro, VUE is designed to fit within an average cyclist's budget. With the increasing popularity in dashboard cameras (think Russian Dashboard Camera), the prices for camera
technology has become more affordable.
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1 Clear LED cover 2 Casing ABS Plastic 3 Reflective LED backplate 4 Wide-Angle camera 5 Accelerometer 6 LED array with battery 7 Embedded neodymium magnets 8 Silicone mount
Neodynmium magnets are used for quickly attaching/detaching.
Lights up when magnets are connected and camera senses darkness.
VUE
The Blackbox for your Bike
Thank you for your time! For more samples of my sketching, please check out http://andygao.tumblr.com/ To contact me, please email at gao.designs@gmail.com