re:hab Internet Addiction Control
JASON CONNOLLY BA (HONS) PRODUCT DESIGN THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Abstract This project looks at the reconsideration and redesign of the home Internet Modem/Router. The report outlines research covering the significance and use of the Internet on our daily lives, as well as the serious nature and increase of Internet Addiction. After primary and secondary research, the report goes on to document all stages of the design process covering initial concepts through to final development; including sketch work, CAD development, branding, packaging, and web and system design. The final outcome of the project is a modem/router that aims to help and rehabilitate people with Internet addiction by allowing them to physically monitor and restrict their Internet usage and habits. The final product is known as ‘re:hab’.
Contents 1.0 - Initial Brief
1
1.1 - Time Planning
2
2.0 - Aims and Objectives 2.1 - Research Aims and Objectives 2.2 - Research Strategy
3 4 5
3.0 - Market Research 3.1 - Present Market
6 7-11
4.0 - User Research 4.1 - Research Summary
12-15 16
5.0 - Initial PDS
17
6.0 - Further Research
18-19
7.0 - Final Brief
20
8.0 - Initial Concepts
21-24
9.0 - Revised PDS
25-26
10.0 - Concept Development - Sketch development 27-30 10.1 - Modem Reverse Engineering 31-33 10.2 - Syringe Ergonomics 34 10.3 - Reverse engineering/Syringe ergonomics conclusions 35 10.4 - Main unit design 36 10.5 - Syringe design 37
11.0 - Final System - Concept explained 11.1 - User Profiles 11.2 - Computer Renders
38 - 40 44 45-46
12.0 - Component List - Main unit 12.1 - USB node 12.2 - Syringe 13.0 - Component Breakdown - Main unit 13.1 - Modem board 13.2 - USB node 13.3 - Syringe
47 48 49
14.0 - Proposed outcome
54
15.0 - Branding
50 51 52 53
55-59
16.0 - Packaging
60-62
17.0 - User Interface
63-73
18.0 - Website
74-87
19.0 - Product Evaluation
88-89
20.0 - Summary 20.1 - Time planning review
90 91
1.0 Initial brief The brief examines the concept of the home Internet router, and it’s use in our daily lives. Internet routers can be considered the passport to one of the greatest means of communication: the Internet. It is one of many electronic devices that plays a great role in our social and cultural experiences, yet current routers in the market appear to be nothing then a soulless chunk of plastic that is often hidden in the corner somewhere in the household. It is often seen that the design of modern electronic objects are engineering led, with the avail of new technology, we often see devices decreasing in physical size, with increased performance. However technological developments in the performance of these products has ‘often reduced the enriching aspect that these products can give our lives’. The modern Internet router is no exception to this. The router design itself hasn’t seen great changes in function and aesthetics over the last century, where as advances in technology have allowed for more powerful and smaller units to be manufactured. The aim of the project is to rethink the way in which the modern house hold router is used, and to re-design it as a product that will take into consideration the effect that it holds on people’s lives through it’s metaphysics, poetry and aesthetics. The final outcome of the project is to produce a design that goes beyond the current concept of the modern Internet router, one that is no longer forgotten about, supported by primary and secondary research taken from interviews, questionnaires and observations as well as books, published literature and the Internet.
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1.1 Time planning The following time plan has been created to help organize the project and to ensure key tasks are completed on time.
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2.0 Aims and Objectives The primary aim of this project is to re-design the home router to be much more then a forgotten box that challenges the conventional existing routers on the market, through its interaction and its aesthetics. In order to further define the direction of the project a list of aims and objectives have been created: •
Identify problems encountered with current routers, as well as the impact of the Internet on people’s daily lives.
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Examine and research user habits and rituals in regards to Internet use both in and out of the home.
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Develop a potential target market that will define the product.
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Create a product brand along with logo and packaging.
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2.1 Research Aims and Objectives
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Aims:
Objectives:
The Internet is a global tool, with no specific demographic. It is used by both old and young, all around the world for a incredibly wide range of tasks, be it from social networking to gaming. For this reason, the home router is a tool that is used by all. In my research, I aim to gain a better understanding of a wide range of subjects’ Internet usage habits and the significance the Internet holds on their lives.
•
The Internet is a global tool, with 25.6% of the world population having access to the Internet (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm) with 70% of the UK population having Internet access at home in 2009. (http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?ID=8). Most of these households will have a modem router, which enables users to share a single Internet connection amongst several computers. Needless to say the Internet router is fundamental hardware for connection to the Internet. The research for the project is predominately user based rather then market based, as the brief specifies to re-design the router to enrich and enhance the users experience. As well as exploring current and future technologies, and the current market trends and statistics, the research primarily aims to understand how people use the Internet and their attitudes towards their Internet use. Further to this, I aim to investigate the problems that people encounter in regards to all aspects of using the Internet and there experiences with Internet use in the household.
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Gain a better understating of the current state of availability of the Internet in the United Kingdom. Identify the target market, and establish their Internet usage habits.
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Analyse and evaluate the present market of Internet modems and routers.
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Identify the social and psychological implications that the Internet may hold on the everyday user.
2.2 Research Strategy The research has been divided into two primary categories; Market research, and User research. This will allows me to gain a better understanding of the current state of Internet use in the United Kingdom and provide me with quantitative data, whilst my user research will provide me with more qualitative information, in particular with regards to the psychological and social effects of Internet use. Market Research: •
Internet and Broadband statistics: Secondary research into the availability and usage of the Internet in the United Kingdom.
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Present Market Research: Secondary research into existing and concept routers.
User Research: •
Surveys and Interviews - Directed to a wide demographic, with the aim of understanding the way in which people use the Internet and it’s impact on their home lives.
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Secondary Research - Looking at journals, books and Internet articles in order to gain a better understanding of the history of the Internet, it’s many uses in today’s society and the impact it has on our lives.
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User observation - To gain a better understanding of various peoples daily routines.
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3.0 Market Research UK Internet usage Much of the statistical data regarding Internet usage and usage habits in the UK was acquired from the Office for National Statistics. The following are key summaries of the collected Data and represent the year 2009: •
18.31 million UK households had Internet access. This represented 70 per cent of households and an increase of 1.85 million households since 2008.
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There has been growth in Internet access by all age groups. Although the youngest age group (those aged 16-24) had the highest level of access, at 96 per cent, the largest increase in the proportion of those accessing the Internet was in the oldest age group (65 plus).
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The majority of Internet users accessed the Internet at home (94 per cent). However, the number of users accessing the Internet via a wireless hotspot has risen in recent years. A wireless hotspot is a public area where a wireless Internet connection is provided, common in such places as cafes and airports.
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The proportion of adults who were recent Internet users - who accessed the Internet every day or almost every day - was 73 per cent (27.3 million adults). The 16-24 age group accessed the Internet the most, with 86 per cent using it every day or almost every day.
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The most popular activity of recent Internet users was sending and receiving emails, at 90 per cent. However, 2009 also saw a boom in social networking. Forty per cent of recent Internet users (71% of 1624 year olds) stated that they posted messages to chat sites, blogs and newsgroups (up from 20 per cent in 2008).
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3.1 Present Market In order to gain a further understanding of the current market, as well as gain inspiration prior to the concept creation stage, it was essential to look at existing routers and modems. Attention was paid to functional and technological features, as well as aesthetics.
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3.1 Present Market
8 BELKIN N1 Wireless Router The Belkin N1 wireless vision router features an Interactive Status Display, which displays the network’s broadband speed, computer bandwidth usage and the status of connected network devices. Installation is also through “Plug-and-Play” and therefore no CD is required for installation. The router is 802.11N compatible, the newest standard for carrying out wireless local area network (WLAN) computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. The design of the router is modern and slick with its glossy plastic surface, and deep blacks.
Linksys Wireless-N Boradband Router The Linksys has a flat antenna situated in between two pole antennas, a departure from the usual three-pole design. It has no wall-mount bracket, but you can stand the router horizontally or vertically. The case sticks to Linksys’s trademark purple and black colour scheme, which we wish the company would ditch in favour of more decor-friendly choices like the white, black, and silver of the other routers we saw. On top of the device is a big button that doesn’t do anything, but is “reserved” for future use. Maybe one-touch encryption setup?
3.1 Present Market
9 Apple Airport Extreme The Apple Airport Extreme is both MAC and PC compatible, and features apple’s iconic clean, white aesthetic. This router does not feature a built in DSL modem, however offer 802.11n WI-FI, as well as a USB port which allows a USB Hard-drive to be shared across the network. A printer can also be attached to allow for wireless print sharing. The Airport Extreme features an ‘Access Control’ feature, which allows the primary user to control who accesses the network, as well as when they can access it. “If you have kids with their own computers, for example, you can control the times they’re allowed to access the network. They can have accounts that are available only at certain hours of the day — for example, when you can be home to keep an eye on them.”
3.1 Present Market
10 3 Network Mi-Fi MI-FI is a new technology which allows users to carry there own personal Wi-FI hotspot with them at all times. Small enough to fit into ones pocket, the M-Fi connects to the Internet via 3G connection, and allows the user to wirelessly connect up to 4 sperate wireless enabled devices (I.e Itouch) to the Internet This is practical for those who are always on the move and have many wi-fi devices.
3 USB DONGLE A 3G USB dongle is a portable device that attaches to a USB port to enable a PC to connect to 3G networks, allowing users access to the Internet on the move. The difference between a 3G dongle and the MI-FI is that the USB dongle does not allow for Internet sharing with multiple devices. Statistics show that the USB dongle for broadband access is on the rise, and is often chosen over cabled Internet connectin in the house.
3.1 Present Market - Concepts
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4.0 User Research
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Primary and secondary research methods were used to determine people’s opinions on the positive and negative aspects of the Internet. The following quotes summarize many of the issues that were brought up. The highlights of which were that the Internet can be a valuable tool if used in moderation and correctly. It can put ‘the world into ones hands’. However a lot more negative issues were brought up, such as distractions and unproductivity as well as the availability of inappropriate content.
“I work in, live in it, breath in it, and play using it…and sometimes worry about its negative impact upon my life.”
“We are all starving for something. The Internet is a place that feeds and satisfies us”
“I use the Internet to gain knowledge. It is the best source for information” “My brother became lazy at school because of playing games, his grades are getting worse and worse because of the Internet” “People spend to much time on the computer. They forget how beautiful the world is outside” “Sometimes I just stare at the screen, even though I know there is something better and more useful to do” “Mainly use Internet to get highly distracted on facebook/gmail/yahoo/ and reading news. I also Google things a lot.” “The Internet is beneficial if used correctly, but it is up to the user to make those decisions”
4.0 User Research User Interviews User Interviews In order to gain further understanding into the users Internet habits and rituals, a range of people were quizzed on there daily routine in regards to Internet use. The answers varied greatly, and many were dependant on external factors such as work, location etc.. •
The men appeared to be more technologically inclined as opposed to woman. Where as men answered questions with buzz words such as “ISP”, “DSL’ and “HDTV”, of the women who responded a couple mentioned that they were “technologically disabled” (?) and that they did not know what “a WI-FI router is”
•
Other then home routers, the use of Internet dongles appears to be on the increase, a solution to those who do not want to be tied to contracts, and phone line rental. It also allows for wireless Internet use anywhere where there is 3G signal.
•
The Internet was mainly used for social networking, emailing, and personal entertainment (i.e. gaming, and streaming video content)
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4.0 User Research User Observation User Observation As Internet use is usually done privately, on personal computers, it is difficult to monitor someone’s Internet browsing habits freely. In order to gain information and an understanding of how users spend their time browsing on the Internet, an open Internet group was created to allow users to upload screenshots of their Internet history. This data was coupled with information that was taken from various computers without the users consent (all data is anonymous and for personal use)
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4.0 User Research The computer at home The social context of home computing The way in which the Internet is used in a home environment goes beyond simple web browsing. The Internet has social implications on members of the household as well. The following is a summary of research findings carried out by David Frohlich (Hewlitt Packard Labs) & Robert Kraut (Carnegie Mellon University) in “The social context of home computing” Source: http://www.hpl.hp.com/techreports/2003/HPL-2003-70.pdf
The findings show a variety of ways in which the computer is being ‘domesticated to fit into existing patterns of family life, home architecture and parental control’. The following are key points that are raised. •
Time diary studies – Human activities are organized into recurring patterns or routines affected by biological dispositions, culture and external institutions – The studies imply that up to “6 hours of free time are potentially available each day for home computing and Internet use” of which “there will only be a finite number of opportunities...to go on-line, and those opportunities must be taken at the expense of time spent on other free-time activities.”
•
Family Internet use varies by time of day, days of the week and seasons. Families appear to adopt a turn taking system where each family would have a complex set of routines for taking turns to use the computer and the Internet. This system evolves over a long period through “personal experience and mutual accommodation amongst household members”
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- Routine use of the Internet and computer can lead to withdrawal symptoms as a results of disruptions and reactions to the users routine. - Parents recognize the potentially antisocial nature of their own computing behaviour, and as a result try to constrain their computing behaviour as well as their children’s. - Parents are often left to ensure that everyone in the household gets a fair amount of time on the Internet through the use of various methods. These include setting time constraints and prioritising (i.e school work over recreational use) - ‘A variety of rules and regulations are developed and administered by parents to control their children’s access to the computer and the Internet. These rules are designed to ensure a fair distribution of computing resources within the family, based on the age and need of family members.’
4.1 Research Summary Market Research Data collected from the Office for National Ntatistics has highlighted several key factors relating to Internet use and access in the UK. In summary, Internet use in the UK is on a constant rise, with more and more households opting for broadband connection at home. WI-FI hotspots in public spaces are also becoming more popular. The highest level of Internet access was amongst the 12-24 age group and its usage was on a daily bases, with emailing and social networking being the two highest reasons for Internet use.
User Research It was highlighted through questionnaires and secondary research, that users understood the positive and negative aspects of the Internet, with many aware of the negative impacts that it holds on oneself. It has been discovered that parents are often the ones that are aware of the anti-social nature of the Internet, and as a result constrain their computing behaviour as well as their childrens. Methods of control are introduced to Internet use amongst family households, including time keeping, scheduling and prioritising so everyone gets a fair share of Internet use. The investigation into user web browser history has shown the diversity of information that the Internet is used to access. However common factors exist between the data. This includes particular access to popular websites which include video streaming, and social networking site ‘YouTube’ and ‘Facebook’. Access to these websites is often split by various visits to other websites, often commencing with a ‘Google’ Search.
16 What this demonstrates is the dependance, and usability to conduct efficient use of the Internet without frequent distraction.
Present Market The present market doesn’t contain a large variation of aesthetics in the design of home routers. The largest differences include technological features. The most advanced routers features 802.11N1 technology, which provides for faster data transfer and a larger transmission range. Other added bonus features include hardware Internet monitoring, such as broadband speed and transfer rates. The common features found amongst all the routers were in its connections. The majority had a single DSL/Internet Ethernet port, 4 RJ45 Ethernet ports, an AC power Adaptor, a Power button, and a Reset Button. LED lights were used to display visual feedback on connection statuses of the various ports. The concept routers that were discovered were varied in aesthetics and their function. The majority provided refreshing design alternatives to the present plastic box, and all served various purposes. Their discovery has provided an incentive to explore the way in which we perceive and understand the importance of the home router on our daily lives.
5.0 Initial PDS The following Product Design Specification has been created using information gathered from initial research. The product must: •
Provide a system of control for users to monitor and control Internet usage in the household.
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Increase user awareness of their Internet habits as well as encourage more positive and productive Internet use.
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Encourage/discourage Internet use through its interaction and aesthetics
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Encourage the user to develop an emotional link with the product through its interaction and aesthetics.
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6.0 Further Research Internet Addiction The initial research has brought up issues regarding Internet use and Internet habits, and a particular aspect that requires further identification and research was the phenomenon of ‘Internet addiction’. Many of the users that were question in the initial research made note of constant as well as unproductive use of the Internet, and therefore ‘Internet addiction’ in the current age needed to be researched.
What is ‘Internet Addiction’? ‘Studies on Internet addiction originated in the US by Dr. Kimberly Young, who presented the first research on Internet addiction in 1996 at the American Psychological Association’s annual conference held in Toronto in her paper “Internet Addiction: The Emergence of a New Disorder”. Since then, studies have documented Internet addiction in a growing number of countries such as Italy, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Reports also indicate that Internet addiction has become a serious public health concern in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Treatment centers have emerged across the US and abroad. It is difficult to estimate how widespread the problem is. A nationwide study conducted by a team from Stanford University’s School of Medicine had estimated that nearly one in eight Americans suffer from at least one sign of problematic Internet use. Internet addiction is now considered a serious disorder being considered for inclusion in the upcoming revision of the DSM-V. ‘
18 ‘Internet addiction is defined as any online-related, compulsive behaviour which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one’s work environment. Internet addiction has been called Internet dependency and Internet compulsivity. By any name, it is a compulsive behaviour that completely dominates the addict’s life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, friends, and work. The Internet becomes the organizing principle of addicts’ lives. They are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behaviour’ Source: http://www.internetaddiction.com Issues regarding Internet addiction has also recently seen a lot of attention in the media. In a recent article published in the Daily Mail (February 3, 2010) an article was written regarding Internet addiction and depression. A study carried out at the University of Leeds has concluded that the longer people spend online the more depressed they tended to be.
6.0 Further Research Internet Addiction Several papers and research studies have highlighted the severity of Internet addiction, and have broken down the phenomenon into sub -types. These include the following: ‘Cybersexual Addiction – Individuals who suffer from Cybersex/Internet pornography addiction are typically engaged in viewing, downloading, and trading online pornography or involved in adult fantasy role-play chat rooms. Cyber-Affair/Relational Addiction – Individuals who suffer from an addiction to chat rooms, IM, or social networking sites become over-involved in online relationships or may engage in virtual adultery. Online friends quickly become more important to the individual often at the expense of real life relationships with family and friends. In many instances, this will lead to marital discord and family instability. Net Compulsions – Addictions to online gaming, online gambling, and eBay are fast becoming new mental problems in the post-Internet Era. With the instant access to virtual casinos, interactive games, and eBay, addicts loose excessive amounts of money and even disrupt other job-related duties or significant relationships. Information Overload – The wealth of data available on the World Wide Web has created a new type of compulsive behaviour regarding excessive web surfing and database searches. Individuals will spend greater amounts of time searching and collecting data from the web and organizing information. Obsessive compulsive tendencies and reduced work productivity are typically associated with this behaviour.’
19 It is evident that Internet addiction is a new problem that is being faced by todays Internet generation, one that is slowly becoming as serious as problem as that of alcohol and drug addiction. With this further research, the designer decided to change the intention of the original brief, and has narrowed the project aim and changed it’s direction. The original design brief is outlined as follows: ‘The aim of the project is to rethink the way in which the modern house hold router is used, and to re-design it as a product that will take into consideration the effect that it holds on people’s lives through it’s metaphysics, poetry and aesthetics. The final outcome of the project is to produce a design that goes beyond the current concept of the modern Internet router, one that is no longer forgotten about, supported by primary and secondary research taken from interviews, questionnaires and observations as well as books, published literature and the Internet.’ At this stage in the design process, it has been discovered that Internet addiction is a serious problem that needs addressing, and therefore a new design brief has been written, and is found in the following section (Next page). Source: http://www.internetaddiction.com
7.0 Final Brief At first the project aimed to re-design the current modem/router aesthetic, taking into consideration the effect that it holds on people’s lives through it’s metaphysics, poetry and aesthetics. The initial outcome of the project was to produce a design that went beyond the current concept of the modern Internet router, one that is no longer forgotten about At this point in the project, the initial scope of the brief and what was initially set out has changed as a results of research into Internet addiction., as a result a new brief was written with a more specific aim:
Internet routers can be considered the passport to one of the greatest means of communication: the Internet. With the wide availability of Internet access and increasing broadband speeds coupled with reduced prices, Internet use has increased greatly. With all new developments come repercussions, and with increased Internet use, cases of Internet addiction have become more prominent amongst society. The aim of the project is to design an Internet modem and router that will aid in the control of Internet use in the households and in the rehabilitation of Internet addicts.
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8.0 Initial Concepts
21 This concept was created in the early stages of the project, and it’s focus lies in it’s aesthetics. The modem/router board is placed in a glass jar, and allows users to see the electrical components of the product.
8.0 Initial Concepts This concept is a series of wi-fi bombs, that boosts wi-fi strength around the household by placing the different ‘bombs’ in various rooms. Once again this concept is primarily aesthetic although it does increase broadband wi-fi strength.
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8.0 Initial Concepts
23 This design was created later on in the design process, and plays on the principal of Internet addiction and follows a medical theme, in particular medical treatment. The concept aims to aid Internet addicts and help them overcome the problems they face. The design features a plastic drip bag filled with either liquid, or illuminated to represent the liquid. The product aims to allow the users a limited time of Internet a day, and as there usage decreases, so does the contents of the drip feeder.
8.0 Initial Concepts
Following with the medical theme, this design uses the concept of individual syringes, with which the user ‘injects’ the Internet modem/ router in order to get it to work. The concept aims to make users more aware of there Internet use through the physical process of injecting the modem every time they want to use the Internet.
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9.0 Revised PDS At this stage of the project, after finalising research, and exploring a variety of initial concepts, a revised Product Design Specification was created. The project had reached a focused direction, with a defined Target Markert and defined concept for further developement.
Market
25 Aesthetics Due to the nature of the problem being tackled, as well as the products intended purpose, the design aesthetic is to be of a medical nature, keeping theme with the clinical appearance of available consumer medical products.
The intended users of the product are primarily those with cases of Internet addiction - this will be self diagnosed via the patient. The severity of the problem is as such that several rehabilitation institutions now have specific programs that aim to tackle Internet addiction. Research suggests that Internet addiction is an increasing problem in today’s society and holds no boundaries in terms of age or gender. However research has also suggested that Internet use in younger children is often monitored by parents, and therefore the product shall target users in the 18 to 55 year age bracket.
Materials
Distribution
As the product will remain in a fixed location during its use (i.e connected to users computer or to a telephone socket) the final design must be of small enough dimensions to be placed on flat surfaces such as desks and shelves.
The product will primarily be available online through the products website. However further point of sales include distribution via private rehabilitation centres and possibly the NHS.
Environement The final product must be easily placed and located in the household, either next to a computer and/or next to a wall telephone connection.
Materials must reflect the materials currently used in existing medical products as well as those used in modem/routers currently on the market. As the product will be encasing electrical components and wireless transmitters and receivers, it is essential that the chosen material doesn’t interfere with these signals.
Size
Lifespan The constant evolution and advancements in technology will eventually render the technological capabilities of the product inadequate. Therefore the final design must feature the most up to date advancements in router and modem technology currently present.
9.0 Revised PDS Safety British safety standards will be considered and adhered throughout the development of the product, and particular attention will be given to the selection of the electronic components and materials.
Manufacture The product will need to take into consideration mass production processes and assembly methods
Maintenace The products assembly method and design should allow for repairs and replacement of internal electrical components.
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10.0 Concept Development Sketch development
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The early stages of the development of the concept were to explore different medical aesthetics and refine the shape of the Internet modem/ router object. The early stages were inspired from a range of medical products on the market. The initial design for the router is that of a gloss white unit, with soft edges, featuring a glass covered LCD screen for displaying information. The syringe is injected into the router itself, by inserting it into the protruding input slot at the front of the modem
10.0 Concept Development Sketch development The top LCD screen will display vital router information, and a heartbeat monitor was added to further enhance the medical aesthetic. The heartbeat monitor will fluctuate depending on Internet use (Bandwidth Usage)
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10.0 Concept Development Sketch development The shape of the modem/router was further developed into a more standard router design, creating a rounded curved rectangle, to be manufactured out of white gloss plastic. The initial LCD screen was removed, and the heartbeat monitor was embedded into the modem casing, allowing the red heartbeat line to shine/glow through the top of the modem. This allowed for a cleaner, all inclusive design. The protruding syringe input was also removed from the main body. This was done in order for multiple users at different computers to inject into the system without having to continuously move to and from the main unit. The syringe input is designed as a simple ‘node’ that connects to ones computer via USB. The design mimics the medical syringe input used for drip feed using a tube. The input and output components for the power supply and ethernet cables were placed at the rear of the modem, and feature four RJ42 ethernet inputs for LAN use, and 1 RJ42 input for DSL connection.
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10.0 Concept Development Sketch development
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The final change to the design was to replace the ethernet ports at the back of the router, to the top of the router. This was done so that the cables could be seen by the user and further enhanced the medical nature of the product. The cables protruding from the top aim to replicate medical tubes
10.1 Concept Development Modem Reverse Engineering
31 Prior to developing the construction of the final product, reverse engineering was conducted on a modem/router that is currently on the market: The Linksys WRT54G The product consisted of 3 components, the front, the base and the top casing. All three parts fit together with a snap fit as shown in figures 3 and 4.
Fig.1
Fig.2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
10.1 Concept Development Modem Reverse Engineering
32 The electronic components were all mounted on a single circuit board, including the power supply. The ethernet ports and power socket were exposed through a series of cut outs on the top/back componenet.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
The circuit board itself was mounted onto the base with some screws, and screwed through some holes in the board (fig. 7), into cylindrical extrusions on the inside of the base (fig. 8). These screws held the circuit board firmly in place.
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
10.1 Concept Development Modem Reverse Engineering Figures 9 and 10 show all the components of the modem/router and the general assembly.
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
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10.2 Concept Development Syringe Ergonomics
34 A 60ml ‘needle free’ syringe was then examined and used to test ergonomic factors as well as methods of operation. (fig.11) The syringe was injected by placing the index and middle fingers on the extrusions on the main tube, and the thumb was placed on the top of the centre component. (fig. 12)
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
When drawing/filling the syringe, two hands were required (fig. 14), one hand to hold the main body, whilst the other pulled up the internal component. (fig. 13) The syringe was however to big, and will need to be reduced whend considering dimensions of the final design. (fig. 14)
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
10.3 Concept Development Reverse Engineering/Syringe Ergonmics conclusions After reverse engineering a modem and syringe the next stages were to design the final components and the methods of assembly. Following the design of the Linksys modem/router, the final product will feature an injection moulded top and bottom casing, which will snap fit together. The internal electronics will be mounted via screws into the bottom base of the final design. Similarly the syringe will feature the traditional aesthetic of common plastic syringes, primarily due to ergonomic factors.
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10.4 Concept Development Main unit design The modem/router body is to be constructed by two separate injection moulded components (top and bottom) encasing the circuit board, fitting together with a snap fit.
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10.5 Concept Development Syringe final design
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The syringes that are to be programmed retained a modern syringe aesthetic, using the same white gloss as the Internet router. In order to provide visual feedback to show the user that the syringe is programmed and that it is in use, the syringe is to incorporate a green LED that is to glow through the gloss plastic.
11.0 Final System Concept explained The final system/ product is targeted to those that feel they suffer from any form of Internet addiction, determined in the initial research. These include any of the following: Cybersexual Addiction Cyber-Affair/Relational Addiction Net Compulsions Information Overload (source: http://www.internetaddiction.com) The final product consists of the following: 1x Internet Modem/Router 1x Software counterpart 1x USB Syringe Node 1x Label Sheet 3 x Programmable Syringes How does the product work? The final product aims to allow users to self manage their Internet use and habits, via the use of programmable syringes. Each individual syringe can either be manually programmed with the included software or a series of preestablished presets can be used.
38 The syringes can be programmed to alter the way that the user is allowed to use the Internet through the control of various factors. Each syringe can be customized to the needs of the individual and can restrict or allow various elements related to the Internet (I.e bandwidth use, time allocation, URL and keyword restriction etc..) The syringe is entered into the USB node, and using the provided software, the user can either select a preset or manually program the syringe. The syringe is then manually pulled in order for it to be programmed with the chosen settings. As it is programmed the syringe emits a green LED glow in the main body. Syringes are then injected into the USB node at any computer, in order to allow that particular computer/user to browse and use the Internet dependant on the settings of the syringe being used. This green glow diminishes during the syringes use, showing the amount of usage (time) left on that particular syringe.
11.0 Final System Concept explained
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11.0 Final System Concept explained
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11.1 Final System User profiles
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The following are fictional case study examples, highlighting how the final product and system can help a variety of users with different Internet addictions and habits. Profile: Richard Muirhead Gender: Male Age: 33 Richard often finds himself spending countless hours on the Internet, often doing nothing more then browsing social interaction sites and time wasting. He has discovered that his continuos use of the Internet is affecting his relationship with friends and family. Richard is highly addicted to the Internet. Profile: Joe Lappin Gender: Male Age: 27 Joe often finds himself downloading vasts amount of content from the Internet, and often exceeds his Internet Service Provider’s maximum allowance, leading to excessive Internet bills. Joe is not addicted to the Internet, but needs to control his download habits Profile: Deirdre Stewart Gender: Female Age: 22 Deirde finds that she often spends a lot of time on the Internet playing video games, and finds that it is affecting her productivity in the household as well as her relationship with her friends. Deirdre is addicted to online gaming.
11.1 Final System
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Profile: Richard Muirhead Gender: Male Age: 33 Richard often finds himself spending countless hours on the Internet, often doing nothing more then browsing social interaction sites and time wasting. He has discovered that his continuos use of the Internet is affecting his relationship with friends and family. Richard is highly addicted to the Internet. Using the proposed design and system, Richard is able to manage his Internet usage at his own pace. Knowing of his addiction to the Internet, Richard uses the system’s self diagnosis test on the product webpage in order to determine his addiction level and to receive advice as to what syringes are best to manage his addiction. Due to the severity of Richard’s problem, he is prescribed to use the ‘heavy addiction’ prescription syringe, followed by the ‘Distraction Prescription’ syringe. After several weeks of reducing his Internet use using the ‘Heavy Internet Addiction Syringe’, Richard begins to use the ‘Distraction Syringe’, allowing him more time on the Internet, but with reduced access to many of the social networking sites that he often frequents. After a month of using the prescribed syringes, Richard was ready to program his own syringes in order to establish how he best sees fit. Richard no longer spends vast amounts of time on the Internet, and spends more time socializing in real life as opposed to on the Internet.
11.1 Final System
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Profile: Joe Lappin Gender: Male Age: 27 Joe often finds himself downloading vasts amount of content from the Internet, and often exceeds his Internet Service Provider’s maximum allowance, leading to excessive Internet bills. Joe is not addicted to the Internet, but needs to control his download habits Using the proposed design and system, Joe is able to manage his download allowance. Knowing of his high bandwidth usage, Joe logs onto the products website, and orders the modem/router alongside a pre-programmed ‘High Bandwidth Use’ syringe. Using the ‘High bandwidth’ syringe preset, Joe has reduced his number of monthly downloads, and he now no longer exceeds his ISP’s bandwidth allowance. On occasion, Joe is required to download off the Internet beyond the allowance of the preset ‘High Bandwidth Usage Syringe’. Joe therefore manually programmes the two other syringes, allowing for a higher bandwidth and time usage, of which he will use on occasion. Joe now comfortably manages his downloads, and rarely finds himself having to bay excess bandwidth use fees.
11.1 Final System
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Profile: Deirdre Stewart Gender: Female Age: 22 Deirde finds that she often spends a lot of time on the Internet playing video games, and finds that it is affecting her productivity in the household as well as her relationship with her friends. Deirdre is addicted to online gaming. After realising the detrimental effect of her online gaming habits on her social life, Deirdre has seaked a product and system that will allow her to slowly manage her online gaming. After self-diagnosing herself on the products website, deirdre is diagnosed with heavy Internet addiction and heavy bandwidth use. Deirde is advised to use the ‘Heavy Internet Addiction’ and ‘High Bandwidth Use’ syringes, which will allow her to control the amount of time she is able to log on and play games. At first, the syringes allow her no more then a few hours to log onto the Internet. After a few weeks, Deirdre is finding herself going out more and socialising with her friends, however she has not given up gaming completely. After a few months, Deirdre has decided that she is no longer addicted to gaming, and used the manual programming feature of the provided software to re-programme her syringes to allow her for more bandwidth usage and a longer time online.
11.2 Final Design Computer renders
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11.2 Final Design Computer renders
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12.0 Component List Main unit
Main Unit Top Casing
54Mbps Wireless AP Router PCBA Module Board
Main Unit Bottom Casing
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12.1 Component List USB node
USB Node top casing - Syringe input
Chipboard w/ Mini USB
USB Node bottom casing
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12.2 Component List Syringe
Syringe Insert - Housing for electronic chipboard, with bluetooth and rechargeable battery, and green LED light
Syringe Tube - Encases the syringe insert
Data Transfer Trigger - Bluetooth Switch
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13.0 Component Breakdown main unit
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MAIN UNIT - Top and Bottom casing
Cost:
The main modem unit is created out of a bottom and top component connected with a snap fit. The chosen material is ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene). ABS is the largest-volume engineering thermoplastic resin. Due to its flexibility of composition and structure, ABS can exhibit a wide range of properties, allowing its use in diverse applications.
ABS pricing in 2008 was at an average of ÂŁ0.96 per pound (lb) Price calculated by unit mass.
ABS Material Properties:
Total cost: ÂŁ0.1728*
Wide range of colours available Medium pricing Hard, rigid and tough Available in different impact strengths.
*Based on material cost only - Not including tooling and mould costs, which you result in higher unit prices.
Common applications: Common applications of ABS include telephones and mobile handsets, computer casings and radios.
Manufacture: Injection moulding Suitable for mass production Low unit price Rapid manufacture process of roughly 30 to 40 seconds for complex components.
Mass of top casing: 0.08 lbs Mass of bottom casing: 0.1lbs Total Mass: 0.18 lbs
13.1 Component Breakdown Modem board 54Mbps Wireless AP Router PCBA Module Board
Cost:
The internal components of the main modem/router is an estimate based on a received quote for a batch order of 1000 units by Rosaak Technology Co Ltd. The final internal components will be custom manufactured to specification, with upward facing ethernet ports.
(Converted from US Dollard to Pound Sterling at US $1 = £ 0.6589) All prices are PER UNIT
Unit: High-Power 54Mbps Wireless AP Router PCBA Module Board (1000mW)
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500 Units: £20.76 1000 Units: £19.77 3000 Units: £18.78 5000 Units: £ 17.79 Note: These are costs for units manufactured in Taiwan, and do not include shipping costs or VAT, which would increase unit cost.
Product Description: 802.11b/g compliant with 54Mbps high-speed data rate Operation modes: AP, AP client, Client, Bridge, WDS Four Ethernet ports for broadband sharing Virtual DMZ, Port Forwarding TCP/UDP/ICMP/ARP protocol stack Firewall, URL/IP/Port/MAC filtering Wireless security – 64/128bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, 802.1x and 802.11i Support PPPoE, VPN pass-through with multiple sessions, PPTP and L2TP Universal Plug and Play, no complicated installation necessary
Red LED lights: Red LED lights are connected to the main board to provide the EKG effect through the plastic casing.
Cost: Red LED x 50: £0.66
13.2 Component Breakdown USB node USB NODE - Top and Bottom casing
Cost:
The top and bottom of the USB node is manufactured using the same process as the main modem/router unit. The chosen material is once again ABS, manufactured via injection moulding.
Pic Board: Average Cost £7 Mini USB: £0.85 Bluetooth Chip: £1.50
Cost: Mass of top casing: 0.022 lbs Mass of bottom casing: 0.036 lbs Total Mass: 0.058 lbs Total cost: £0.165*
USB PCB board: The PCB board will communicate with the device software via mini usb, and will process and translate the communication between the computer and the inserted syringe (Programming of the syringes). This will be accomplished via bluetooth technology, with the syringes pairing with the node upon insertion. The syringe battery is also charged when docked, drawing power via the mini USB.
Internal electronics projected cost: £9.35
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13.3 Component Breakdown Syringe SYRINGE - Inner and outer tube The inner and outer syringe tubes are manufactured using the same process as the main modem/router unit and the USB node casing. The chosen material is once again ABS, manufactured via injection moulding.
Cost: Mass of inner syringe: 0.0172 lbs Mass of outer syringe: 0.0136 lbs Total Mass: 0.038 lbs Total cost: £0.036*
Internal Components: The internal electronics of the syringe contain a PCB board connected with a bluetooth chip, flash memory (to store programmed presets), a series of green LED lights (To emit green glow) and a rechargeable Polymer Lithium Ion Battery (Charged when plugged into USB node)
Component Costs: Rechargeable Polymer Lithium Ion Battery: £1.40 Green LED’s x4: £0.0528 Flash Memory: £0.70 PCB board: £7 Bluetooth chip: £1.50 Total internal components cost: £10.65
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14.0 Proposed Outcome The following is a projected costing breakdown, and an estimated retail price: Main Modem: £21.24 USB Node: £9.515 Syringes x 3: £32.058 Total Cost: £62.813 20% mark up on £62.813 = £12.5626 Retail Price: Average £74 + VAT £12.95 = £86.95 It must be noted that these costs are based on prices for individual components. If ordered in bulk the cost would be reduced significantly. It must also be highlighted that the projected retail price doesn’t cover for overhead costs. The projected cost is for the product only and does not include costing for print, packaging and supplied software CD-ROM.
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15.0 Branding Font type The branding of the product is essential to it’s success, and will need to reflect the products purpose, qualities and aesthetic. The name Re:hab was chosen as the initial product name. ‘Rehab’ is defined as ‘the process of helping someone to stop taking drugs or alcohol’. In this instance, the rehabilitation of someone that needs help with their Internet addiction. The introduction of the colon (‘:’) in the middle of the word is to make reference to the use of ‘Re:’ found in the subject line when replying to an email (making reference to the Internet). The branding needs to retain a medical aesthetic through the choice of colour, font and logo. To begin with a selection of fonts were chosen and then further narrowed down. An appropriate font would be something that reflects the serious issue that is Internet addiction, and that is easily read and identifiable. The chosen font is ‘Myriad Pro’ as it was simple yet bold enough to not detract from the product name.
re:hab
re:hab re:hab re:hab re:hab re:hab re:hab re:hab
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15.0 Branding Logo development The text alone however did not depict what the product was about, and therefore a logo/illustration needed to be created in order to further enhance the message. The initial logo features the syringe component of the product, along with the green illumination through the main body. Several different layouts were created combining the product name, logo and a brief product description reading: ‘Internet Addiction Control’. This was initially created as vector graphic placed along side the text. The chosen font colour was a grey # 666666. This was selected as it was a dark enough grey to retain contrast and also depicted medical connotations (stainless steel and cold clinical environments) The final concept is shown below.
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15.0 Branding Logo development The syringe was a clean vector graphic, and is suited for when a simple 2d logo is required, however in order to further enhance the logo aesthetic, further development was needed. The designer wanted to create a logo that represents the serious nature of the product, but that retains an element of fun that not only portrays the nature of the problem (Internet addiction), but to create a logo that is recognizable and attractive to the everyday consumer that wishes to control their Internet habits. The final illustration needs to depict that the product needs to be taken with a ‘pinch of salt’ and that the product is not to be used as a sole method of Internet addiction treatment. The initial concept for development was to take the syringe and to humanize it, and create a ‘re:hab’ character. Initial sketch work was produced prior to digitizing and creating the final illustration. Particular attention was given to the eyes and eyebrow position as this was the single element that conveyed emotion. The syringe was drawn and positioned with a ‘slouched’ appearance, as if it were leaning against the product name (the R in re:hab). The final digitized vector character can be seen on the next page. This was achieved through tracing the drawing over in Adobe Illustrator.
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15.0 Branding Logo development
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15.0 Branding Final logo Having created the final vector character, the final logo needed to be completed with the addition of the product name. The final outcome is the product name with a top highlight, the character leaning against the ‘R’ and a mirrored reflection beneath.
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16.0 Packaging
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16.0 Packaging
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16.0 Packaging Final packaging visuals
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17.0 User Interface Idea generation The router requires a computer counterpart, allowing users to program the syringes, as well as view and change settings on the Internet router itself. Continuing with the medical aesthetic of the product, the User Interface needs to complement this theme. Several graphics and User Interfaces were reviewed for inspiration before any design ideas were started. Initial ideas included using an animated/vector character which would play the doctor role, and would advise you on your prescriptions (presets) and keep you up to date with your progress. Inspiration for the concept was generated through medical simulation games and their User Interfaces. However due to time constraints, a simpler interface was designed, which adopted to concept of a medical folder (tabbed filing system)
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17.0 User Interface System flow The User Interface was initially mapped out into it’s individual sections and system flow before commencing design.
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17.0 User Interface Initial design The User Interface is split in 3 main headings: •
Main
•
Program Syringes
•
Syringe Presets Advanced Programming Router Vitals
The main page provides a description of the product. The ‘program syringes’ page splits into two sub sections: syringe presets and advanced programming. The Router Vitals page allows users to view router status as well as make advanced configurations (i.e port forwarding or setting up a firewall) All pages of the UI were first sketched with a basic layout prior to development.
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17.0 User Interface Main
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The main page is the first page that appears when the software is loaded. It provides the user with a welcome note with a brief outline describing the product. The design mimics a paper note stapled onto the front of a folder. The main headings run along the top as separate tabs within the ‘document’ and the user navigates through the system by clicking these tabs.
17.0 User Interface Program syringes
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The ‘Program Syringes’ page greets the user with the syringe outlines. The first syringe links to a page containing syringe presets, whereas the second syringe takes the user to a page that allows them to manually configure and program a syringe. The user navigates through this section by clicking on the appropriate syringe.
17.0 User Interface Syringe preset menu
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The ‘Preset Syringe’ menu page contains 6 syringe outlines that run along the left hand side of the folder. When users rolls their mouse over a syringe it turns green letting them know which one they are about to select. Click on the syringe takes the user to that particular syringe prescription.
17.0 User Interface Preset prescriptions
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Once a syringe is selected it turns and stays green showing the user which prescription they are viewing. The prescription to the right of the syringe describes how that particular syringe is programmed and for what level of Internet addiction it aims to cure or rehabilitate. In this particular example, it is to cure heavy Internet addiction. The syringe is programmed with a two hour time restriction, which can only be injected twice daily with a five hour time lapse, providing the user with a total 4 hours use in a day.
17.0 User Interface Programming syringe
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1
When the ‘Programme Syringe’ button is pressed the following sequence appears. Stage 1 - Informing the user to insert a syringe into the connected node (USB device) Stage 2 - Letting the user know the syringe is being programmed. Stage 3 - The user is informed that the programming is complete.
2
3
17.0 User Interface Manual programming Menu
71 The main menu of the manual syringe programming page, displays instructions telling the user what to do. The syringes along the left hand side all link to a different programming page, where the user can create a custom setting for that particular selected syringe. As the mouse rolls over each syringe, it is highlighted in green.
17.0 User Interface Manual Programming
72 The ‘Manual Programming’ page allows the user to manually program a syringe if they choose to do so (writing a prescription). The user is able to name their custom prescription and assign the following: •
Time limit - Unlimited up to 6 hours
•
Bandwidth Limit - Unlimited up to 3 Gb
•
URL Blocking - Users type in websites they wish to be blocked
•
Keyword Filtering - Users type keywords they wish to be filtered (I.e ‘sex’, ‘hack’)
•
Daily Dose - 1 to 4 (The amount of times the syringe can be re-injected daily)
17.0 User Interface Router vitals This page allows the user to make advanced setting to the router. A heartbeat monitor (EKG) displays router activity (if the Internet and a syringe is currently in use).
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18.0 Website As the product deals with Internet addiction, a website was created allowing potential customers to diagnose themselves, and advise them of the severity of their Internet addiction and how the product can help. The initial layout and page breakdown was first sketched on paper in order to establish a layout and sub pages. The overall aesthetic is similar to that of the software provided with the product, using a folder/tab system (representing a medical record folder). The website is broken into 4 main headings, displayed in folder tabs along the top. These include: Main - Introduction page Diagnosis - Diagnosis Yes/No Test Re:hab - Product Information Contact - Company Contact and Resources The website was designed using FLASH, in order to provide a rich interactive experience for the user - The overall aesthetic is clean and clinical and therefore certain animated elements were required to improve the overall experience.
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18.0 Website Main page
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The website features the ‘Re:hab’ character in the top right, which raises and lowers its eyebrows at regular intervals
At the bottom right of the page is an animated syringe, with a tweening syringe fill (green bar) growing left to right and vice versa - When click this links to the ‘Diagnosis’ page
18.0 Website Diagnosis page
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A system diagram was created using a series of questions that aid in determining Internet addiction. The questions are a mixture of those found on the self test found ‘http://www.netaddiction.com’ and some created by the designer. The system flow was first mapped out with the main question structure as seen below.
Questions: Do you stay online longer then you intended? Does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the Internet? Do you sleep less due to late night log-ins? Do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend online? Do you neglect household chores to spend more time online? Do you find yourself frequently downloading large amounts of content form the Internet (i.e videos, Audio, gaming) Do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy with your partner?
18.0 Website Diagnosis page Once all the questions were established, the outcomes to the test needed to be established, in order to create a system flow from question to question. The outcomes of the self-diagnosis test are to recommend a single, or a combination of presets that are available with the modem software (High, Medium and Low addiction, Distraction, High Bandwidth, Explicit Content). The outcomes are therefore split into 4 main headings: •
No addiction
•
Low Addiction
•
Mild Addiction
•
Heavy Addiction
These main headings were then further split into multiple diagnosis outcomes as shown on the following pages.
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18.0 Website Diagnosis outcome NO ADDICTION
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LOW ADDICTION
MILD ADDICTION
LOW ADDICTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
MILD ADDICTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
HEAVY ADDICTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
MILD ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT
HEAVY ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT
MILD ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
HEAVY ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
LOW ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT LOW ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
HEAVY ADDICTION
HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE EXPLICIT CONTENT
18.0 Website Diagnosis system flow
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START
MILD ADDICTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
Do you stay online longer then you intended?
YES HEAVY ADDICTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
YES Would you consider your bandwidth usage to be excessive? (high amount of downloads)
Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?
YES HEAVY ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT
NO
YES
YES
Do you neglect household chores to spend more time online?
Would you consider your bandwidth usage to be excessive? (high amount of downloads)
YES
YES YES
NO Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?
NO
YES
NO
Would you consider your bandwidth usage to be excessive? (high amount of downloads)
YES
NO HEAVY ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
YES
Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?
MILD ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
NO
NO
Do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend online?
MILD ADDICTION
NO
Would you consider your bandwidth usage to be excessive? (high amount of downloads)
NO
Do you sleep less due to late night log-ins?
NO YES
NO
HEAVY ADDICTION
NO
NO
YES
YES NO
HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE NO
HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE EXPLICIT CONTENT
YES
NO Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?
YES
YES NO HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION
NO
HEAVY ADDICTION DISTRACTION EXPLICIT CONTENT
Would you consider your bandwidth usage to be excessive? (high amount of downloads)
YES
NO
LOW ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
NO
NO
NO ADDICTION
YES
LOW ADDICTION HIGH BANDWIDTH USE
NO LOW ADDICTION
Do you prefer the excitement of the internet to intimacy with your partner?
Would you consider your bandwidth usage to be excessive? (high amount of downloads)
LOW ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT
MILD ADDICTION EXPLICIT CONTENT
18.0 Website Diagnosis page
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The diagnosis page allows website visitors to answer a series of Yes or No questions, determining the severity of their Internet addiction, if any, and recommending treatment options using the Re:hab system (modem, syringes, software)
18.0 Website Diagnosis page - Diagnosis results
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The diagnosis results page provides the user with a prognosis regarding their test results. Depending on the route followed and the final outcome, the website recommends which presets (AKA prescriptions) would be beneficial to use with the Re:hab modem. A button is provided on the page linking the user to the descriptions of the available prescriptions (shown on next page) Another button takes the user back to the start of the selfdiagnosis.
18.0 Website Diagnosis page - Diagnosis results
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Diagnosis Page - Diagnosis Results Keeping with the aesthetic of the software interface, the prescription page of the website lists the 6 available presets and a description of each, contained in a medicine themed table. Users navigate the mouse over the syringes on the left (highlighted in green on the mouse roll over) and click to display each prescription.
18.0 Website Re:hab page
83 The Re:hab page provides a description of the modem and the software, and how it can help in overcoming Internet addiction. A ‘Buy Now’ page takes the user to an order form. The ‘Gallery’ button opens a separate window with a flash gallery.
18.0 Website Re:hab page
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The place order page allows customers to order the Re:hab modem with a selection of 3 pre-programmed syringes of the 6 available presets (these can be re-programmed through the software by the user). Fields include: Name, Syringe 1, Syringe 2, Syringe 3 The page also offers the user the opportunity to order additional syringes (up to 3) in addition to the standard 3 syringes that ship with the product. Also featured is the animated syringe (similar to that found on the main page) linking the user to the self-diagnosis test.
18.0 Website Gallery
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The gallery page (liked from the Re:hab page) opens a new window, displaying various images of the final product. At the bottom of the new windows are a row of images, which are shown in large when the users mouse is rolled over each thumbnail.
18.0 Website Contact
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The contact page lists an address and contact details, as well as further links to resources regarding Internet addiction
18.0 Website Final website
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19.0 Product Evaluation
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Market
Aesthetics
The initial specification highlighed that users are required to self diagnosis themselves in regards to their Internet addiction. Through the use of an online system (website) users are able to gain information on the product, as well as self diagnos themselves using a provided test. The website also allows the targeted market to purchase the product online. The medical aesthetic and use of syringes in the product is targeted at people above the age of 18 due to the connotations of addiction and drug use, as specified in the initial spec. However if the product were to be used by parents to monitor their childrens’ Internet use, a new aesthetic and syringe alternative would have to be considered.
The final concept carries a medical aesthetic throughout, from the product design, through to the branding, packaging, website and the provided software. The use of clean lines and emphasis on the colour white, creates a clinical appearance. The website and user interface are based on a doctors medical folder and uses a tab system for navigation.
Distribution The product is marketed online through the use of a website as the primary retail source. The medical themed packaging could also be used to sell the products in other retail or medical areas, including health services and rehabilitation centres.
Environement The re:hab modem/router is similar in design to existing products on the market, and can easily be placed on a flat surface close to telephone ports and a power source. The creating of an individual USB node, allows users to connect multiple computers to the main unit, thus reducing the need to have to continuously inject the main unit in order to activate the system; as this can be done at the computer desk.
Materials The final chosen material is glossy white polypropylene, which can easily be injection moulded for mass manufacture. The material density also allows for wireless signals to pass through without interruption.
Size The final product size is small enough to fit on any flat flat surface. The USB nodes can easily be unobtrusively placed on a desk nearby a computer.
Lifespan The technology embedded in the router is of what is currently available on the market (802.11N standard for carrying wireless technology). However due to the ever increasing advancements in technology, the product will eventually be outdated. However the USB node and syringes will remain intact, and therefore furture developments could see the possibility of purchasing the main modem/router without the USB node or additional syringes.
19.0 Product Evaluation Safety The manufacture and chosen materials are compliant for the use of encasing electronic materials. Furthermore, the electronics would be custom manufactured following british safety standards throughout.
Manufacture Using a snap fit assembly method, the product can be easily injection moulded and manufactured, and automatically assmebled on a product line.
Maintenace The snap fit casing allows users to open the modem/router as well as the USB nodes if they choose to do so. This would only need to be done if the user chooses to repair any electronic problems that may occur.
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20.0 Summary The initial project outset was very different to the end result. The project initially set out to research, design and develop a new Internet/modem router that would provide for a more aesthetic appearance as well as new ways of usage. However at a later stage in the project, secondary research has shown a dramatic increase in Internet addiction amongst our current society, with rehabilitation centres opening up specific divisions to deal with the problem. Upon this discovery, the project had a new defined direction. I feel that I have successfully produced a final design encompassing all elements ranging from a final design and system of use, as well as branding, packaging and an online point of sale and user interface. Due to the emphasis that was put on these additional design developments, a visual prototype was not created and thus accurate product testing could not be done. This would be the next step in the project. In order to successfully test the effectiveness of the product and its intended use, a working prototype would need to be manufactured and studies conducted, documenting the way in which the product is used and whether or not it successfully changes the users Internet use and behaviour in the intended manner. Only then could the product be deemed truly successful or unsuccessful. Further developments would also include creating different variations of the product using different aesthetics (i.e not the use of syringes) in order to tackle various differet target markets. These alternative markets could include the use of the product for children Internet control, and possibly its development for use in public Internet access points.
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20.1 Summary Time planning review
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The final time plan (grey) varied substantially to the initial chart (green). The project took longer to start due to focus on research on the other project. Much of the initial development work took place in the second half of the first term. Final design concepts were generated over the Christmas period and into the first half of the second term. During the Interim presentation, the project was near completion, and as no development work was conducted on the second project, what was meant to initially be a 20 credit project, become a 40 credit. The second half of the second term saw the project on hold, with focus being put on the other project. Much of the final development work including website and user interface took place in the third term, along with a delay in final CAD visuals. None the less, the revised time plan saw development work that wasn’t initially intended, such as the website and user interface.