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Assignment
One
Problem
Identification
Team Report due Tuesday -
February 16, 2010 at 5pm
For your first assignment you are asked to
pursue and report on the following tasks. Your team's report should be at least
5 pages in length.
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Form a project team of no more than three
members. Select a suitable and appropriate name for your team and pick a
project leader.
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Choose a team project from the list of
project suggestions. Select a suitable and appropriate name for your
project.
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Contact the individual(s) listed who
suggested the project and get information including details about the
problem/need, the disability group(s) targeted, the current solution employed
(if any) and its shortcomings or limitations, the potential benefits of an
improved solution, and the design features / specifications from his/her point
of view.
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Identify and interview at least one
individual who is affected by this problem/need and determine specifically how
it affects him/her, the benefits of an improved solution, and the design
features / specifications from his/her point of view.
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Gather information on other solution
alternatives including commercially available products, research projects, and
previous student projects. l
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Determine the magnitude of the
problem/need and identify all the populations who may benefit from an improved
solution.
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Brainstorm possible project solutions and
select at least three promising design alternatives.
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Provide a concise and convincing
statement of how your project might address the need/problem. Outline general
design concepts and new technology that might be brought to bear on
it.
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Present your team's problem / project
informally (20-minutes, with PowerPoint slides) in class on Thursday, February
11th.
For next time:
In the next assignment your
team will asked to choose a specific design concept and fabricate / test a
functional prototype. Teams will present their design in class and submit a
Final Report.
Mid-term Report
Format
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Cover page - include course name
& year, project title, team name, team member's names, and team member's
photos
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Abstract - one paragraph summary
of objectives, approach taken, and results of the project so
far
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Introduction - problem / need to
be addressed, problem / need background
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Objectives - project goals and
rationale
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Design criteria - background
research, interviews with project suggestors and potential users, design
specifications, brainstormed design alternatives (at least 3)
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Methods - what did your team do
and why - include any sketching, prototyping, model building, preliminary
testing, analyses of design alternatives
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Results - discuss specifics of
your design alternatives such as features, benefits, aesthetics, cost, safety,
reliability, usability, test results, feedback from users, etc.
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Discussion - include engineering
challenges and suggestions to further develop and fabricate a chosen
design
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Timetable - provide a timetable of
tasks for the remainder of the quarter
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References - bibliographic
citations and websites visited
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Acknowledgements - mention all
individuals and facilities who helped you
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Appendices - detailed sketches,
calculations, testing notes, relevant vendor information, etc. that are
referenced in the main body of the report
Mid-term Presentation
Information
Team Presentation - Thursday,
February 11, 2010 in class
Each team will do an informal (with
Powerpoints) presentation on the progress of their project.
Teams may employ a laptop and PowerPoint
slides in their presentation.
Each team member should participate in the
presentation.
Sample presentation outline:
- Introduction of team and its
members
- Brief abstract
- Statement of problem
- Magnitude of problem addressed by this
project
- Discussion of interviews with project
suggestors and users
- Statement of specific need
- Identification of existing solutions and
discussion of their limitations
- Description of brainstormed design
concepts
- Analysis of considered design
alternatives
- Description of selected design, including
its technical feasibility, engineering difficulty, estimated cost, user
acceptance, safety considerations, etc
- Design visualizations: photographs,
videos, sketches, drawings, models, and prototypes
- Future work and challenges for continuing
the project toward fabrication and testing with users
Each team will have about 20 minutes for
their presentation, including answering questions. Be prepared to
discuss:
- Project status - what has been done, what
remains
- Problems encountered, resolved, and
pending
- Expenses expected if the project is to be
continued into the Spring Quarter
- Plans for the remainder of the
quarter
Most important - practice your presentation
to maximize the quality of its content, clarity, conciseness, completeness,
understanding of your design decisions, creativity, pacing, and
timing.
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