3D Models of Prototype

Here are some 3D models of our initial prototype, to make it easier to design and to show other people our design.

The phone features the 3 main buttons on it, with the wheel button on the side for volume.





There is a screen on the front of the phone as well.





The main base unit, features a slot for docking the phone for charging, and updating. It has buttons and an extra large display to allow users to enter new numbers to the phone book on the phone and delete numbers.



Note regarding origin of work:
These models were downloaded from http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ a 3D-model sharing service, and then adapted to our needs, therefore they are not the complete work of ourselves.

Summary of Results for Questionnaire on Phone Usage

Here is the summary of the results obtained from the questionnaire we gave out to elderly people on their mobile phone usage (including on our persona's).

• They use their mobile phones infrequently:
• Ranging from once a every couple of days to never.

• 75% generally don't take the mobile phone out with them
• 100% tried to use it and the battery was flat
• 100% have difficulties using their mobile phone.
• 100% have difficulty remembering how to do things on the phone
• 100% have difficulty remembering what button does what
• 75% have difficulty seeing writing on the screen or buttons
• 100% had the phone bought for them
• 100% consider a mobile phone useful to them in different situations, including an emergency
• When struggling with new technology:
• 50% ask a friend/relative for help
• 25% give up
• 25% consult the manual

These results will be useful in designing our phone to try and tackle the areas where elderly people have problems using mobile phones currently.

Final Meeting To Discuss Prototype

These are the pictures that have been taken during our final meeting to discuss our prototype. As you will see, this is the final idea that we have come up with.

It is a combination of a house and mobile phone that is specifically designed for elderly people. The specification of the handset will be disccussed in a future post.

Some Ideas for Specification on the Prototype

Ideas for Phone

Guys, just thought I would list down some ideas for our phone project and things that we will have to consider on the specification side of things. I think that is important to consider these as we will need to come up with a model that is as realistic as possible. These are only scratching the surface and ideas, so its something to talk about when we next meet.

SPECIFICATION:

• If we are going to look at something for current generation of old people and perhaps not straight away the next generation of old people, need to look at a time scale of a product being able to last in the region of above ten years.
• Old people will not replace phones as rapidly as a younger generation.
• Make new technology “invisible” to old people, but useful to others.
• Expansion in market is rapid so need to have a good footing within market to begin with.

Typical things to look at:
• Network access:
o Current standard of GSM acceptable currently for just calls, but for OTT (over the air transmission) upgrades not an option as data transmission is too slow.
o 3G/HSDPA/EDGE all technologies that provide a much faster data transmission rate that is ideal of OTT, but in early stages of roll out for expansive coverage within the UK. But need to look at alternatives to GSM because of the possibility of the network being phased out.
o WiFi/WiMax not to be ruled out in case networks switch to using IP structure instead of a cell structure. Also useful for OTT.
o Making it QUAD Band to run on all GSM network frequencies would be easier for a mass roll out to all countries.
• Connectivity
o Don’t know if we will require anything like Bluetooth in there, but might be an option to but in due to the new law coming in about 3 points on driving licences if caught using a phone. Some old people will drive new cars, for example having access to mobility allowance, and newer cars are now coming with integrated handsfree sets that connect via this option. Just a thought about this.
o Backup to wireless connectivity to upgrade the phone? Such as mini-USB, pop port is another example although we couldn’t use it in this case because registered to Nokia.
• Optimisation of battery life
o If we are not having a screen, then battery life will go through the roof! Need to look at ways to extend this to a maximal level, i.e. turning off transmission modes when not in suitable areas, wireless will take a lot of power.

Also, we have mentioned tracking in the last meeting and the idea came to me a few days that this will be quite simple. This year you will find that the latest thing to have in a mobile telephone will be GPS equipped phones, with Nokia launching there N95 in April to kick things off. If we can incorporate GPS in the phone, then we can always find that persons phone from anywhere.


Few things to be thinking about guys.

Scott

Meeting To Discuss Prototype

At our first meeting to discuss our prototype model we came up with many good ideas, although our finally specification on it has not yet come into place. Below are the photos from our meeting sessions:

There are pictures from two meetings, with the second being held to draw up some of the ideas that we had from the first meeting.

More Questionnaire Results

Got a few more results for the questionnaire from my grandparents below:

Grand Parents result

This is my granddads questionairre:

This is my grandmas questionairre: