Assignment 2 - buildinprogress.media.mit.edubuildinprogress.media.mit.edu/.../design_file_path/782/Assignment-2.… · Page 2 of 21 Introduction The study was planned and carried

ASSIGNMENT 2 Discovery of user needs

Christian Larsen (206774) Daniel Nørgaard (206787) Nikolett Szalai (210494)

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Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2

Template used for observation ..................................................................................................................... 2

The results of the observation ...................................................................................................................... 3

Questions used for the survey .................................................................................................................... 17

Process summary of studies ....................................................................................................................... 19

Results from studies .................................................................................................................................... 20

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Introduction The study was planned and carried out, in order to find the user needs and the unutilized spaces in

different furniture. Several observations took place on different type of chairs and tables.

Template used for observation Rules for observation: Chair

Take a picture of the chair/ maybe some situation pictures

1. Ask to sit down

observe where they grab the chair, after how they place their hands/legs

How fast do they move the chair?

Are there any movements?

2. Place the chair back to its place

How are they raising up?

Do they lift it up?

Is it a fast or a slow movement?

Do they place it under the table?

3. Could you please sit in different positions?

Look backward

Relaxed

Focused

Having lunch

Rules for observation: Table

Take a picture of the table/ maybe some situation pictures

1. Ask to sit down

Focus on legs under the table

2. Simulate dropping

Dropping something down, and picking it up under the table

3. Simulate eating

4. using computer

Cables? Legs?

5. Relaxation

If legs coming to the front?

6. Ask them to kick

How far they can reach with the legs?

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The results of the observation

Observing Dan

Observation of the chair use

Picture of the chair:

Ask to sit down


Grab it on the top of the chair, sits down and then grab the sides. Legs are slightly bent,

reaches almost until the end of the table


Medium speed, without real lifting it up


Only with the hands, otherwise sits straight

Place the chair back to its place


Place the feet backwards, pushes the chair back. Stands up. Move next to the chair then

grabs the back of it with two hands.

Do they lift it up?

Just slightly, somewhat touching the floor.


Medium speed


Yes

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Could you please sit in different positions?

Look backward

Twisting the back, grabbing the side of the chair. Legs are moving slightly backwards.

Relaxed

Back is touching the back of the chair, shoulders drop, hands are on the arms of the

chair.

Option 2. Hands are on the table, legs are straightened.

Focused

Straight back, legs not moving, hands are not touching the computer

Having lunch

Only arms are moving

Observation of the table use

Picture of the table:

Ask to sit down


Just in a 90 degree angle

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Simulate dropping


Grabbing the chair, legs are moving out to the side to keep the balance

Simulate eating

Using the space in front, some side movements to grab salt, water, etc.

Using computer

Cables? Legs?

Cable is hanging next to the leg of the table

Relaxation


Slightly

Ask them to kick


Until the end of the table

Observing Nikolett



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Ask to sit down


Grab the chair with both hands on each side and start bending the legs, when she has

grabbed the chair.


Medium-fast speed


Bending a bit in the back



Using both hands at the same time to get up, together with the legs. Stepped to the

side and moved backwards. Use both hands to move the chair in.

Do they lift it up?

Lifted the chair a bit.


Fast speed


Yes


Look backward

Twist the whole upper body around. One hand on chair and one on table.

Relaxed

Pull up on leg on the chair and use both hands to grab around the leg.

Focused

Straight back, legs not moving, hands are on the table.

Having lunch

Only using the arms

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Ask to sit down


Legs are in the 90 degree angle and crossed

Simulate dropping


Grabbing the chair, legs are moving out to the side to keep the balance

Simulate eating

Using the hands to eat what is in the front

Using computer

Cables? Legs?

One leg on the floor and one leg is in the chair. Tilt out to the side.

Relaxation


Same position as with the computer

Ask them to kick


As long as the legs are

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Observing Pernille and Christian



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1. Sitting down

first grip

hand placement

Sitting down both users grips the chair with one hand on the green marking and afterwards sits down in

one motion using this grip as support. After this the hands are placed at rest on the blue markings with

the back resting against the backrest.

2. Getting up

Grip

Getting up both users places their hands on the green markings and pushes down assisting them getting

up. This motion in done in a slow to medium speed straight forward out of the chair.

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3. Different positions.

Relaxed

Both users occupy the green marking and are sitting in the same way with one exception. The

woman has her legs crossed whereas the man’s legs are spread apart on the blue markings.

Looking back

Looking back both users occupies the green marking and are sitting in the same way and again the

woman has her legs crossed and the man has not. The man however places his left hand on the blue

marking to support his turning his head and upper body.

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Focused

Both users occupy the green marking and are sitting in the same way



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1. Sitting down

Placement of legs.

The feet are placed on the flor just under the tables edge, with I small bend at the knees

2. Relaxation

Placement of legs.

The feet are placed under the middle of the table and the legs are almost completely stretched out.

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3. Kick

Placement of legs.

Kicking under the table the feet can almost reach the other end of the table, but this is a very

unnatural situation.

Observing Christella



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Ask to sit down

Observe where they grab the chair, after how they place their hands/legs

i. Legs: under chair. Arms on table. Leaning on table. She grabs the back of the

chair and moves it out, sits down and pulls the chair in to the table by grabbing

the seat.


i. Medium slow.


i. Not much. Sits with computer.



i. She turns to the side and rise up from the chair. Then she grabs the chair by its

back and lifts it in to the table.

Do they lift it up?

i. Yes. She lifts it and places it at the table side.


i. Medium slow.


i. Yes.


Look backward

i. Lifts the body a little bit up and turns half way around. Looks backward. Right

hand on chair back and left and resting on the table.

Relaxed

i. Leans her back against the back of the chair. Left elbow on table and resting the

head in left hand. Right hand on computer. Right leg on chair and the left

normally placed on the floor under the table.

Focused

i. Working with computer. One hand on computer, rests with the other one on

table.

Having lunch

i. Sits straight up and back is not leaned to the chair back. Feet are pushed half

way under the chair.

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Ask to sit down


i. The legs and feet are not really under the table, but a little bit under the chair.

Knees are reaching furthest under the table.

Simulate dropping

Dropping something down, and picking it up under the table.

i. Drops a serviette next to the table leg. Turns a bit to the left and places a hand

on the table. Bends down and picks the serviette up.

Simulate eating

ii. Same as Chair observation.

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Using computer

Cables? Legs?

i. Legs are the same as for chair observation. No cables to computer.

Relaxation


i. One leg is placed on the chair with the knee bent and the other leg a little bit

under the chair.

Ask them to kick


i. Does not kick the legs very much. They reach half way under the table and not

so high.

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Questions used for the survey 1. Do you have fresh herbs at home?

2. Where do you store them?

3. Have you faced any difficulties maintaining them?

4. Would you like to store them in a different place?

5. Are them annoying you in their current location?

6. How would it affect your emotions/ mood to have more greens around you?

7. Where would it be nice to have the herbs around the apartment?

8. Would you appreciate to save some space where the herbs are now?

9. Would you like to utilize the space usage in furniture?

10. Would you like to have homegrown vegetables at home?

1. Interviewing Dan

1. Yes

2. Window- storage container (don’t have to water it that regularly)

3. Didn’t get light enough, get dry

4. Special place made for them? In the kitchen/ kitchen window- used as flowers

5. No it is only annoying that it does not have a pot

6. Smells good, make me fresh. Make me feel great – something alive around when I can’t have

cat or a dog

7. Kitchen

8. No, not really

9. Yeah it would be great to create more functionality, like wireless charging built in to furniture

Maybe holes in the table herbs standing in it

10. Yes, they are fresh you made them on your own

2. Interviewing Nikolett

1. Yes

2. On the preparing kitchen board

3. Yes, they die because they don’t get enough water. Water is flowing around the table.

4. Not necessarily

5. Somewhat – the board gets dirty from the herbs

6. Until a certain point it will make me happy, but too much would make me feel annoyed

7. Kitchen or balcony

8. No

9. Not at all – only if it is invisible. I don’t like the crowded look.

10. Yes I would like that

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3. Interviewing Pernille

1. Sometimes

2. On the kitchen table

3. They don’t keep because I forget to water them

4. Yes, outside in the garden

5. Yes, not satisfactory – they do not keep.

6. Yes, very positive. It is very cozy and reminds me of life and good food.

7. Corner of the kitchen where it is out of the way. Maybe a small greenhouse indoor

8. No not really.

9. I have a big house with a big garden so I do not see the need for that.

10. Yes very much. Tomatoes, lettuce cucumber, carrots, red peppers, chili

4. Interviewing Christian

1. Sometimes

2. In the kitchen

3. They die because I forget to water.

4. Yes, maybe outside but still somewhere close by

5. Yes, because I get soil on the table even when I keep them in the plastic bag.

6. Yes. It would give me at feeling of calm.

7. Of the kitchen table but still close by when cooking. Maybe in a cupboard

8. Not really. I have a very big kitchen

9. I have big house where there is more than enough space

10. Yes. Lettuce, chili and tomatoes

5. Interviewing Daniel

1. No

2. If I had some, I’ll store them at the window next to the stove.

3. No.

4. It’s not so nice to have the herbs next to the stove when grease and other things can sprinkle on

them.

5. No not really.

6. I think I would feel more relaxed and comfortable if they are not in the way for me. Else they

would just be annoying to have.

7. Close to the window maybe, or somewhere else where they are not taking up floor space. There

is not much space in the apartment and I don’t want plants to take even more space away.

8. It could be nice if I don’t need to have them next to the stove.

9. Yes it could be very nice to have more free space in the apartment.

10. Yes. I think it is fun to eat something that you have grown yourself. But I don’t want it to take up

too much space.

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6. Interviewing Christella

1. Yes.

2. Outside the main door.

3. No. It’s easy.

4. No. I don’t have so much space, so it is the best place to store them. There is also good lighting

there for the plants. It looks great there outside the door in summer.

5. No. They are not standing in the way for anything else.

6. It would be nice but, not that important because I already have some plants around me.

7. In my corridor. There are no plants and not so many colors. The reason why I don’t have any

plants there, is because I don’t have the space for it.

8. No. They can’t really be in any other place. It’s good to have them where they are.

9. No the space in my apartment is already used in the best way.

10. Yes a lot. It is very nice to grow your own vegetables at home, and eat it. I enjoy it very much

when I eat homegrown vegetables.

Process summary of studies Firstly the template was made both for survey and observation. This was the guideline to follow in the

study. The first study was the survey. The surveyor asked the participants the questions and wrote down

the answers afterwards. After the survey, the observation was carried out. The observer asked the

participant to do different actions and wrote down the observations continually. Next, the two roles was

switched and the participant became observer and vice versa.

The time used for both observation and survey was approximately 30-45 min.

Chairs used for observations:

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Results from studies Key points and conclusion of survey

From the survey some key points can be taken out. These points will be used to define the users needs

and specify the most important considerations and requirements for growing herbs at home.

In an overall perspective all the study participants had some common agreements. They all liked the

idea about growing vegetables at home and liked to have them in the house/ apartment. Everyone

agrees that a green environment creates a good atmosphere in the house/ apartment. At the same time

they also faced more or less the same difficulties. Many times the plants would dry out because of lack

of watering, soil spilling around the plants. Most of the participants had their herbs in one specific

location, because of lack of space. They were restricted to be at that location, because it was the only

suitable place. Still the participants would like to have them other places if it was possible. For two of

the participants lack of space was not an issue, but for the others, they had limited space. The two

participants that did not lack space are living a bit outside the city center in a house. The others are

living in apartments in the city center. From that it is concluded that limited space is the greatest

obstacle for growing herbs/ vegetables at home.

In conclusion, the following points will be taken into consideration for further development:

Space is the biggest obstacle

Continuous watering is important

There’s a desire to grown your own herbs.

Soil is spilling from the plants and spreads dirt.

Key points and conclusion of observation

The intension with the observations was to find out where free space can be utilized to grow herbs,

without annoying the user.

Two of the chairs used in the observation are similar since it is kitchen chairs. The third one is a living

room chair and is different from the others. It is lower and the user has a different sitting position. The

context that the chair is used in is also different. Since the free space around the chairs and tables shall

be utilized, most focus has been on the placement of hands and feet. In all the cases the participants

lean their backs against the backrest. For the two chairs with armrests they are frequently used,

especially in relaxed positions. One of the participants are keeps the feet under the chair most of the

time, while the others place them under the table. Hands are either on the armrests or on the table in

front of the participant.

In conclusion, the following points will be taken into consideration for further development:

Armrests, front of chair, and backrest are most occupied spaces of chair.

Half of the space under the chair remains unused.

Not all the space under the table is occupied. In the mid section under the table is free. The observed participant only uses a little space in front of the chair.

There is also free space on to of the table. The participants only use the space for their computer or plate. Therefore free space will be in the middle of the table.

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The height of the table effects how far the feet reach under the table.

There is also free space at each end of the table between the two table legs. Detected free spaces:

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Assignment 2 - buildinprogress.media.mit.edubuildinprogress.media.mit.edu/.../design_file_path/782/Assignment-2.… · Page 2 of 21 Introduction The study was planned and carried