In phase one of this project, we aimed to narrow our project scope and define the key opportunity gap that our solution would address. To accomplish this, I conducted preliminary online research, compiled a list of influential social, economic, and technological (SET) factors, and created a stakeholder map with my team to identify the most important people that would need to be involved in developing our solution. After performing these tasks, we established that our focus would be on a preventative solution designed for computer users between 18 and 50-years-old. Once we narrowed our scope, my team members and I each generated a list of product opportunity gap (POG) statements which we believed best captured the problem at hand. By picking key words and phrases through team collaboration, we were able to revise our list of roughly 30 statements into our five top statements. 

Going into phase two of the project, our goal was to gain a better understanding of potential users and their needs within the opportunity space. I conducted one-on-one interviews with coworkers and fellow students, sent out surveys to produce a broad characterization of user values and frustrations, and used passive observation to understand common working habits both in user homes and public work spaces. Additionally, using the data we had collected, I generated four user personas to represent major trends and characteristics identified in our research. From the information we gained, we were able to further narrow our scope to a laptop-based solution, specifically focusing on reducing neck and back pain. From this, we were able to select our final product opportunity gap statement:
“To generate an ergonomically improved solution for laptop users by implementing adjustability of the screen in order to prevent chronic health condition in the neck and back while maintaining the portability of the device and productivity of the user.”

Using the information we gained regarding user values, we then identified major competitors in the marketspace and conducted a value opportunity analysis (VOA) to understand the most important product requirements to incorporate in our final solution. Utilizing a variety of concept generation tools such as forced analogies, attribute listing, and design heuristics, each team member independently created ten different concepts incorporating these key requirements. Using the 4-3-5 brainwriting method, we then built upon the concepts we had already created to establish new and improved concepts. In this method, four participants create three ideas in five minutes (which lends it the name, 4-3-5), and allowed us to generate roughly 100 concepts to choose from. After refining down our list to our most feasible ideas using methods such as dot voting and two-by-two positioning matrices, we began our prototyping phase.

We used a combination of cardboard low-fidelity prototypes and 3-D CAD models to acquire user feedback, understand mechanical constraints and fully define our concepts. By reassessing our value opportunity analysis and the feedback gained from our prototypes, we established a final solution concept, which features an extendable screen to improve user posture and a removable keyboard to allow for improved adjustability of screen distance and arm placement. In addition to the keyboard, we envision a touch screen below the keyboard to allow for additional screen space to maximize functionality. To visualize the final concept, we created updated CAD models and renders, as well as a high-fidelity prototype using old laptop parts, 3D printed components, and a series of imbedded magnets for establishing various screen heights. Additionally, we used the Wizard-of-Oz prototyping technique during our project showcase to demonstrate the touchscreen beneath the removable keyboard. 

Over the course of the project, I not only gained hands-on experience working with an industry sponsor to address a real-world opportunity gap, but I also gained an incredible toolkit of new research, design and analysis methods to carry with me in my future design endeavors. Tools such as stakeholder maps, design heuristics and value opportunity analysis proved to be invaluable in effectively narrowing our scope and delivering a relevant product in merely one semester. I learned a myriad of new skills pertaining to identifying stakeholders, product requirements, and product opportunities, and I look forward to applying these new skills to design and build additional human-centered solutions in the future.