Appliance Design - September 2007 - (Page 44) INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 25 in. deep, sits flush with the countertop to promote sliding of hot dishes. A slide in cook top also was designed that sits flush with the countertop. The designers also developed 15in.-wide cooktop modules that can be ganged together to create the “ultimate” cooktop featuring induction, gas, and electric cooking options next to each other. A modular refrigerator was also developed that features a convertible freezer/beverage center that measures 30 x 25 x 49 in. and incorporates a Lazy Susan. Other design elements included a upper cabinet with French doors and an integrated crisper drawer. Another pivotal aspect of the design process was the creation of a visual narrative to help the user operate the appliance. An example of why this is important came out during their ethnographic studies. In one case, a couple had a slide-in range that they said they used all the time, but when they went to show it to the researchers, the couple was unable to unlock the key pad that controlled the range. “The wife came over and tried to do it, but she couldn’t,” says Baskinger. “When they finally could unlock it, I asked how do you do the settings, and they had to take the manual out. I asked them why they had to turn to the manual if they used the appliance all the time and they said, ‘yeah, we do, but we burn stuff all the time.’” What the researchers developed was an interface that told a story with a clear beginning, middle and end. It has a visual narrative where each step in the process is clearly laid out in icons. In a clothes-washing application, the icon may move from rinse to dry, for instance. And, only the information that is needed for that process is shown to the user. “You can select a cycle, say a short wash for whites, and only the steps in that sequence will present themselves,” Baskinger says. “You will only get that information that is needed so it is like laying out the whole story in front of them.” thing he wanted to do was create a radical departure from what contemporary appliances already present. “We could design a cylindrical refrigerator, and there have been concepts for this in the past, but that doesn’t get us anywhere if no one accepts it for being too radical.” They also didn’t want to dumb down the electronics or change the design to include super-large type and giant knobs that are seen on some appliances geared for that market. Baskinger says, “We made everything sort of right size.” “Our whole approach was geared to designing the user experience for our target audience,” he adds. “We didn’t say that elders need fewer features, because we don’t know that. There is no conclusive evidence that says all elders need fewer features and the appliances need to be dumbed own. What we do know is that everybody has different experiences with appliances. What we can do is script certain scenarios and help design for a broader range of experiences through these appliances.” < Keeping it real One of the most important goals going into the study was to keep appliances familiar to the consumer. Baskinger says the last LATCHING RELAYS TO FIT YOUR TOUGHEST APPLICATION American Zettler has the highest quality relays for all your application needs. AZ881 ·8 Amp Subminiature power relay · Dielectric strength 3000 Vrms ·Single and dual coil latching versions available ·Epoxy sealed version available Hospital Grade Powercords and DC to DC Converters When power is critical to your equipment as well as your patients, you can rely on MEGA Electronics to deliver. Produced in ISO9000 facilities, our line of hospital grade powercords, related components and DC to DC converters all conform to the highest standards. Upon your next requirement, please keep MEGA in mind. MEGA Electronics Inc. 4B Jules Lane New Brunswick.New Jersey. 08901 tel. 732.249.2656 fax. 732.249.7442 www.megaelectronics.com medicalsales@megaelectronics.com For product Information log on to www.americanzettler.com ·2.0 Amp Microminiature Polarized Relay ·2.5 kV lightning surge withstand ·SMT and DIP mounting available · High performance AZ8462 AMERICAN ZETTLER, INC. 75 Columbia, Aliso Viejo California 92656 Phone: 949-831-5000 · Fax: 949-831-8642 www.americanzettler.com For more Information Enter 131 www.applianceDESIGN.com For more Information Enter 130 44 applianceDESIGN AD09074Mega1.indd 1 September 2007 7/24/07 10:08:59 AM http://www.megaelectronics.com http://www.americanzettler.com http://www.americanzettler.com http://www.megaelectronics.com http://www.americanzettler.com http://www.appliancedesign.com
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