Call My Bag: A ubiquitous aid for snowboarders

Call My Bag: A ubiquitous aid for snowboarders

Moccia, E.

Horvàth, I. (mentor)
Kooijman, A. (mentor)
Tessiore, L. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Computer Aided Design Engineering

Master of Science Design for Interaction

2011-10-17

Call My Bag is an innovation concept based on the use of ubiquitous technologies. The focus of this project is to assist snowboarders, to prevent and communicate injuries during the practice of snowboarding. The wearable device embedded in the snowboarders’ equipment aims to increase the security of such sportsmen through the enhancement of communication among the members of a group. Its scope is to establish a permanent connectivity among snowboarders allowing them to communicate with their group in any situation, and to establish a direct communication with the local first aid operators when the need crops up. The project is based on the Design Inclusive Research methodology. Such methodological framework is structured by an initial explorative phase in which the social demands of the selected target groups are studied during a user research. Observational research, interviews and questionnaires are the research methods adopted in order to obtain a design direction for this project based on the snowboarders’ needs. The analysis phase concludes with a literature study on the most relevant ubiquitous technologies. This research focuses on the families of ubiquitous technologies that are then taken into consideration during the device conceptualization. After the explorative phase, the project follows a stage of creative design actions. During this stage, three initial concepts based on the idea developed from the main users’ needs are shown. After a concept selection on the basis of the project requirements, the device functionalities are explained. Thereupon, the technologies needed for the development of the device functions are firstly analyzed, compared and finally selected. Summarizing the device functions and the needed technologies for its implementation, the concept offers: The creation of a Local Area Network among the group members connecting the Radio frequency modules of each rider. Voice communication via Radio frequency module. Forwarding call and SMS with the own coordinates to the first aid via GPRS and GPS modules. Distance alerting function through the use of GPS module for distance calculation. At the end of this project phase the analysis of the snowboarders’ equipment for the embedment of solution elements is carried out. This final step offers the possibility to conclude the detailing phase and to proceed with the device implementation after the selection of the snowboarding backpack as solution of embedment for the functional units. During the realization of two tangible prototypes, the development of software programming and hardware components is of fundamental importance. The knowledge and experience gained during the elaboration of a first wired version of the prototype offered the basis for the development of two final prototypes, set up on the realization of a Printed Circuit Board aimed to connect all the technology modules in a compact solution. The Software programming is carried out during the hardware development in order to develop the four principle device functions and to make them interoperable. Only at the end of this phase the hardware components are embedded in the snowboarding backpack in the course of a project step of system integration. After the prototyping phase, the Design Inclusive Research methodology foresees a final step of evaluative research actions. During this phase the functional performance of the device and the user experience are evaluated. The prototypes are firstly tested in five different testing sessions led in two environments: in the lab and in the countryside. The aim of this technical assessment is to understand if the prototypes work properly in terms of device operating, technologies sensitivity, correct components functioning and communication quality. The evaluations based on these criteria led to changes carried out directly on the devices in order to obtain a reliable final version of the prototypes ready for the confirmative user research. The confirmative user research conducted in the mountain environment is based on a qualitative research approach. Observational research and interviews are the two research methods used to conduct this final evaluation. During the final discussions with the users, suggestions and considerations about the products were obtained. The results gained from the confirmative research were of fundamental importance in order to conclude the project with a final evaluation of the said improvements the device might obtain. The device was considered as a meaningful solution able to increase the security of snowboarders by the entire research group. Also the embedment solution in a snowboarding backpack was positively evaluated by most of the participants. A failure analysis and a discussion of the device on the basis of the different snowboarding styles of practice conclude this project phase. After the validation of the device, the project provides the consolidation of the concept through a projection ahead of the product itself. At this stage, a proposal for a future version of the product is carried out. The criteria considered during this analysis are: additional application fields, technical improvements, functions advancement and comfort of use. This final research is fundamental in order to understand which are the weaknesses of the prototypes and what are the main points to focus on for the future development of the appliance. The design process concludes with a final analysis aimed to understand if the device has entirely fulfilled the design directions formulated during the conceptualization phase.

ubiquitous computing
wearable device
snowboarding
communication
safety

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:99cfbdfa-f2fd-46ac-a6ba-c91cc9cbb03a

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2011 Moccia, E.