Prototype Work In Progress

[PART A]

• Wander. Select a location (must have at least one human in addition to yourself).
• Observe (30 minutes or longer). Sketch the scene in Notion Design Journal. Use Look & See method.
• Annotate details explaining forms & functions. Notice any issues, problems or opportunities for improvement.
• Part A (observational & project ideas notes in Notion) due Friday (to screen ideas or domains).

Brainstorming:

At the gym

• While I was bench pressing at the gym, I noticed that kind people around me were discreetly helping to spot for me. In addition, someone had asked me to help him slide additional weights onto the barbell.
• I wondered if it was possible for ‘digital weights’ to exist. All weights (including dumbbells) would be uniformed and equipped with a small screen for the desired weight input. It would primarily save equipment, space, and allow for more precise weight inputs instead of weight intervals of five as currently present in most gyms.
• Since the weight plates may also be digitalised, one can simply change the weight input instead of manually sliding on additional weight plates with the need for other people to help.
• The bench press machine can also be further digitalised to track one’s resistance and detect whether one is struggling as a safety feature by acting as a “spotter”.

Office Hours with helpful Glen!

• Glen told me to look at Tonal which has a similar product but targeted at personal use rather than commercial
• Other ideas Glen told me:
• Personal use which helps with: (a) insecurities/inconvenience/expense with going to the gym; and (b) space saving qualities with multi functions.
• Other possible functions: (a) tracking of progress with curated fitness programs ie, a digital personal trainer; and (b) bluetooth syncing with watches for a more complete fitness plan like weight loss and diet control.
• Sustainability features: (a) minimisation of equipment; and (b) easier transportation and delivery due to fewer equipment and lighter iron weights which is now digitalised.
• Other ideas I thought of:
• Accessibility for disabled persons: inculcate programs like physiotherapy (for the elderly or injured persons), dumbbells that support people with arthritic hands, ergonomic bench for better back support etc.
• Safety features for underaged children by disallowing them to use overly heavy weights by using the same face recognition technology to track one’s fitness program.

Tonal

• Tonal already supports a spotter program, uses digital weight technology (Yay! Good to know it works then but boohoo that it already exists), allows for multi-exercises in sliding the arms, digital personal trainer, and a fully integrated fitness program by allowing for connections with other apps (Strava etc).

Possible improvements from Tonal:

• Expand for commercial use, expand the digital weight technology for dumbbells as well, increase accessibility for disabled persons, expand the safety features for children, explore if it can support even more movements and functions.