Convergence Exercise
- Pick a favorite product. Add sustainability (a) as a capability, or (b) as a characteristic.
- Observe. Define. Ideate. Sketch. Concept Story (narrative). Human-centered.
- Intended to stretch & strain (aka wedging, coning & centering). Manage uncertainties. Do your best. Use design thinking.
What to Do
- Discuss (using our Slack discussion groups)
- Document (post your work-in-progress thinking below on this Notion page)
- Mini-Essay Report (post to Canvas).
Insanely Rough First Draft:
“He ran towards the dragon, willing his body to continue moving forward despite his multiple injuries. His screams could be heard from miles away, ‘This is over now-” No. No. No. No. The e-reader I was currently enthralled in had run out of power. In my packing rush from this morning I forgot to charge it and even worse forgot to pack a charger in general. The plane ride was about to begin and I had a long eight hours ahead of me as I traveled from Dallas, Texas to Madrid, Spain. Now I’m left to stare at the seat in front of me for the remaining duration of this flight. Left only with my restless mind, I lean against the window of the airplane and let the sun’s light burn into my corneas; my consciousness drifts away from me and into a world where I no longer have to worry about the state of my e-reader’s battery and I can consume literature even more endlessly than already possible. As if the sun itself wants to lend a solution to my problem, the bright light eventually rouses me from my stupor and graces me with the idea of a solar-powered e-reader.
Amazon has completely transformed how written forms of media are accessed with the increasing popularity of the e-reader- more specifically in my case the ‘Kindle Oasis.’ It is a portable, wireless, electronic reading device that simulates the feel of paper books without the bulk and waste. Essentially it is a library at the users' fingertips. The most common uses amongst customers are reading, whether it be sight reading or audio listening, annotating with the dictionary, highlighting, and notetaking built-in features. The accommodations on the Kindle Oasis allow for it to be a practical appliance. E-readers are marketed for people of all ages, some go so far as to create children’s versions, although, there is no notable difference between the original and children’s designs. Both contain the same adjustability features- text size, brightness, warmth -which broaden the scope of reading to people who have disabilities that impair them from reading standard print.
The product has sustainable capability as its usage reduces waste created by traditional paper books; this waste can manifest in the forms of overconsumption or the disruption of ecosystems. However, the sustainable aspects do not need to be limited to the fact that it is an electronic device. E-readers still have a battery that needs to be charged using electrical energy, but some resources can limit or completely diminish this use of energy. The addition of small solar panels can be the solution for an almost completely waste-free and permanently functional gadget. On a calculator, a small solar panel is added to the top and can convert outdoor and indoor lighting to energy, the only drawback would be the small amount of energy produced through this method. To combat this, multiple little panels would need to be attached or one large panel- this would vary after product testing and feedback. The ‘Kindle Oasis’ has a thicker part that is used for a more stable grip and then a larger flat screen that encompasses most of the product's design. While the handle on the Kindle is constantly in contact with oils and dirt that may be on people's fingertips, the flat screen is rarely touched and provides the space necessary to implement such delicate features.
The application of solar panels for e-readers would combat the forgetfulness that humans are prone to. No more worries about which cords to pack for the electronic ecosystem we now carry around, but instead a more lax time with endless access to knowledge. Improving upon a revolutionary piece of technology in a simple yet effective way.