Showing posts with label Product Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Product Development. Show all posts

Monday, November 22, 2010

How to not become a laptop hunchback - Ergonomic Solution


Laptops are making us hunchbacks :(
It seems very obvious that laptops are not ergonomically friendly. We are all, finally, becoming ergonomically aware and yet we still succumb to laptops in all their hunching inducing glory. This is not okay. We can sit it the most suitably designed, ergonomic (designer even) chair, but as our hands are at our waist, if our heads are there too, it’s just not gonna help.

So, a seedling of a solution? Put a neck on the thing! Of all of our crazy technological advancements I’m proposing something that may actually move us back a bit – literally ;)
The screen of a laptop, either, needs to be a separate piece from the keyboard, or, it needs to have a neck that extends the screen up. For proper posture, the tip of your nose should hit the middle of your screen (if for some reason it was that close to your face, in which case I don’t want to know why that would be...).

If it was a separate piece it should have little feet to stand on so you could place it where you need to - like on a stack of books or something like that. And if the feet actually looked like feet, well, that would just be awesome. 

It seems absolutely crazy to me that this is not an issue. I’ve discussed this silliness with others and they agree with the decline of posture. I know our heads are fuller with immense amounts of information, but ummm, it doesn’t actually weigh anything - tangibly speaking. So pick it up and straighten out. And spread the word so we can encourage the development of a truly valuable consumer product innovation. I mean, those are pretty hard to come by!


Sunday, October 3, 2010

A new cell phone feature called Bouncin'

Let's talk about cell phones.
You know, when you're driving, or in a meeting, or just doing something that limits you from answering your phone, and maybe you're expecting a call, or hoping for a particular call - and you want to explain why you can't get to the phone but you can't just yet? Sure usually, it's no big deal, they can wait, right?! But sometimes it is a big'ish deal, so...


Why not add a feature, like an ‘out of office reply’ (which we'll call, the bouncer) that says “I’m driving” or “In a meeting” or “Let’s pretend I care” or whatever little explanation or notification you want your phone to automatically respond with (bounce back) so that you don’t have to!

I’m not too savvy regarding mobile technology options and capabilities so maybe this or something even better exists?


Dairy Queen should make ice cream cupcakes! DQ Cupcakes!

I believe the Dairy Queen menu should include mini DQ cakes - like, DQ cupcakes. Their cakes are fabulous but what if I want to buy a piece, just for me, cause it’s hot outside. I can’t. And neither could you, should you want one. So simple, no?
Let's formulate:
product development x food (ice cream + cookie + fudge + icing) = success! 

It's almost hard to believe that this is not available. I just checked the menu to confirm this and it is so. http://www.dairyqueen.com/ca-en/

As a business dealing with ice cream, and cakes, and ice cream cakes – operating during a huge and innovative cupcake craze – how has this not been developed and implemented yet? There is a huge market that isn’t quite aware how much they want this, but they do want this! I would know; I’ve talked to a sample bunch personally. Perhaps it was during a venting session, or perhaps it was a purely, diplomatically presented concern for the ice cream, dessert industry. Yes, that must be it!~

But still, it makes you wonder... Is there an avoidance strategy? Hmmm.....

But let’s get back to the yummy, potential product;
So, there's the gel icing, but not too much - then there's the whipped icing that isn't too sweet - then the vanilla ice cream - then the magical cookie, fudge centre - all resting securely on the chocolate ice cream base. Now imagine that in a cupcake liner. So cute!

Here is a prototype diagram to help you out...