GREATEST DESIGN EVER!!!

They probably came out with this a long time ago, but I just found out about it now, its great! Its a hand cranked battery charger, how bout that. This get my award for best design ever, whoever thought this up realized that people are far too lazy and can charge stuff without wasting electricity.

Found at-
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/06/05/datexx-super-battery-usb-crank/

A Pert Chart For You?

Met with Invacare Tech's

Yesterday I had lunch with certified Invacare technician Calvin Craddock. I mentioned to him an interest in designing relocation of the charging ports, Calvin told me that if I were going to make it easier to charge, if that is my ultimate goal, then a charging dock of some sort would be far more effective than plug relocation. The reasoning behind this was that, a charging dock could be utilized by both para- and quadrapeligic users, wheres relocated plugs would only benefit the parapelegic. We talked a bit about the charging problems with Invacares power wheelchairs, Calvin specified 2 kinds of Invacare chair, a high end model and a low end model, the low end model was sold mainly to quadrapelegic users, users with little to no mobility, these units had their charging ports nearly a few inches from the floor and were located in the rear of the chair, this requires an attendant to charge the chair. The other type of invacare chair is the high end model, mainly sold to parapelegic users, these chairs charged through the joystick controller in the front of the chair which is more ergonomic, but the electronics in the joystick controller are said to be, "a bit fragile," in Calvin's words and are almost gauranteed to burnout.
We talked about more about possible solutions, Calvin like my concept sketches of a charging dock and told me that there are no powerchair docks ont he market, nor has he ever seen anything of that kind before. We continued to chat for a bit and finished up lunch. It was a great experience and I plan to consult Mr.Craddock again in the future.

My next plan of action is to meet with a power wheel chair repairman, Scott Bartholomew, and get his take on Invacare's charging options, Scott works with wheelchairs and their users every day so he would have a great insight as to what the user needs.

REVISED revised problem and purpose statement

Nancy Noble helped me revise my problem/purpose statement

Problem Statement
Invacare Power wheelchairs are equipped with unattractive charging options that are poorly placed with little or no accessibility and tend to burn out electrical components.

Purpose Statement
The purpose of this study was to research and develop a charging configuration that is both accessible to the user and will not damage the power chair's electronics.

Timeline for you :D

Check out this nifty little timeline I made for the rest of my summer :)

Goin' to lunch with an Invacare expert

Today I am going to lunch with Invacare power wheelchair technician Calvin Craddock to discuss problems with current Invacare power wheelchairs.

Revised Problem and Purpose Statement

Problem:
Invacare Power wheelchairs come equipped with unattractive charging options, these options are either poorly placed with little to no accessibility or they tend to burn out electrical components.

Purpose:
Through research I plan on developing a charging configuration that is both easily accessible to the user and will not damage the power chair's electronics.

Blog Journal/Profile

Journal BLOG

bio/profile/intro

I am Wendell Souza, I am 24, I live in the East Bay.

1) Who are YOU? (Your DAI Major Study/Emphasis/Concentration; Interests; etc…)

I am a Industrial Design Major with an emphasis (but not limited to) in Product Design. I love working on things, tinkering, taking stuff apart and trying to improve upon it. I work at Wheelchairs of Berkeley in Berkeley, CA custom fabricating wheelchairs to customer spec and also did graphic design work for Coast Auto Insurance ads in the yellow pages as well as their San Jose billboards.

2) What Inspires/”WOWs” YOU?

My biggest inspiration comes from my fellow SFSU Industrial Design classmates, at SFSU we have some of the most talented minds, diamonds in the rough sort of, and my fellow students awesome workand creativity drives me to try and be on par with them.

3) Who, or What are your influences?

I am influenced by everyone around me. I feel like a huge block of granite that is slowly shaped by the people I have in my life and experiences that go along with them. My family is one of my biggest influences, my little brother is a big part of that influence, teaching me that a little bit of laughter goes a long way.

4) What is your Vision or HOPE in your life(time)? (academically; professionally; and/or socially)

My vision, would be of all of us SFSU designers saving the American economy while at the same time solving the worlds eco-crisis/ saving the environment and becomming rich beyond our wildest dreams as a result.

5) Post an Image(s) that Best represents YOU and/or Your Vision(s)

a) Me and my old crew

b) Wendell versus The Great Beyond

6) Provide Six (6) “Key Words” that best describe YOU

Creative

Semi-Smart

Empathetic

Product

Happy

Fun

Your Final Initial Problem/Purpose Statement Proposals

1.)
Invacare power wheelchairs are designed with unattractive charging options that are
difficult to utilize by paraplegic users who are without assistance.

Through research, I plan to develop a new user friendly, charging layout.

Sony's taking volume control to the extreme

Sony's Apple Remote Control-













Yet to be released, Sony finds a way to reinvent the remote control for televisions in the form of an apple you use in conjunction with movement to perform basic TV remote functions. Apparently when you put all of your apples in this basket, the basket charges your hardware.
Pretty unique and is aesthetically pleasing for a coffee table topper...

found at:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/07/monday-inspiration-innovative-designs-and-devices/

My New Blog

Check it out, this is the new blog, enjoy.