Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
INTERDICIPLINARY UNIT
By: Sina Antonio Baykal Rollins
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
1) Product Identification and Description (Criteria: HUM A/C/D, SCI, DT
A)
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
a) Describe your potential “invention” or machine in detail, and identify what
purpose your machine will serve (or what you hope it will achieve and why it’s
worthwhile). Be as detailed as possible when describing your vision. To
appropriately address this section, you must describe:
i) The future machine you will create (how does it work, what does it look like,
what materials will be used, what basic scientific principles are behind your
machine etc.)
My Innovation will combine existing wooden massaging tools that will preserve the
body’s backaches. The wooden massaging machine will consist of 4 wooden wheels,
2 lenient plastic wheels, a wooden handle and small plastic gears at the bottom of the
handles platform. The simple machines that this massager has are the wheel & axle
and gears. The massager will have the 4 wooden wheels in the front and the handle inbetween them with the 2 lenient plastic wheels at the back of the massager. The gears
will come in 2 different sizes: The large ones will be in different places for massage
and the small ones will be at the bottom of the platform attached with wooden dowels.
The making of the machine has 3 phases: the 1st phase will be the handle on the
platform with four wheels, the 2nd phase of the machine is the 2 plastic wheels are
added to it and lastly the 3rd phase will have many small gears at the bottom of the
platform and will be attached with dowels. It may need paint based on what my 3
clients think about whether it should be painted or not.
ii) The need it will meet (no need is too big or small, but give a general
description)
My innovation loosens the achiness in the back and will help the customer relax and
drift away in comfort. After exercising the day before peoples backs begin to ache the
following morning or when they accidently pull a muscle in their backs and are in
pain and aching all day they need a push of relaxation. Lots of bike riders have back
aches because there back is always bent when riding the bicycle, people who do yoga
have a lot of pulled muscles when they do something wrong, swimmers, dancers may
fall or do a wrong move that may bring their backs to pain, surfing, athletics:
basketball, skating, running, football, volleyball etc.
iii) Why you personally chose this machine (what interests you about it, what
experience you have in this field, how you came up with the idea, etc.)
I chose this machine because the day I cam up with my innovation my last two
periods in school were physical education and when I got home my back was aching
for hours. After surfing the Internet not able to find a single idea my mind dwelled to
my back and I found a small 2 wheeled massaging tool in the house and thought about
making it better. When I found the tool I came up with the idea. Last year I had
worked with wood before in Design Technology and I find it the easiest material to
craft with. Before I have learned ways of massaging, have seen many tools that help
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
for massaging and from that I think I can make a tool that utilizes both of those
massaging aspects.
b) Some sort of sketch or ‘mock-up’ will be required to give a better visual
representation of your product in addition to the written description.
2) Target Client/Consumer (Criteria: HUM B/C/D, SCI A/B , DT)
a) Provide an in-depth description of the specific ‘client’ or group of people you
want to consume this machine, and why they will benefit from it individually or as
a group (be as specific as possible here).
The people who will consume this machine will be people that maybe have a daily
workout, people with back problems in the past, people who might have had an
accident, people who have pulled muscles in their backs. My innovation can be used
individually or with two people. People will want to consume my machine because
they want their aches and pulled muscles gone. Wood is the best material to use for
massaging tools/machines because the smoothness helps the body relax, there was no
complaints about the material and it has been used in massaging tools for hundreds of
years. It will always be handmade and never be constructed in a factory of any sorts.
b) Although one group may benefit, consider the local/global impact it might
have on others. Explain and evaluate TWO of the following impacts:
i)
Social (how it will affect family structures, social relationships, and the
way people interact with each other).
ii)
Economic (who will benefit economically, who will lose economically,
where it will be built, what resources might be needed).
The massaging machine mostly is a wood based tool and that means that it will not be
expensive to make, nor to buy. Other massaging shops may start to lose money
because from my machine people will start massaging themselves and don’t need
other shops/people/organizations to massage them and it is much cheaper than getting
someone else to do it for you. It only needs a few tools and is not require a factory to
make it so it will be made in a workshop with a few people working on it.
iii)
Political (how it will change people’s relationships to their government,
who might become more/less powerful, how it might help/hurt
democracies, how it will cause peace/war
iv) Environmental (what resources will be needed to make this, how it will be
sustainable/not sustainable).
There might be some problems for people who are against cutting trees because the
massager is mostly made out of wood. It is not a large product so people should not
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
be concerned with too many trees being cut down. The plastic will not be poisonous
so people do not have to worry about chemicals involving the plastic rubbing on their
backs. The plastic gears at the bottom of the handle platform may be pushed away by
people. It is okay to use for people above 7 or 6 do to little kids could eat the gears of
use it in a different way that might harm them.
v) Ethical/Moral (what ethical or moral implications are involved in
producing/consuming your product)
vi) Cultural (how could this machine alter the cultural landscape, affect cultural
diversity?, etc.)
(1) Make sure you evaluate both the positive and negative impacts of the areas
you choose to explain.
3) Market Research/Focus Group (Criteria: HUM B, DT)
a) All successful machines exist, because there are consumers who buy
them. We expect no less!
1. Create a 10 to 15 question questionnaire aimed at identifying your
client’s/consumer’s level of interest in your product, the design of your
product, and any other constructive feedback you can think of. Essentially,
you have your idea, now you need to see if people like it, and what you can
change to make them like it (or like it more).
1.
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What do you like about the product?
What are your dislikes about the product?
What do you think about the product using wood?
Do you think there should be other materials used besides plastic and wood?
Do you think that there should be more simple machines?
What do you think about the design of my innovation?
Would you want it painted or keep its natural color?
What kind of wood would you want my machine to be made out of? : Plywood
Do you think that the size of the machine is fine or should it change?
Do you think that the machine is safe?
Do you think that the machine has a good durability?
Do you like the idea of massaging yourself?
Do you think the wheels should be shaped differently?
Where do you think the machine should be made?
Do you think that there should be designs or more added stuff to the handle and
the wheels like carvings?
16. Do you like the idea of plastic wheels on the machine or do want to replace it with
a different set of wheels with different materials?
17. Do you think that there should be wheels at the bottom of the platform instead of
gears?
18. Do you think that there should be cams used in the massaging machine?
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
(1) Potential focus ‘group’: Your mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, auntie,
friend at school (current or previous), or anybody else you actually know.
(2) Record your questions and the answers given from your focus ‘group’ to
include at least three individuals
(3) You may NOT ask teachers or mentors!!!!
4) Designing Your Mechanism: Anticipating Problems and Creating
Solutions (Criteria: HUM C, DT )
a)
Anticipating Problems:
i) When building and designing your machine, it’s not all going to be easy. In fact,
inventors usually spend the most time working with design and functionality. If “an
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, it’s important you identify and
anticipate future problems. You must:
(1) Create a list of specific problems that you could address.
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(2)
The wood may be too weak to apply pressure on the back.
The little wheels on the bottom of the handle platform may take too long to make.
The gears may hurt on the skin.
The wheels may be two slow.
The plastic wheels may rip in the process.
The stick may not fit inside the socket.
The machine may not hold together.
It may be too hard to make.
When you are completing the design of your machine and the building of the
product what problems could arise which you will be required to find a
solution for? Write a list of bullet point words such as: size, weight, cost, etc.
and aim for 10-15 words. Just a sentence for each word will suffice: KISS
SIZE: The measurements of the components in the design may be too small.
WEIGHT: The wood may be two light and then break while massaging.
COST: The machine may require materials that are not in the Design Technology
workshop.
COLOR: The wood may get old if the paint is not protecting it.
DURABILITY: The machine may need harder wood for it not to break when it is
done or during the process.
SAFETY: The consumer may get splinters when using it/kids may eat the small gears.
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
DETAIL: People might think that the wheels and the handles are two simple and may
want me to carve different shapes into it or design it differently.
SOUND: It may have a screeching or creaking wood sound when rolling it on the
body’s back.
USABILITY: It may be hard to use or place on the back.
MATERIALS: Plywood, File, Gears, Cams, Wheels, Hot glue gun.
b) Brainstorming of Possible Solutions
i)
Evaluate each. Copy and paste the list of bullet point words above in the
first Anticipating Problems and then write a description against each. How
will you address each of the areas identified as you work through the
Unit? Again, one sentence identifying the solution to the problem will be
fine. KISS
SIZE: The measurements of the components in the design may be too small.
How to solve it: Measure many times and design until sure that they are the correct
sizes.
WEIGHT: The wood may be two light and then break while massaging.
How to solve it: Run tests on the wood before creating the machine to see how it
holds up.
COST: The machine may require materials that are not in the Design Technology
workshop.
How to solve it: Note all the stuff in need from the design technology workshop and
get the missing ones from stores in the city.
COLOR: The wood may get old.
How to solve it: Research one sprays or materials that protect the wood from falling
apart.
DURABILITY: The machine may need harder wood for it not to break when it is
done or during the process.
How to solve it: Look at all the available wood materials in the design technology lab
and then choose the hardest one.
SAFETY: The consumer may get splinters when using it/kids may eat the small gears.
How to solve it: Use constant file and sandpaper to smooth the edges and disable
causes of splinters as much as possible.
DETAIL: People might think that the wheels and the handles are two simple and may
want me to carve different shapes into it or design it differently.
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
How to solve it: I will decide on whether to change the design of the wheels based on
my clients choices.
SOUND: It may have a screeching or creaking wood sound when rolling it on the
body’s back.
How to solve it: Finish the product as early as possible then find a solution if the
sound is not right.
USABILITY: It may be hard to use or place on the back.
MATERIALS: Plywood, File, Gears, Cams, Wheels, Hot glue gun.
5) Innovation and Inspiration (Criteria: Hum A/C, SCI A/B, DT)
a) Most likely, your product is inspired by other existing products or is the result of
combining different technologies innovatively (For example, iPad>iPhone>iPod).
i)
1)
Provide photos of at least 3 different existing machines from websites of
products that inspired your mechanism.
2)
ii.) Pick one of the three existing machines and explain the physics behind how
the mechanisms in that machine work.
This machine consists of one simple machine: The wheel & axle. The wooden wheels
have smoothed wooden spikes carved on it to help the body relax. The handle is used
to move the wheels back and forth to massage the person. It is extremely easy to use
except that you can only use it on other people and cannot be used on yourself.
iii.) Give 3 examples of how the one machine has been effective and ineffective in
meeting the need for which it was made.
This machine does relax the back of the body and is used in almost every massaging
shop/salons.
It can only be used on other people and can not be used on the yourself.
It is much simpler to use than other massaging tools and is not harmful in any way.
iv) Consider the local/global impact the one machine has on society. Explain
and evaluate TWO of the following impacts:
1) Social (how it will affect family structures, social relationships, and the way
people interact with each other).
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
2) Economic (who will benefit economically, who will lose economically, where
it will be built, what resources might be needed>
3) Political (how it will change people’s relationships to
their government, who might become more/less powerful, how it
might help/hurt democracies, how it will cause peace/war
4) Environmental (what resources will be needed to make
this, how it will be sustainable/not sustainable).
5) Ethical/Moral (what ethical or moral implications are
involved in producing/consuming your product)
6) Cultural (how could this machine alter the cultural
landscape, affect cultural diversity?, etc.)
v) What ideas did you get for your own product?
6) Materials and Tools (Criteria: HUM , DT)
a) It’s important to be ready once you start building your machine. To do
so, you’ll need the correct tools. You must:
i) Create a list of tools you will need to make for your machine and
where you plan to find them.
Design Technology Lab:
1) File
2) Metal Rule
3) Coping saw
4) Sandpaper
5) Plastic Gears
6) Plastic Wheels
7) Wooden Wheels
8) Wooden Dowels
9) Drill
10) Plywood
11) Glue gun
(1) Look at the tools contained within the DT Dept. and explain which ones you
are going to use to build the project where applicable. Then, go onto the
internet and look for pictures of the tools and a description to use in your
assignment.
1.
File: A file is a metalworking, woodworking and
plastic working tool used to cut fine amounts of
material from a work piece.
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
2. Coping Saw: A coping saw is a type of handsaw used to cut intricate external
shapes and interior cutouts in woodworking or carpentry.
3.
Steel Rule: A simple measuring instrument
consisting of a long, thin metal strip with a
marked scale of unit divisions.
4. Glue Gun: The gun uses a continuous-duty
heating element to melt the plastic glue,
which may be pushed through the gun by a
mechanical trigger mechanism, or directly
by
the user. The glue squeezed out of the
heated nozzle is initially hot enough to burn and blister skin. The glue is tacky
when hot, and solidifies in a few seconds to one minute.
5. Sandpaper: Is a heavy paper with abrasive
material attached to its surface. It is used to
remove small amounts of material from
surfaces, either to make them smoother.
6. Plywood: Plywood is a manufactured wood
panel made from thin sheets of wood veneer.
7) DESIGN BRIEF (MUST BE
INCLUDED AS A CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE
SECTION IN ANY WOK UPLOADED)
(Criteria: HUM , DT)
I am going to design and make an innovated massager. The massager will be
combining three different massagers. It will be made in three phases: The wheeled
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
massager tool, adding the lenient plastic wheels, adding the small plastic gears at the
bottom of the platform. The main material that will be used in the machine is wood. It
will ease the aches in the backs of the people and is meant to relax the customer. It
can be used on other people or on yourself. My machine is for people who may have
pulled muscles in their bodies, my have exercised too much and have a backache
from it or people have backaches for unknown reasons and need a solution. The
machine requires two different simple machines: Gears, wheel & axles and cams.
8) SPECIFICATION (MUST BE INCLUDED AS A CLEARLY
IDENTIFIABLE SECTION IN ANY WOK UPLOADED) Prepare a 15
point (Criteria: HUM , DT )
a) Specification (example): This is a list of requirements that your design
must fulfill such as: colour, weight, size, height, length, etc. etc. For each
of these words you are going to make a specific statement such as, the
colour will be blue……”, “the weight must be no more than (x)kg……..”,
“the size must be no more that (x)m2…………”, “the height must be no
less the (x)m…………..”. These are examples of specific criteria that your
design must meet. Ideas for your Specification can be taken from your
Market Research section of Step One; you can also use
technologystudent.com to see excellent examples of a Specification.
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Color: It must be the natural color of plywood.
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Weight: The weight has to be less then a kg.
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Length: Less than half a meter.
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Durability: It has to be strong and not break easily.
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Safety: No splinters or parts that cut the skin will be included.
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Sounds: No screeching or creaking sounds will be made when the
simple machine is in use.
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Usability: It needs to be easy to use on other people and yourself.
9) TESTING AGAINST SPECIFICATION list (MUST BE
INCLUDED AS A CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE SECTION IN ANY WOK
UPLOADED) Prepare a 15 point (Criteria: HUM , DT)
a) Specific tests for your ideas. Explain in detail how you will apply a test to
every point in your Specification. As an example; if cost is in your
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
Specification then you could apply a test that establishes how much every
item in your Shelter will be. Then you would add up the costs and establish a
final price. The final price could be communicated to the client who would
approve the cost. If the cost is approved by the client then you could proceed
with the design. If the cost was not approved by the client then you would
have to re-design the project to reduce the costs. Remember to apply a
weighting as explained to you by your teacher for each.
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Color: Don’t paint the machine at all.
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Weight: I will weigh every single material that will be used inside the
machine then add it up to fulfill the required weight.
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Length: Measure it constantly to keep the length at the standard
requirement.
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Durability: Choose the strongest wood in the design technology lab.
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Safety: Use the file and sandpaper constantly to smooth and disable the
chance of splinters or cuts.
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Sounds: Finish the product as early as possible then find a solution if
the sound is not right.
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Usability: I will add a slot and then a stick that can be put inside the
slot to be used on yourself.
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
Work Cited
"Bubble Wheels Shape Wooden Massager,Wholesale China." Bubble Wheels Shape Wooden
Massager,Wholesale China. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"File (tool)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 May 2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"3D Fbx File Tool Vray." 3D Fbx File Tool Vray. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"Coping Saw." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"MANUAL MACHINING TRAINING BENCHWORK AND LAYOUT OPERATIONS
210." What Is the Definition of Steel Rule? N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"Stainless Steel Ruler Clip Art." - Vector Clip Art Online, Royalty Free & Public Domain.
N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"Hot-melt Adhesive." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 Dec. 2013. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
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Interdisciplinary Unit, Section 1: Research. (Humanities, Science and Design
technology)
"Tips for Using a Glue Gun to Save Your Closet." How to Use a Glue Gun to Save Your
Closet. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2013.
"Sandpaper." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
"Plywood." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
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