Case study of smartphones

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-114).Design-driven business strategy has received a lot of attention in recent times, with Apple frequently standing out as an exemplar of the success of such a strategy. Most of the existing literature, while emphasizing the importance of design for market success, takes a fairly static view of design. In this thesis we provide a prescriptive guideline on adapting design strategy over time in response to the dynamics of technology evolution and market adoption mechanisms for technology products. Our Design Strategy Framework builds on existing literature in three main areas: design, technology adoption life-cycle and market adoption mechanisms. For the purposes of this thesis, we have adopted Sanders perspective of defining a product in terms of three key design attributes - usefulness (functionality), usability (ease of use) and desirability (aesthetics). We have used Anderson and Tushman's paper on the Cyclical Model of Technological Change as our basis for defining the stages in the technology adoption life-cycle. Finally, we have used Rogers' theory on Diffusion of Innovation to define the characteristics of the user base (adopter category) in each stage of market adoption. Based on this foundation, our framework prescribes emphasis on one of the three design attributes of a product during each stage of market adoption. This recommendation is grounded on the technological maturity during that stage as well as the characteristics of the user segment that leads them to value certain product attributes over others.(cont.) This thesis includes a case study of convergent handheld devices (PDAs and smartphones) which illustrates the application of the Design Strategy Framework in providing an explanation for a product's success or failure in the market based on its emphasis (or lack of) on the right design attribute at the right time. The thesis also includes a survey of current and potential smartphone users which is used to further validate the framework. While this thesis focuses on mobile handheld devices, the findings can be applied across consumer technology products. The Design Strategy framework can be used to determine what aspects of a design to focus a firm's development efforts on, given an understanding of the product's placement in the adoption cycle. Judiciously emphasizing the right aspects of design at the right time can improve a product's chances of market success.by Sangita Subramanian.S.M

Smartphone-based food diagnostic technologies: A review

A new generation of mobile sensing approaches offers significant advantages over traditional platforms in terms of test speed, control, low cost, ease-of-operation, and data management, and requires minimal equipment and user involvement. The marriage of novel sensing technologies with cellphones enables the development of powerful lab-on-smartphone platforms for many important applications including medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food safety analysis. This paper reviews the recent advancements and developments in the field of smartphone-based food diagnostic technologies, with an emphasis on custom modules to enhance smartphone sensing capabilities. These devices typically comprise multiple components such as detectors, sample processors, disposable chips, batteries and software, which are integrated with a commercial smartphone. One of the most important aspects of developing these systems is the integration of these components onto a compact and lightweight platform that requires minimal power. To date, researchers have demonstrated several promising approaches employing various sensing techniques and device configurations. We aim to provide a systematic classification according to the detection strategy, providing a critical discussion of strengths and weaknesses. We have also extended the analysis to the food scanning devices that are increasingly populating the Internet of Things (IoT) market, demonstrating how this field is indeed promising, as the research outputs are quickly capitalized on new start-up companies

Positioning Techniques with Smartphone Technology: Performances and Methodologies in Outdoor and Indoor Scenarios

Smartphone technology is widespread both in the academy and in the commercial world. Almost every people have today a smartphone in their pocket, that are not only used to call other people but also to share their location on social networks or to plan activities. Today with a smartphone we can compute our position using the sensors settled inside the device that may also include accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers, teslameter, proximity sensors, barometer, and GPS/GNSS chipset. In this chapter we want to analyze the state-of-the-art of the positioning with smartphone technology, considering both outdoor and indoor scenarios. Particular attention will be paid to this last situation, where the accuracy can be improved fusing information coming from more than one sensor. In particular, we will investigate an innovative method of image recognition based (IRB) technology, particularly useful in GNSS denied environment, taking into account the two main problems that arise when the IRB positioning methods are considered: the first one is the optimization of the battery, that implies the minimization of the frame rate, and secondly the latencies due to image processing for visual search solutions, required by the size of the database with the 3D environment images

Strategies to limit degradation and maximize Li-ion battery service lifetime - critical review and guidance for stakeholders

The relationship between battery operation and their degradation and service life is complex and not well synthesized or communicated. There is a resulting lack of awareness about best practices that influence service life and degradation. Battery degradation causes premature replacement or product retirement, resulting in environmental burdens from producing and processing new battery materials, as well as early end-of-life burdens. It also imposes a significant cost on the consumer, as batteries can contribute to over 25% of the product cost for consumer electronics, over 35% for electric vehicles, and over 50% for power tools. We review and present mechanisms, methods, and guidelines focused on preserving battery health and limiting degradation. The review includes academic literature as well as reports and information published by industry. The goal is to provide practical guidance, metrics, and methods to improve environmental performance of battery systems used in electronics (i.e., cellphones and laptops), vehicles, and cordless power tools to ultimately better inform users as well as battery designers, suppliers, vehicle and device manufacturers, and material recovery and recycling organizations.Master of ScienceSchool for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154859/1/Woody_Maxwell_Thesis.pd

Evaluating the Adoption of Pure Electric Vehicles. An Examination of Sociotechnical Barriers Amongst UK Consumers

This study shows that the three major factors inhibiting EV market growth in the UK are: a lack of standardisation of rapid-charging facilities; sociotechnical issues linked to charge-point trauma (CPT); and a lack of sufficient and contiguous rapid-charging infrastructure. A buyer’s decision to choose an appropriate EV that suits their needs and lifestyle, depends upon three exogenous factors: product-related reviews, road tests, and private and government EV and general zero-emission data. This research uses primary and secondary research methodologies to evaluate the impact of the three main inhibiting factors (Chapters 3, 4 and 5) on the choices made by EV buyers/users/owners. The study presents barriers to EV adoption resulting from charge-point non-standardisation protocols. Additionally, the concept of charge-point trauma is introduced to the field for the first time, and finally the study creates a globally adaptable and portable model of calculating the volume of charge-points necessary to a given number of EVs. This investigation also uses primary research to collect evidence from current EV users and potential adopters concerning the significance of the three main inhibiting factors, showing how they influence consumer behaviour and growth in the sector. By exploring how current EV user’s experience influences public reviews and ratings, this research demonstrates the impact this public data has on EV consumer’s purchasing behaviour. The study gathered data within the UK through structured surveys of existing EV drivers, and used science-based field testing with data collection to analyse charge-point infrastructure protocol standardisation. Field tests and driver observation quantified the contiguous charge point network, its availability, and its capacity to satisfy current and future demand. This investigation utilises a non-generic model in each chapter to study the effects and outcomes of the three study phases, offering a graphical synopsis for all primary impact factors including the principal exogenous ones. The study integrates the principal impact factors to create for the first time, a precise model of behavioural apprehension and growth impedance among EV users and prospective buyers. This model is based on three main elements, including two major multi-locational field tests and trials, and a significant survey of more than 280 participants from the UK-based EV user community. The study develops an innovative, portable model to calculate the number of rapid chargers required to satisfy current and future EV demand anywhere in the world. This research makes a major contribution to the study of the barriers to adoption in the EV sector by considering all the influencers and stakeholders, that might indicate and potentially predict global trends within EV consumer behaviour. It therefore contributes to bridging the gap between industry and academic knowledge, thus helping reduce barriers to EV sector growth

VeloElectric: Creating a Device that Harvests Energy From Bicycles

Long distance mountain bikers, bike-packers, and many bikers in developing countries rely on electrical devices for safety and communication. These specific groups of people operate in areas with little to no electricity, and often times have no power to sustain their devices. The purpose of this Cal Poly senior project, VeloElectric, was to design, build, and test a kinetic energy harvester for bicycles that can be used to charge common mobile devices via USB. This senior project team created a device that attaches directly to a bicycle and uses vibrations to generate energy, which in turn powers a variety of portable devices. The final product will be used by Professor Lynne Slivovsky on a bike ride from Canada to Mexico. This document contains information on the entire project during the 2014-2015 school year. The “Background” section summarizes research and case studies including dynamo chargers and an electromagnetic induction charger called the nPower PEG. The Pedl team used this information to generate initial design ideas such as using piezoelectrics and other kinetic energy harvesting devices. This research was also used to gain a better understanding of the current state of art for this type of product. The end of the background section provides details of the project management plan that was used through the course of the projects focusing heavily on the tasks completed during Spring quarter. Following the “Background” section is an explanation of the development of conceptual designs that lead to the final product. Conceptual designs included decision matrices to decide on a 3D printed exterior casing, Velcro straps for attachment, electromagnetic induction for energy generation, and a battery for energy storage. Diagrams, models and pictures of the end product are displayed and analyzed in the “Description of Final Design” section. This section shows the exterior casing that was created to house the inner casing, battery, and printed circuit board. The “Product Realization” section focuses on how a lathe was used to create the final inner casing, 3D printing for the exterior casing and inner casing caps, and simple soldering for the electrical components. The section also explains how the final prototype cost the team about $200, but through mass production could be lowered to about$45. The “Design Verification” section discusses how the final iteration was tested and includes test descriptions and photos while documenting the results of these tests. Example tests include weight, bike transfer time, USB compatibility, and vibrational tolerance. The document concludes by discussing the progress that was made on the project throughout the year and the recommendations that the design team has for possible future teams assigned to this task

The role of electrocardiography in occupational medicine, from einthoven’s invention to the digital era of wearable devices

Clinical-instrumental investigations, such as electrocardiography (ECG), represent a corollary of a procedures that, nowadays, is called upon as part of the principles of precision medicine. However when carrying out the professional routine examinations, most tend to ignore how a “simple” instrument can offer indispensable support in clinical practice, even in occupational medicine. The advent of the digital age, made of silicon and printed circuit boards, has allowed the miniaturization of the electronic components of these electro-medical devices. Finally, the adoption of patient wearables in medicine has been rapidly expanding worldwide for a number of years. This has been driven mainly by consumers’ demand to monitor their own health. With the ongoing research and development of new features capable of assessing and transmitting real-time biometric data, the impact of wearables on cardiovascular management has become inevitable. Despite the potential offered by this technology, as evident from the scientific literature, the application of these devices in the field of health and safety in the workplace is still limited. This may also be due to the lack of targeted scientific research. While offering great potential, it is very important to consider and evaluate ethical aspects related to the use of these smart devices, such as the management of the collected data relating to the physiological parameters and the location of the worker. This technology is to be considered as being aimed at monitoring the subject’s physiological parameters, and not at the diagnosis of any pathological condition, which should always be on charge of the medical specialist We conducted a review of the evolution of the role that electrophysiology plays as part of occupational health and safety management and on its possible future use, thanks to ongoing technological innovation

Smart Product Design Methodology

The noticeable emergence of new technological advances, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), and their continuous developments in today’s market, have paved the way for an apparent transformation from conventional products to smart connected products. Smart products are Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that provide services to users through Internet and Communication capabilities. The use of smart products offers exceptional potential for the users to meet their expectations and needs intelligently and effectively. Hence, designers and manufacturers are encouraged to cope with constantly changing consumers’ requirements and help in satisfying their needs. It is necessary to achieve a high level of awareness when interacting with smart products, where in some cases, ambiguity and uncertainty may lead to an undesired outcome. Thus, the objective of this research thesis is to introduce a novel smart product design methodology that reveals a new design dimension that was found by conducting an extensive literature review. Smart product design methodology uses integration between existing Design Theory and Methodologies (DTM), both Systematic Design Approach (SDA) and Axiomatic Design Theory (ADT) which are integrated through the features and functions of smart products. The proposed design methodology concentrates on reducing the complexity of the product and raising its affordances for the users to perceive. This research includes a case study on smart speakers and voice-initiated virtual assistants specifically on Amazon’s Alexa, where the methodology proposed was applied. As a result, the complexity was reduced by achieving an uncoupled design, and affordances’ measures were discussed using the guidelines and recommendations concerning both visual and voice design perspectives for designers and developers of virtual assistants in order to maximize the affordances for the user to perceive with the least amount of ambiguity and doubtfulness