Remodeling for a Smaller Life
Living in Japan has really made me appreciate the amount of living space as well as storage space that we are given in our apartments in America. Also most areas that are used to get ready in Japan for the rest of your day are especially small. Life is very structured and fast paced and so everything needs to be as efficient as possible. Imagine tying to live in a 200 square foot apartment, because that is what most single individuals would be doing for anywhere from 400 dollars to 1200 dollars a month. I would focus on trying to reduce the sized and clutter of the unit, as well as maybe trying to make it more efficient.
Some improvements in the design of the hair dryer should be the following:
By: Brandon Uyehara 10/19/2014 |
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Protecting our Environment
When looking at the environmental impact of your typical hair dryer, they are easily produced and are inexpensive to purchase which leads to the concerning notion that the materials used are not of the best quality. Not having quality materials in products will lead to a shorter life span of the device causing consumers to throw their products away and buy another inexpensively made hair dryer thus repeating the process again. There are a number of varying components that make up our product, some of which are recyclable and others are not. The configuration of the components in the hair dryer make it difficult to recycle because it would require the consumer to disassemble the product and the majority of consumers do not want to expend the effort to disassemble a hair dryer to recycle it.
Environmental Improvements: · To decrease the harmful environmental impact of hair dryers they would absolutely need to be almost entirely constructed from recyclable materials that are durable but will also leave the product inexpensive enough to cater to those consumers that cannot afford expensive hair dryers. · Redesigning the hair dryer that requires fewer components to operate will reduce the amount of waste when disposed of as well as the reduction in consumption of electricity. By: Chad Jones 10/19/2014 |
The Art of Product Design
As we look into the design specifications of a hair dryer, It's important to know that the designing aspect of a product is something that can't be simply over looked. When designing a hair dryer you want your user to have an emotional connection to it in all aspects of form, fit, and function. How successfully you are able to achieve this can also determine the success you have in the market. When we look at our hair dryer which was designed in 1990 by Revlon it shows the conditions that led to its development. Having it been designed in the 1900's it shows what the requirements were to design a hair dryer.
Functions: - 2 heat/speed settings - Easy cleaning - Hot and Cold Buttons - Light weight - Compact - Hanging ring - Simple Design By Gary Tewangoitewa 10/20/14 |
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The Science Behind Hair Dryers
The way the hair dryer functions depends partially on the chemical properties of one of the materials used. Nichrome is an alloy that is used to make the metal coils inside of the hair dryer. It has a very high electrical resistivity and melting point, and does not oxidize when heated, making it a perfect material to be used to get very hot repeatedly. When current is put into these wires, they slowly get very hot as the fan in the back turns on, resulting in an air flow of hot air. To determine the ideal temperature that the nichrome wire should get to, engineers must take into consideration how hot the airflow can get without burning the skin of the user, as well as the melting point of the plastic housing of the hair dryer. Also, the plastic housing must remain at a comfortable temperature for the user while they are holding it. On average, most humans experience a burning sensation at about 111 degrees Fahrenheit, so the designer must ensure that the current is limited so the coils do not reach this temperature. To ensure this, most hair dryers are built with a temperature cutoff switch that prevents the coils from increasing to too high of a temperature. The fan must also be efficient enough to rapidly move the warm air produced by the coils through the hair of the user that it removes moisture quickly.