Presentation

Good points on our solution

After we have designed our solution for the stove problems, we conclude the good points of it as the followings:
1. Simple interface: in our revised version, we cut down all the complex things and reduce the confusing things. So it would be easy to use.
2. Feasiblity: According to current technologies, our solution is possible to carry out.
3. Security: Since the biggest challenge for our project is the security issue, we cost a lot time to solve this problem. For example, we designed that everytime the stove starts from this software, a question window for reconfirming would pop up. Another example, After we have set a schedual for the stove, when the schedual time is coming, user will be informed either by a short message or alert from the stove.
4. Can be controlled by many devices: the software can be used not only in computer, but also the remote devices, such as mobile, PDA,etc.
5. User's good assistant: with the software, the user don't need to worry about their cookings anymore. They don't need to stay in the kitchen for long time cooking, so they can save time to do other things. They won't burn their food anymore. They can enjoy their food when they arrive their home.

There are so many good points in our design, we hope that one day this idea could come ture to our realistic lives.

Revised version

Based on the previous version of the software interface, we made some improvements and now we are having a new interface. It displays as the following:

New interface works with new stoves

As we have introduced in the previous blogs, many present stoves are used by the handle control, such as the following two stoves:






On the left side, it is the tradional gas stove nowadays used in many Asian countries. On the right side, it the eletronic stove which is used in many European countries. Both of the two stoves are using the handler to control the heat levels.


In our design, we throught it would be nicer to use the following stove:










These are the new magnetic stoves, the good things for them are the followings:
1. safe: Since the interface is quite special, only the inductor can be heat when the stove is turned on, so it won't hurt people when they try to touch it even the stove is turned on.
2. Easier to use: as there are no handlers anymore, we can easily control the stove by touch its panel than switch the handlers.
3. Digital levels: for this characteristics, the stove is controlled by the microcomputer inside it, so with this, we can easily connect our computer with the stove and use the software we have designed to control the stove remotely.

Feedback after first prototype

After the first prototype, we run a small test in our corridor. The test process like this:
1. explain our idea briefly
2. show the prototype and ask them some questions. For example, a)if they can tell which panel control which stove from this prototype. b) if they can switch on a right stove. c)if they know how to stop it. d)if they know how to set the timer.
3. ask some advices on this interface.

Almost all of they can give right answer to the questions on step two, So this means the interface not so hard to use. But they complain that there should be a dynamic way or amination to show the interaction process, not just static display but useing sound or virbration to deliver the information to use. We think those suggestion are quite good and plan to make a improvement later.

Getting idea from the survey in corridor

Since we got the idea---"control stove with computer" owing to the various terrible things happened in corridor kitchen, such as the burnt eggs, slop over of soup, we need to know others' opinion of our idea.

We made a survey among 10 persons living in different corridors of Döbelnsgatan.
The answers we got showed that 9 of 10 appreciated our idea and they think it will help them a lot to cook. They don't need to go to kitchen to check frequently and can enjoy their free time. And also it can reduce the risk to forget the cooking food on stove.

The followings are some of their responses:
"Cool idea!"
"it's good for me,but it will make me lazier."
"Watch movie and cook!Cool."
"Really?How to get that software?We're gonna change that stove?"
"You should suggest V-DALA and perhaps it will come true."
"I think Bill Gates is using this stove in his house.It certainly exists now."

To decrease the risk, We also asked them for suggestions of our idea.
They provided us some valuable points. For instance,the voice reminder can be added to the software. If the person is not beside the computer, the alarm from his computer can remind him more effectively.
Another valuable point is to change the status of stove or set time for cooking,confirmation should need.In that case, the wrong operation can be avoided to a certain extent.

Creativity methods on our project

We have used two creativity methods on our project design:

1. Brain storming

At first, we have a three-minute brain storming on finding the solutions for our project. The following pictures show the draft of our ideas:

2. Metaphor
We also use metaphor in our design. We try to relate a real stove, microsoft painter and google map to the design solution. We want to use the different kinds of views like google map for the user panel, and also the view of the microsoft painter.

Brain storming and metaphor are effective methods especially in designing something totally new, just like our project. So it is very suitable for us to use it. Thanks to no interruption during the brain storming, each of us gives a lot of useful ideas, which will facilitate the later design.

Our project-- Software interface for stove control

We have decided to make a computer software interface for stove control as our project.

We got the idea from the use of our corridor stove. Cooking costs a lot time, but sometimes there is no need to wait in the kichen all the time, so we thought if it is possible to control the stove even outside the kichen, maybe with our computer.

So the aim of our project is to design a computer software interface to control the stove.

Design problems in daily life

Figure 1

This is an oven. We can see from the left picture(Figure 1) that there are some design problems with the user interface.

Problems:
1. Text Problem:
The texts which indicate the temperature levels, time and etc information have gone because of the long-time use and the cleaning.
This will cause serious usability problems that users can not recognise the temperature and time information when they are cooking, especially for the new user.


2. Position Problem:
Since the texts are not clear anymore, it is hard to find which switch controls which stove. There is only one light to show on and off statuses for all the four stoves.

Suggestions:

1. Add a protection cover for texts.
A protection cover should be added for the texts. In that case, the texts would be protected in a good condition, even for long-time use.

2. Add one light for each stove.
As the same as Figure 2, we can add light for each stove to show not only on/off status but also the position of each stove.

Figure 2