I was inspired by the biological
form of an ant and the way that it cools itself down on a hot day. Ants are
able to cool themselves by using air scoops. Evaporation is used to create these air scoops
which cool down when they are crawling around in the sun on a warm day. A product that I
thought would be a sustainable is to create a personal cooling system for
humans to use during the warm spring and summer months. Imagine all the energy that
could be saved if a product focused on cooling/heating an individual wearer
instead of cooling an entire house/building. The cooling system would rest on
the shoulders of the wearer and be a more sustainable way to keep people cool
in the summer and warm in the winter.
I did some research and I found several products that
were already tackling the personal air conditioning issue. I didn’t realize
that this issue was already being tackled, but after dipping my toes into this
industry. I believe, I have some ideas for improvements that could be used to
make the product more appealing to the consumer. An air-conditioned collar was
a product already on the market for $49.99. There was a lot of information that
was helpful. I was able to get information about the segmentation of this
product which include ages 18-55. Unfortunately, the success rate of this
product is pretty slim. The air conditioned collar rests on the neck to cool the
body. I believe that the problem with this product is the image of the product.
It holds no status like headphones and other electronic devises in our society
that we wear on our bodies. The air-conditioned collar is not fashionable and
would probably have a difficult time becoming a device that the general public
uses. (Image1) I
think it’s fair to say that it fits in the head gear category in the eyes of
the general public. Head gear is not bad because it does gets peoples teeth
straight, but people don’t like wearing them. To fix this problem, orthodontists
have come up with new innovative methods like putting the head gear inside the
mouth that still accomplish the same end goal of straight teeth.
With
this in mind, the product needs to have a certain image preferably something
that matched the technology that is in our society. I found an article that
described a device called Wristify. Wristify is a thermoelectric bracelet that can
fit on the wrist of an individual. (Image 2). I believe
that had the idea that it could take the place of a watch. Watches are no
longer an item that consumers need to check the time with the development of
cell phone. Watches usefulness is obsolete. However, to accommodate this change
the watch industry has made the switch to making watches a fashion icon.
However, with the release of the new apple watch, the watch industry is going
into another direction that gives watches completely new functions and how
watches will look. The personal temperature controller could be one of the new
options that the watch could contribute to.
This new device would decrease the amount of energy that would be
required in homes the same as the air conditioned collar, but it could become
popular with the general public. Perhaps, even impact the amount of energy that
is actually used per person in our society.
Image 1:
*Air conditioned collars
Image 2:
*Wristify
Works
Cited:
Air scoops provide
cooling: Ants. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2015, from http://www.asknature.org/strategy/679517306e815ab19b4b04ba75a543eb#.VUrxWk1FDIU
Young, M. (2011, April
16). Air-Conditioning Collars : CoolWare Personal Cooling System. Retrieved May
7, 2015, from http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coolware-personal-cooling-system
Ramachandran, S. (2013,
November 2). Heat or Cool a Person with the Wristify Personal Air Conditioner.
Retrieved May 7, 2015, from http://www.devicemag.com/2013/11/02/heat-or-cool-a-person-with-the-wristify/
Wow, Janee, this is a cool idea!! I wonder if they did any MR on consumer acceptance with the collar...........:) Well thought-out product concept, thanks for the cites :) 50/50 points
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