What is this engineering task?
We need to design and make a toy that converts energy which can be helpful to people.
What are you thinking about/interested in doing? (this should be multiple ideas/precedents)
- A hand-crank flashlight
- A rubber band operated car
Embed images/links/videos of ideas you like/don’t like – comment on what you like/don’t like, and why.
I like how this product uses a few materials that you can easily find at home like popsicle sticks and chopsticks. I also like how this is very small and portable but still does the job. I like how this can be made without that much-advanced technology; anyone that has the materials can do it. I don’t like how there are some safety hazards while building them for example, the drill and the wires.
I like how the speaker looks handmade instead of store-bought which shows how authentic it is. I also like how the battery, a renewable source, is used and converted into electrical and sound energy. I don’t like how we need to purchase many items that could be hard to find to make this product. It might not be safe if we don’t have the proper knowledge to handle all the equipment.
I like how easy uses mainly recyclable materials that can be found in many people’s houses. The materials used are also not that dangerous and are easy to handle. There are no special devices that are used at all which makes this an easier process to build. I like how simple this toy is. I also like how it converts elastic potential energy to kinetic energy. I dislike how it is not that portable and that it can easily be broken as it is very flimsy.
Define the target audience/problems/audience needs you will address.
- Entertainment/Usefulness
The main thing people look out for in any product is how entertaining/useful they are. They might lose interest if the product doesn’t entertain them or help them in any way.
- Education
Many people don’t know the science/ mechanics behind how their favorite products work.
- Efficiency
Some examples of how products are not efficient are how long they last (if they are battery operated), how portable they are, how easy they are to use/fix/build etc.
- Safety
Some people worry about their safety of themselves while using the products as they don’t want to get injured.
Overall I will need to think of a way to create something that is entertaining/useful, efficient, safe to use, and easy to understand its mechanism.
