The convergence of personal scale computing and telecommunications devices opens the way for a new generation of product. This EnPRO team will... Show moreThe convergence of personal scale computing and telecommunications devices opens the way for a new generation of product. This EnPRO team will evaluate the potential for an entrepreneur's concept for a hand-held electronic device. Team members will review current electronic devices in the marketplace and account for issues that affect their success or failure. The team will fabricate rough mock-ups of different versions, create task scenarios, recruit a small sample of prospective users, and have the subjects simulate using the devices. Team members will observe subject performance and collect qualitative information on subject experiences using different versions. A team report and presentation will demonstrate the differences among devices and present guidance for prototype development. The project offers an exciting opportunity for actual R&D work on the design of user interfaces and personal electronics equipment. Development of a new product concept like this device requires team members to develop and apply their knowledge and ability in identifying and making trade-off decisions related to materials, performance, features and function. There will also be a strong business planning aspect to this EnPRO project. Tim Higginson, president of Yuvee, will collaborate with the team to review and further explore business planning issues associated with his concept. The team will have the opportunity to review the plan created by Mr. Higginson and identify critical areas that need further development and refinement. As is the nature of business plans, they play two roles. One is to attract investors, the other is to provide an implementable roadmap to achieve the company's goals. From both perspectives, there is almost an infinite amount of work that can be done. For example, areas that the team may focus on include implementation issues of (i) product development and (ii) marketing and sales. This project is a great opportunity to gain practical experience in designing a structured study to investigate usability and efficacy of an electronic device, as well as to review a business plan that is currently being used to attract investors and help to investigate various issues critical to the plan and pursuit of the company's goals Sponsorship: Yuvee, Inc. Project plan for EnPRO 353: The Yuvee Personal Electronic Device for Fall 2003 semester Show less
