August 28, 2008

CSC 385 :: Interaction of Simple Tools

{Value = 10 points}

Exercise 1.

Analyze the design of an axe.

1. What are the user goals?

2. What are the interactions?

3. What are the design variables?  I.e., what features does an axe have that may be varied in the design process?

4. How did the goals and interactions determine the design choice outcomes?

Exercise 2.

Analyze the design of a shovel.

1. What are the user goals?

2. What are the interactions?

3. What are the design variables?

4. How did the goals and interactions determine the design choice outcomes?

Exercise 3.

1. List 6 different types of shovels.

2. Review your sets of user goals, interactions and design variables from Exercise 3.  Add to those lists as needed.

3. Add to your answer to #4 of Exercise 3 as needed.

Questions:

1. What does the statement “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” mean?

2. What does the statement “necessity is the mother of invention” mean?

3. How do these statements relate to evolution in the design of objects such as axes and shovels?