My Gap:
To make a laptop stand that lets you use your laptop more comfortably.
To make a laptop stand that lets you use your laptop more comfortably.
Naming the artifact:
I would like to name this artifact the Ezy-top, because I want to create the notion that this portable table top is easy to use and convenient. I guess I don't need to restrict it's use to laptops only, because with a little more refinement it could probably be used for anything where you need a portable work surface.
Background:
I created this artifact with the idea to address the gap that I feel when using my laptop in bed. My neck would often get sore because the laptop sits on my lap below eye level. Raising it up to eye level I feel will decrease neck strain while you use your laptop. This has already been confirmed by my wife, as she took it for a test drive when I finished it. Making it adjustable will make it suit a wider market.
The adjustment mechanism is a simple wingnut on bolt arrangement. The slot I cut into the top just fits over the bolt head so that you can tighten down the wing nut without the bolt spinning. With the proper wedging action, you only need to tighten it finger tight for the top to hold its angle.
Key User Needs:
1) The stand is convenient to use.
2) The stand is easy to adjust.
3) The stand is compact.
4) The stand is multi-purpose.
5) The stand is pleasing to the eye.
6) The stand is portable.
I think I've satisfied half of these criteria well (2,4,6), the other ones I need to address by further refining the artifact.
Detailed photos follow.
I would like to name this artifact the Ezy-top, because I want to create the notion that this portable table top is easy to use and convenient. I guess I don't need to restrict it's use to laptops only, because with a little more refinement it could probably be used for anything where you need a portable work surface.
Background:
I created this artifact with the idea to address the gap that I feel when using my laptop in bed. My neck would often get sore because the laptop sits on my lap below eye level. Raising it up to eye level I feel will decrease neck strain while you use your laptop. This has already been confirmed by my wife, as she took it for a test drive when I finished it. Making it adjustable will make it suit a wider market.
The adjustment mechanism is a simple wingnut on bolt arrangement. The slot I cut into the top just fits over the bolt head so that you can tighten down the wing nut without the bolt spinning. With the proper wedging action, you only need to tighten it finger tight for the top to hold its angle.
Key User Needs:
1) The stand is convenient to use.
2) The stand is easy to adjust.
3) The stand is compact.
4) The stand is multi-purpose.
5) The stand is pleasing to the eye.
6) The stand is portable.
I think I've satisfied half of these criteria well (2,4,6), the other ones I need to address by further refining the artifact.
Detailed photos follow.
Lowest height, horizontal top.
Lowest height, top is angled slightly.
Close-up photo of adjustment mechanism.
What now?
So to take this further, I would investigate other materials that I can make the product in, and as I said, refine the design so that it satisfies all the key needs better. I think I need to refine the adjustment mechanism a little because the way it works right now, it may wear quickly and make it hard to adjust in future. I would also consider making another sample that I can send out to my friends to use, let them evaluate it and see what they say, whether or not I need to make it adjustable to a wider range of heights or whether or not the size of the top surface I've made can cater to their laptops.
So to take this further, I would investigate other materials that I can make the product in, and as I said, refine the design so that it satisfies all the key needs better. I think I need to refine the adjustment mechanism a little because the way it works right now, it may wear quickly and make it hard to adjust in future. I would also consider making another sample that I can send out to my friends to use, let them evaluate it and see what they say, whether or not I need to make it adjustable to a wider range of heights or whether or not the size of the top surface I've made can cater to their laptops.
Here I am trying it out!
Final words:
That's it! I hope you've enjoyed evaluating this project, and feel free to drop me a comment here if you don't really understand what I've said above.
That's it! I hope you've enjoyed evaluating this project, and feel free to drop me a comment here if you don't really understand what I've said above.
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