Design Summary & Analysis (Final Draft)

Subject: Design Summary & Analysis Final Draft

In the article “It's 2019 - Where’s My Super Suit”, Zelik (2019) writes about the significant and unique features of the exoskeleton made by his team as well as brief descriptions of current commercial versions of exoskeletons. The main function of an exoskeleton is to reduce the risk of muscular injuries. However, modern designs do not appeal to the public because they are cumbersome and costly. The writer endeavours to improve upon the modern designs with a few distinct features. To begin with, the new design has a “clothing-like” appearance that consist of a vest, short, elastic bands and a switch. The design also allows the user to move “freely and fully’ by turning off the suit using the outfitted switch. On top of that, the absence of batteries, motors and protruding parts provides a lightweight and seamless design. The writer asserts that laboratory tests have verified turning on the suit will reduce substantial loading on the lower back. Lastly, Zelik (2019) has a dream that one day exoskeletons will be as commonplace and irreplaceable as smartphones today. The writer’s direction of simple designs that conform to public clothing standards will be crucial for exoskeletons to be popular and commonplace.

Simplicity and conformity in designs are very important factors for the popularity of any technology. The current public impressions of exoskeletons are bulky, heavy, difficult to wear and cause discomfort. Simple designs that conform to usual clothing standards will change this impression. The exoskeleton suit “Spexor” created by an EU research project from Slovenia will emphasize the undesirable situation due to the current designs of exoskeletons. The “Spexor” is a 6.3 kilo suit that is designed to arrest any lower back pain and assist those with ongoing lower back issues (Wilks, 2019). Developers have commented that testing with the “Spexor” indicates that it is “too wide and bulky” and that the leading issue would be persuading workers without any health issues to use it. Updating the “Spexor” design to be simpler and conforming would encourage workers to use it regularly and this concept can be adapted to different exoskeletons as well.

The exoskeleton is not the first product to be unpopular due to its heavy and bulky design. Early version of the cell phone was unpopular as well due to its heavy and bulky design which was described to be “as large as modern day computers and just as heavy” (Ray, 2015). As the cell phone’s design was improved to be lightweight enough to carry, it became a “pop culture symbol” and rose to popularity. Currently, everyone has a smart phone which is the successor of the cell phone. With the great benefits an exoskeleton can offer, it can be just as popular and irreplaceable if it continues on its direction to shed its bulky and heavy design.

Even though improving the design of the exoskeleton to be simpler and conforming is a priority, there must still be a balance between design and actual performance. Laptops are irreplaceable in the world and the current trend of laptop designs are to make it sleeker, thinner and lighter. These decisions may come at the cost of actual performance as there have been allegations that Apple laptop’s stated performance can only be reached if there is a sufficient cooling environment like a refrigerator (Owen, 2018). Exoskeletons are liable to be affected by this complication as well since its performance is often based on its size and mechanisms.

In conclusion, the future of exoskeleton designs should be simple and conforming which will drive the product to be popular and commonplace. However, there must be a good balance between design and performance as the main benefits and functions of an exoskeleton should not be excessively diminished for the sake of popularity and sales.

References
Ray, A. (2015). The History and Evolution of Cell Phones. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.artinstitutes.edu/about/blog/the-history-and-evolution-of-cell-phones

Owen, W. (2018). Thinner and lighter laptops have screwed us all. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9kmkve/thinner-and-lighter-laptops-have-screwed-us-all

Wilks, J. (2019). New exoskeleton to beat low back pain. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/30/new-exoskeleton-to-beat-low-back-pain

Zelik, K. (2019). It's 2019 - where’s my super suit. Retrieved and adapted from https://theconversation.com/its-2019-wheres-my-supersuit-115679

Design Summary & Analysis (Draft 2)

Subject: Design Summary & Analysis Draft 2

In the article “It's 2019 - Where’s My Super Suit”, Zelik (2019) writes about the significant and unique features of the exoskeleton made by his team as well as brief descriptions of current commercial versions of exoskeletons. The main function of an exoskeleton is to reduce the risk of muscular injuries. However, modern designs do not appeal to the public because they are cumbersome and costly. The writer endeavors to improve upon the modern designs with a few distinct features. To begin with, the new design has a “clothing-like” appearance that consist of a vest, short, elastic bands and a switch. Furthermore, the design allows the user to move “freely and fully’ by turning off the suit using the outfitted switch. On top of that, the absence of batteries, motors and protruding parts provides a lightweight and seamless design. Lastly, Zelik (2019) asserts that laboratory tests have verified that turning on the suit will reduce substantial loading on the lower back. The idea of simple and discreet designs will be the crucial element for exoskeletons to be popular and commonplace.

Design is a very important factor for new technology to start trending. The current image of exoskeletons when anyone mentions it is a bulky and heavy contraption that will be uncomfortable and a hassle to wear. No one would be willing to wear an exoskeleton with that image in mind every day even with all of its benefits. The exoskeleton suit “Spexor” created by an EU research project from Slovenia will highlight this issue. The “Spexor” is a 6.3 kilo suit that is designed to arrest any lower back pain and assist those with ongoing lower back issues (Wilks, 2019). Developers have commented that testing with the “Spexor” indicates that it is “too wide and bulky” and that the leading issue would be persuading workers without any health issue to use it. This indirectly implies that the commercial designs of exoskeletons must change for anyone to desire wearing it.

A great example of how improving a new product’s design will also greatly improve its popularity is the success of the television. Television sets used only be available to the rich as “fancy toys” (Dunne, 2014). Designers noticed the hidden potential of the television and looking at the evolution of television design, it is clear that the design direction was to make it slimmer and sleeker. Televisions are now a commonplace item in any household and the exoskeleton should also follow the process of improving upon its design to ensure increasing popularity.

Even though improving the design of the exoskeleton to be sleeker and lighter is a priority, there must still be a balance between design and actual performance. Laptops are irreplaceable in the current world and the current trend of laptop design are to make it sleeker, thinner and lighter. These decisions may come at the cost of actual performance as there have been allegations that Apple laptop’s stated performance can only be reached if there is a sufficient cooling environment like a refrigerator (Owen, 2018). Exoskeletons are liable to be affected by this problem as its performance is often based on its size and mechanisms.

In conclusion, the future of exoskeleton designs should be simple and discreet which will lead the product to be popular and commonplace. However, there must be a good balance between design and performance as the main benefits and functions of an exoskeleton should not be excessively diminished for the sake of popularity and sales.

Reference
Dunne, C. (2014). How the television has evolved. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.fastcompany.com/3033336/how-the-television-has-evolved

Owen, W. (2018). Thinner and lighter laptops have screwed us all. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9kmkve/thinner-and-lighter-laptops-have-screwed-us-all

Wilks, J. (2019). New exoskeleton to beat low back pain. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/30/new-exoskeleton-to-beat-low-back-pain

Zelik, K. (2019). It's 2019 - where’s my super suit. Retrieved and adapted from https://theconversation.com/its-2019-wheres-my-supersuit-115679

Design Summary & Analysis (Draft 1)

Subject: Design Summary & Analysis Draft 1

In the article “It's 2019 - Where’s My Super Suit”, Zelik (2019) writes about the significant and unique features of the exoskeleton made by his team as well as brief descriptions of current commercial versions of exoskeletons. The main function of an exoskeleton is to reduce the risk of muscular injuries. However, modern designs do not appeal to the public because they are cumbersome and costly. The writer endeavours to improve upon the modern designs with a few distinct features. To begin with, the new design has a “clothing-like” appearance that consist of a vest, short, elastic bands and a switch. Furthermore, the design allows the user to move “freely and fully’ by turning off the suit using the outfitted switch. On top of that, the absence of batteries, motors and protruding parts provides a lightweight and seamless design. Lastly, Zelik (2019) asserts that laboratory tests have verified that turning on the suit will reduce substantial loading on the lower back. This path of simple and discreet designs will be the deciding factor for exoskeletons to be popular and commonplace but there must be a balance between design and performance.

In order for new technology to start trending, one of the most important factors is image. When someone mentions the word exoskeleton, the first image to pop up would be a bulky and heavy contraption that will be uncomfortable and a hassle to wear. Even with all of its benefits, no one would willingly adorn an exoskeleton suit every day.
Comparing the writer’s exoskeleton and the exoskeleton suit “Spexor” created by an EU research project from Slovenia will highlight this issue (Wilks, 2019). The “Spexor” is a 6.3 kilo suit that is designed to arrest any lower back pain and assist those with ongoing lower back issues. Developers have commented that testing with the “Spexor” indicates that it is “too wide and bulky” and that the leading issue would be persuading workers without any health issue to use it.

One of the most famous technology that was only used by the rich in the past has now become a commonplace item in any home and this technology is the television.
Designers noticed the hidden potential of the television and changed the image of the television from big and bulky to slim and thin (Dunne, 2014). There is no reason why the exoskeleton cannot follow the successful path of the television by changing its image with sleeker and lighter designs.

Even though getting the design of the exoskeleton to be sleeker and lighter is a priority, there must still be a balance between design and actual performance. Laptop are irreplaceable in the current world and the current trend of laptop design are to make it sleeker, thinner and lighter. These decisions may come at the cost of actual performance as there have been allegations that Apple laptop’s stated performance can only be reached if there is a sufficient cooling environment like a refrigerator (Owen, 2018). Exoskeletons may also be liable to be affected by this problem as its performance will be based on its size and mechanical design.

In conclusion, the way to get exoskeletons to become popular and commonplace is definitely to design it to be simpler and more discreet. This will change its image in the world and make it more desirable. However, there must be a good balance between design and performance as the main benefits and function of an exoskeleton should not be diminished for the sake of popularity and sales.

Reference
Zelik, K. (2019). It's 2019 - where’s my super suit. Retrieved and adapted from https://theconversation.com/its-2019-wheres-my-supersuit-115679

Wilks, J. (2019). New exoskeleton to beat low back pain. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/30/new-exoskeleton-to-beat-low-back-pain

Dunne, C. (2014). How the television has evolved. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.fastcompany.com/90460346/philips-hue-security-risk

Owen, W. (2018). Thinner and lighter laptops have screwed us all. Retrieved and adapted from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9kmkve/thinner-and-lighter-laptops-have-screwed-us-all