Blog entry 2

 Hello everyone! This blog will be about what I have learnt within week 4 and will unfortunately be slightly shorter as compared to the previous entry.

As mentioned in the first blog entry, my group's idea is to create a chemical device that is able to help clean and possibly treat hair. We learnt about the SCAMPER checklist, which stands for 
 

Sustainability                                     

Combine

Adaptability

Modify                                           

Put it to use

Eliminate

Reverse

This SCAMPER checklist is used to help generate more ideas in relation to our initial idea, but a general product idea has to be specified first then the checklist can be used. Eventually, my team and I were able to come up with the following based on the SCAMPER ideation tool:

There are some ideas that were not mentioned in the table above as we were able to think of multiple ideas for each SCAMPER word used. Right after the discussion was completed, Dr Noel then went through the Feasibility analysis.

Sample Feasibility Analysis Template.

The feasibility analysis is used to question ourselves whether the product is able to meet certain requirements. The chosen ideas will then be compared side-by-side through the COWS decision matrix. We listed 6 ideas on the table below and performed the feasibility analysis for each idea. In the end, we had to choose 3 ideas for the COWS decision matrix and we have chosen:

• Hairbrush that dispenses the hair care product by squeezing the product onto the hair .
• Powered by pressure by clenching the handle to release the hair product.
• Detachable component on the handle of comb or brush (different types of hair brushes).
• Powered by electricity to release the hair product.
• Combine brush and comb attachment, placing them side by side on the device.
• Powered by electricity to release the hair care product.

We were very familiar with the COWS decision matrix because it was taught in Year 1 Semester 1 in the CP5091 module Materials For Design, which is sadly removed from the syllabus now. Even though we were familiar with it, coming up with the 4-5 criteria for the matrix was difficult because our product was very specific and the ideas are more or less the same product but with different features. It was tough to come up with the 5th criteria, so my team and I agreed to go with 4 criterions instead. The weightages and weighted scores we quite simple to decide and only took us roughly 10 minutes. The picture below is our finalized COWS decision matrix.

Finally, I will do reflection on what I have learnt throughout. Firstly, I feel that SCAMPER ideation tool is very useful as it allows us to think deeply on how our ideas can deviate to obtain an idea that could be better than the original idea. It also allowed my team to open up more because some of us were able to throw in some jokes while we were discussing on the various ideas. The idea screening after the SCAMPER discussion is also important as it allows us to narrow down ideas based on some requirements such as 'Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?'. If the ideas do not agree with any question used in the screening process then the idea is most likely rejected.

Based on what I mentioned earlier about the COWS decision matrix, it was extremely difficult for my team and I to come up with the 5th criterion due to our product ideas being more or less similar to each other. We were able to come up with some criteria, but did not make the selection because the criteria was focused more on the material of the product rather than the product idea itself.

This will be the end of my 2nd blog entry, thank you for reading! Cya!~