True Clean Towel
is a new product invented for the purpose of knowing which part of the towel
someone used to clean each part of his or her body the day before. The
inventors wanted to be able to clean and dry their face knowing that that part
of their towel had not been used to clean and dry his or her butt earlier.
The product has
a relative advantage over other towels because it has labeled parts for drying
each part of the body. I would predict that most people who have survived
without the product do not have an issue using regular towels and would not
adopt this product quickly. The level of complexity is very low since the
directions are basically written onto the towel. This low level of complexity
would lead to faster adoption. The observability is pretty high since each time
the product is used, the user knows that it is working. However, if a user were
to transition back to a regular towel, he or she would probably not observe the
difference in the long run. The product is compatible because it re-enforces
the goal of showers as being to make oneself clean. The product is not very
adaptable. It basically serves one purpose. The only adaptability that it could
have is different sizes for different people. The towel would not serve its
purpose at a beach where it would likely get dirty anyway.
Overall, I think
that the product will be adapted, but slowly. Adopters will be people that are
very picky about being clean.
http://truecleantowel.com/
Rebecca McNeil
This a new kind of umbrella with a “unique finger grip” that is
intended to make it possible for users to text with the same hand they are
holding their umbrella. It has all the standard features of a normal umbrella,
while also enabling users to remain attached to their cell phones and avoid
getting drenched. http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/12cd/#tabs
Relative Advantage:
This product has little to offer over existing products – there are countless
types of umbrellas on the market, and the only change in this specific one is
the brass knuckle-esque rubber handle grip that supposedly frees up the hand of
the consumer. However, in multiple photos provided on the website, it appears
that the female model picture can barely reach her hand all the way through the
handle grip to reach her phone, and while she is able to hold onto her cell
phone with that hand, her fingers are precariously perched on one side of the
phone with little traction in the case of a gust of wind or a trip over a crack
in the sidewalk, etc. The handle is non-adjustable, or “one size fits all”, but
in reality, people have very differently sized hands, thus those with very
small or very large hands may have difficulty operating this product, which
decreases the product’s relative advantage even more.
Compatibility: While
the use of umbrellas is extremely compatible with social norms in most areas,
the handle of the texting umbrella is quite silly looking in appearance and
would likely be a source of ridicule for anyone who displays it, especially
because of its striking resemblance to brass knuckles.
Adaptability (Re-Inventability):
While its main function is to protect
consumers from rain and let them handle their phones at the same time, the
texting umbrella could be adapted as some form of weapon, due to the design of
the handle, but it would be unwieldy and not as strong as an actual weapon,
which makes its adaptability quite limited.
Observability: It would be fairly easy to observe this type
of umbrella in a public setting whenever there is rainy weather and the unique
design of the handle would certainly catch people’s eyes. However, how
observable it would be dependent on climate conditions and geography. In
regions that have lower levels of precipitation on average, there would be no
need for this product and therefore it would be virtually invisible to the
public eye; when there is little to no rain, seasonal items such as umbrellas
are stored in the home, out of sight.
Will it be adopted? In
my opinion, this product is very unlikely to be adopted on a wide scale basis
due to its lacking in the departments of relative advantage, compatibility, and
adaptability. Despite this prediction, the texting umbrella still might be
viable in a niche market, such as in a city like Seattle where there are high
levels of precipitation throughout the year, though it would still be likely to
be adopted at a fairly slow rate. In such a market, it would be more observable
and might possibly appear to be more compatible with the norms of a community
in which utility could be deemed more valuable in relation with bad weather
conditions.
Aryella Moreh
Mejikara are goggle-style glasses designed to wipe away wrinkles.
Just wear these specially designed glasses for five minutes every day to
improve the appearance of wrinkles in your face. Mejikara implements gentle pressure to push sagging and loose skin
back to where it once was. The innovative design includes ridges that massage
and stimulate your skin in order to help it bounce back to its original
unwrinkled form.
Typically, technologies with a
greater perceived advantage are adopted at a faster rate—however, this product
fails to offer a relative advantage. Specifically, in comparison to medical
innovations and specialized beauty products in the market today, the Mejikara offers no relative advantage,
other than its simplicity—however, most consumers realize such simple methods
are ineffective in truly reversing signs of ageing. On the same token, the
offer is not very complex—an attractive feature to consumers. The use of the Mejikara is rather simple and would not
be perceived as difficult to understand and implement. Although the
effectiveness of this product is questionable, there is no doubt that it is
compatible with the values and norms of modern society. The Mejikara addresses the concern for
beauty and attaining youth. However, in its design, the product fails to comply
with the societal norms of simplicity and uniformity. Furthermore, the Mejikara is a specialized technology
with no other use. The product cannot be
“re-invented” or adapted to a new purpose, negatively affecting its adoption rate.
Finally, the results of the Mejikara
are not available to be observed by potential consumers. Generally,
technologies without observability are less likely to be adopted.
Mejikara seems to address a need of society today, concerning
beauty and especially the ageing process.
The majority of people in society today would like to avoid ageing and
especially reverse any signs of aging that hinder the ideal youthful
appearance. However, I don’t believe this product will be adopted due to its
unusual design and gimmicky presentation. Although the product may truly be
effective, there is no observability of results or improvements to skin
quality. Furthermore, the product is commercialized away from mainstream
society and fails to comply with most societal norms of simplicity and
uniformity desired in products.
Lauren Week
Patricia Garcia
Mejikara Anti-Wrinkle Glasses – Anti-aging Goggles
-
These goggles massage and help your skin. They
apply gentle pressure to the skin around your eyes and push them back to “where
they once were!”
Relative Advantage: Although I do not think that this
technology would be adopted here in the United States, it does have one
relative advantage. These goggles are significantly less expensive than Botox
or a face-lift and they are also a lot less intrusive.
Compatibility: Although this product would not be considered
“compatible” with most people, there are some who are willing to try anything
and everything if it promises to get rid of wrinkles. This is ultimately not
something that is compatible with most people here in the United States.
Adaptability: This really isn’t a technology that can be
adapted into something else.
Observability: These goggles do promise to get rid of
wrinkles, but their effect is not immediate. This is a process that would
happen over time, making it even less likely to be adopted.
à
These goggles are very unlikely to ever be adopted in the United States. Because
of low observability, even if some were to start using them, they would be
adopted very slowly.
Alicia Fong
Debbie Phoung
Clement Tam
One of the newest innovations:
pedal-free bicycle, otherwise known/dubbed as the “Fliz bike.” Designed by
German engineers, this pedal-less bicycle requires the biker to run or walk to
generate speed, relying on running momentum. It has a laminated, innovated
frame with a five point belt system which serves as a harness that the rider
must strap themselves into (replacing the original saddle). The frame of the
bike and the harness works like a suspension. After building up enough speed by
walking or running, the rider lifts their legs onto footrests located near the
bike’s rear wheel.
The designers and creators of this
bike (Hambrock and Spetter) explained that their goal was “to create a more
environmentally friendly transport for crowded urban settings.” Based on the
attributes that increase adoption, it is not likely that this product will be
adopted. According to RELATIVE ADVANTAGE, this new pedal-free bike does not
seem to be an improvement on the conventional bike. As Hambrock and Spetter
stated that they wanted to create a more environmentally friendly transport, I
do not see how this overrides the conventional bicycle in this area. The
conventional bicycle does not generate pollution and is already environmentally
friendly. This pedal-free bike also seems to be more physically demanding. Under
COMPATIBILITY, when a technology is viewed as being consistent with the values
and norms of a social system, this new bicycle does not seem to fit the norms
of our social system. Our culture is highly accustomed to bikes that have
pedals rather than running or walking, and a saddle rather than a suspension
system. With ADAPTABILITY, this technology cannot be adapted to new purposes.
It cannot be used for anything else; it cannot be easily modified to suit new
uses/needs. As for OBSERVABILITY, in which results of a technology are more
visible, this pedal-free bike does work and will get riders to places they need
to go, however, it does not seem to be easier to use than a bike. And, last,
but not least, COMPLEXITY. This new technology looks like it is complicated to
use. There is the harness that you have to strap yourself into before you start
(compared to just getting on the saddle with a conventional bike) and it also
looks a little painful. It also seems a
little more dangerous considering that the rider will be strapped to the bike;
if you fall, you will fall with the bike, unlike the conventional bike, where
if you fall, you can just jump off the bike or push it away. Based on the
attributes that increase adoption, it is not likely that the “Fliz bike” will
be adopted any time soon.
Clement Tam
Product Name:
Spike: Laser accurate measurement and modeling on
smartphones.
Brief Description:
Spike is a laser based device that
attaches to your phone to ensure that you can rapidly & accurately measure
& model an object up to 200 yards (600 feet) away just by taking a snapshot
of it. Spike integrates your smartphone's current technology with some
specialized features of its own. It amalgamates a digital camera, a 3d compass,
a laser range finder and GPS. It fits neatly into your pocket yet is robust
enough to use every day. This product has the capabilities to measure distance,
determine measurements from any angle, measure volume and area of objects,
verify locations of targets, identify the bearing and relative altitude of an
object, model objects in 3D and share its data.
This product is currently on
Kickstarter and is seeking funding for limited production. It has a funding
goal of $100,000 and currently has $62,500 of funding. The company behind this
product is based in Boulder, Colorado and according to its biography, “is
dedicated to helping you work smarter and faster by providing sophisticated
& innovative solutions to your biggest (and smallest) measurement issues.”
Analysis:
This
type of product will most likely be adopted sometime in the near future by
members of the community who have specialized roles that require this type of
technology (architects, engineer, construction project managers, etc.). It will
not be adopted by the general public any time soon as its current version seems
bulky and unrefined. Additionally, it seems that its current price ($300-$400
per unit) will deter most members of the general population who have little
actual need for the services offered by this piece of equipment. Some members
of the general public may decide to purchase its novelty.
This
product does have some characteristics that may increase its chances of being
adopted by the general public.
It does have the relative advantage of being a
product that combines the functions of several different imaging tools
currently in use into a small and easy to use package. It also empowers the
general public with the ability to take measurements of large objects and model
things in 3D. Its major disadvantage is
its price point. According to the product description on the Kickstarter page,
this product is not very complex for the user. All a user needs to do is download
the application and attach the device to their smartphone. The user then is
able to use by basically “pointing and shooting”. The app process the image and
produces data almost instantaneously. Unfortunately, this particular product
seems to have a low level of trialability. The product is only available to
those who support the Kickstarter campaign. No samples are available for
testing nor is any information regarding the future production and distribution.
However, the company does claim that their technology has been utilized by
various organizations, including the US Army. This piece of technology has a
relatively high degree of observability. The data and information that this
product produces can be seen in real time. Many people need to conduct measurements
on a daily basis and this product can provide almost instantaneous
service. The product is, at first
glance, compatible with current trends (i.e. one compact generalist device that
does it all). Nevertheless, it is an extra piece of hardware that needs to be
added to one’s smartphone. Until the size of the attachment and the price
declines, it is safe to say that the product will not be widely adopted.
Ideally, the unit would be internally integrated into future smartphones. With
a little engineering, this device can be adapted to serve as a tool in
navigation. The device already has the capabilities to determine location and
estimate distance. If maps and navigation were integrated, then the device may
enjoy a high degree of adoption as it would be a very useful navigation tool
(e.g. point the device at a location and it will guide you there). Another
alternative use for the device is as an artillery spotting tool for the
military (more compact version of what is currently in use). That use would
require extensive integration with current military technology.
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