The Evaluation
After successfully completing a partially functional prototype, the final step of this project was the evaluation. During the evaluation session, we observed and analysed the prototype with a systematic approach internally and together with our participant. Considering in a real life scenario this would be the first of many prototypes, this step is imperative to perfect and refine the concept in further versions.
Participant Evaluation
In order to measure the success of our design we had a last session with our participant, in which we tested the prototype with her and her daughter. We walked her through the different functions of the deviceand handed it over. After her playong around with it, we let her daughter have a go, to see to what extent she could handle and understand it. All the while we were observing their intaraction with the product, looking for what went well and what could be improved.
During the session we noted amongst other things, that the baby almost immediately understood how to use the product, and that her curiosity was sparked. We also noticed some difficulties: she held remote backwards, and struggled a little to find out the buttons could be clicked. We reflected on improving these by making the buttons less flat and changing the shape of the remote slightly.
After the session, we sent Ana a short survey in which she could evaluate the design according to the criteria: safety, functionality, usability, and aesthetics. The response was overwhelmingly positive, appreciating mainly the simplicity of the design and the appeal of the aesthetics for her daughter. Additionally, she thought it a nice feature that the toy could adapt to her daughters learning level. Some points of improvement were to take into account that the remote might be thrown and to adjust the size of it to a baby's hand.
Internal Evaluation
We also wanted to evaluate the success of the design from our point of view. We went over the requirements one last time for the project along with the results of the tryal session with our participants, and compared the expectations and goals for the project with the final results.
Each requirement was reviewed and assesed. Some of the requirements, were not relevant to the prototype, but would be met in hypothetical design.
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From these and our discussion, we identified the some points of improvements, that we would build upon, where we to develop this project further.
Improvements
Charging Station
4 devices are a lot to keep track of and can be a hassle to keep charged and tidy. The next version of our model would have a charging case, where they can be stored when not in use, and that makes sure they're always ready for use. This idea was always part of the concept, but
Remote
In a future version, we would tailor the remote more towards young children, by making in smaller and easier to hold, and by changing the materials to softer more resistant ones meant to be thrown.
Feedback
We would also like to improve the feedback given by the buttons, to give babies more incentive to press them. A bigger click, trigering vibrations, sounds or led's.
Personalisation
The style of the toy currenty really corresponded with the babies style, but could be better mixed with her parents taste, to fit in their home more inadvertently. We would also like to remove confusion between recordings we would like to add custom icons signifying their use on each button.