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Student Designer
University Product Description and Principal Function(s) The Friendly Foot Heater was developed as a solution to the miss-use of small electric fan and column heaters. By directly dealing with the issues found in existing products this heater is much safer and also much more efficient.The concept behind this heater is to heat the body starting with the feet, and with this allow the user to be in direct contact with the actual appliance. Therefor the Friendly Foot Heater is designed not only to be user friendly and safe but also robust enough to handle the everyday use in a commercial and or residential environment. Why does the product represent design excellence and why do you believe it deserves an Australian Design Award? Nobody is innocent of miss-using small electric heaters! From trying to heat up a clearly overly large lounge room, to positioning under desks in confined dusty areas as to get some kind of heat. This miss-use is not only dangerous as with any electrical product, but more so it is very inefficient and a great waste of natural resources.- Changing the perception of the heater from a hot, hazardous, never touch product to a user friendly, "hands on" heater, is the key. By allowing the user to be in direct contact with the warm surface the need for huge amounts of heat is unnecassary. Intern the heat is concentrated and heats where is necassary . - Incorporating a motion sensor switch as to act as both an automatic timer and more importantly as saver of electricity as the heater will only be on when it detects the user. - Because of the functional attributes, the heater element uses much less energy and while most small heaters on the market use 1000watt element's this heater uses less than half this usage. - Simplifying the controls of the heater by only having three heat settings 30-35-40 degrees. - The look of the heater is another important aspect as it creates a point of difference to existing heaters in the market place. The round form and use of colour (colour variation) make the heater more welcoming as a tactile object and more attractive as a marketable product in both a commercial and residential environments. - The outer colour ring (injection molded thermo-plastic) can be easily be taken on and off using a snap fit as to allow for colour variation in individual users, and also replacement. - The main body is manufactured from two separate aluminum castings and assembled using one internal bolt making the assembly and die-assembly of this product straight forward. In total the product has four main parts: top casting, bottom casting, colour ring and wire harness (including thermostat and movement sensor) - Being an electric product safety is crucial. Therefore as on all heating products a thermostat is crucial. Also appropriate earthing on both aluminum shells is a must. The Friendly Foot Heater is an original product that can be marketed towards both residential and commercial environments. By directly dealing with the issues facing existing small heaters the Friendly Foot Heater achieves more direct heating, a safer more user-friendly product and finally a more practical, energy efficient heater. |
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