Description

Conceptualization, design and prototyping of a novel whiteboard marker accessory aimed at improving marker lifetimes and user experience with accessing reliably charged markers in an office or classroom setting.

This project was carried out as a team of 4 for the Advanced Product Design class at Boston University.

Remarkables: Final CAD

Contributions

Concept Ideas for a regular use product focusing on simplistic assembly and impact
Leading project progress with task refinement, tracking and work allocation
Computer Aided Design
Sourcing materials and benchmark products
Final presentation

Identification and Ideation

The course assignment suggested creating a simple product focused on usability and convenience, value addition based on user interaction. After a brainstorming session, the team conceptualized various different products aimed at organization, aiding day-to-day activities.

Laptop/ iPad Stand with integrated power bank

Brief: A smart, lightweight and foldable accessory for laptops and notepads which would allow flexible orientation and integrated power back-up through a battery pack

Whiteboard marker dock with refilling capability

Brief: A workspace accessory aimed at elongating whiteboard marker life and assuring availability of functional, charged markers continuously

Vlogging camera attachment for backpacks

Brief: Considering how a lot of people love to vlog and record their journey, this attachment provides a hands-free way to carry around your recording device on your backpack

Laptop webcam light guide Accessory

Brief: Often observed in video conferencing, the position of the webcam leads both participants to look away and be unable of making direct eye contact while trying to look at the screen. This device would provide an optic path to bridge this gap and allow a more inclusive experience

Assistive Food Slicer

Brief: This device would be targeted at providing a fool-proof mode of safe operation during food preparation and slicing. This would be useful in aiding persons with sensing impairments and reduced muscle control

Selection and Design

Concept Definition

Based on a cumulative discussion on the key product ideas, the whiteboard accessory appealed to us the most. It was something we could readily iterate on, improve, prototype and test quickly.

Further on, the team set on to define the product goals and requirements to help brainstorm ideas deeper.

User Research

An important first step was to investigate user profiles being served in this process. Surveying and interviewing different users helped identify key elements of the journey and performance expectations. The team targeted use of the product in academic and professional workspaces considering the relative abundance. 3 main user profiles were looked at to then create a user journey and further create product goals.

Professor Thornton

Light and intermittent marker use
Primary colors used: Black, in combination with one highlight

Values knowing where to find the equipment

Professor Chomyszak

Intensive marker use
Shuffles between several colors to explain concepts on the board

Values reliable availability of different colored potent markers

Joseph Vetere

Use of markers to facilitate meetings and discussions

Values high quality, conscious of the environmentally wasteful single use trend of potentially reusable stationary

User Journey

Product Goals

Life Expectancy: Existing markers last for 2-3 weeks in regular use. With continuous re-charging, we targeted downsizing the markers to ~20 percent, aiming to serve 1-2 days of usage at full charge.
Ease of use: Switching between different colors should be convenient, minimally invasive and reliable
Cleanliness: Ink staining of housings / embodiments to be avoided to make the system easy to maintain and carry forward over time
Error-proofing: Ensuring inability of mixing refill stations with the incorrect marker colors

Product Concepts

With the idea of providing a much longer life, utilizing he refilling ability of whiteboard markers, product concepts were ideated to achieve this purpose.

Final Design

Further discussions and ideation helped refine the product ideas to stackable mini markers and a charging / storage station.

Full Sized Markers with Charging Station

Modular Marker with Common Handle

Stackable Mini Markers

Benchmarking

A dive into commercially available products surrounding the markers helped gauge the gaps in existing products and use, and also helped us visualize the feasibility of our targeted idea.

Clickable Whiteboard Markers

Dropper Refilling System

Refillable Markers with

Metal Body

Board Eraser with Marker Organizer

Integrated Eraser and Magnetic Clamp

Small Form Factor Markers

Dip Refilling System

Markers with Replaceable Ink Cartridges

Based on the market survey, we found that no one integrated solution was available to seamlessly integrate charging and organization of whiteboard markers. This helps create value through our product while using some of the commercially available elements from existing products.

Detailed Design

A more detailed concept was sketched to visualize the components needed, and possible design interactions for the system. Furthermore, these components were listed, identifying key requirements and considerations.

Detailed Product Sketch

Markers:

Essential Components:
- Body
- Ink reservoir (sponge)
- Tip
- Cap
RGBK capsules:
- Modular marker units
Shutter design:
- Preventing tip damage
- Retention of ink wetness in the reservoirs
- Direct contact shutters
- Poka-Yoke docking design
Force Considerations:
- Docking, removal forces
- Stacking press fit force

Docking Station:

Essential Components:
- Housing
- Ink container
- Sealing lid
Re-charging and storing dock
- Attachment mechanism to white board
- Ink Reservoirs
Ink Reservoirs for the dock
- Retention mechanism for markers
- Refilling media
- Shutter Mechanism for wetness retention

Component Concept Sketches

Testing and Prototyping

To prove the efficacy of the recharging mechanism, and define final product dimensions, the team tested refilling and wicking, ink quantity versus writing time. This was done through a Crayola Marker making kit.
In parallel, marker shapes and bodies with stacking performance were iterated

Crayola Kit Marker

Weighing Balance

Kit Refilling Station

Upon research, there was a lack of available data on ink consumption rates and recharge rates for markers, and specifically dry erase markers. Testing directly on a whiteboard with known quantities of ink and writing length helped design for ink carrying capacity for the Remarkables.

Total Ink Volume: 0.205g / 0.85g = 24.12%

Total Writing Length: 9,630 cm = 3,791.339 in

Ink Consumption Rate = 5.407*10-5 g/in

Designed Capacity: 7 whiteboards worth of text before recharge

Test Board

Marker Prototypes Testing Stacking and Usability

Final Design and CAD

Borrowing inspiration for various design elements, and with the final functional dimensions defined for the marker elements, the system was designed on CAD, keeping in mind manufacturing processes and material selection.