HUMAN FACTORS PROJECTWatering can

Made by Alexandru RoscaDirected by prof. John Beaufoy

OLD FASHIONED DEFINITION

SOME MARKET PROPOSALS

A watering can (or watering pot) is a portable container, usually with a handle and a spout, used to water plants by hand. It has been in use from at least the 17th century and has since seen many improvements in design. Apart from watering plants, it has varied uses, as it is a fairly versatile tool.

The capacity of the container can be anywhere from 0.5 litres (for indoor household plants) to 10 litres (for general garden use). It is usually made of metal, ceramic or plastic. At the end of the spout, a “rose” (a device, like a cap, with small holes) can be placed to break up the stream of water into droplets, to avoid excessive water pressure on the soil or on delicate plants.

If we were to think of a watering can from the definition point of view, there wouldn’t be too much left to improve other than the aesthetics. But let’s take a step back and look at this so common tool from a different perspective. Let’s try to give a definition regarding its functions rather than the shape and capacity.

WHY STICK TO THE 1880’s DESIGN ?

Basically, there are a watering can needs to accomplish

3 big functions Store water

Transport it

Sprinkle it

After pointing out its role, we can state a new definition:

A watering can is something meant to store, transport and sprinkle water.

This definition I find more appropriate to describe a watering can than the one found in dictionaries. Now we can start designing a truely better version.

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

I am trying to focus more on the elders, because I feel like they are being neglected when it comes to home and garden tasks. Making a tool to fit their needs I will consequently have a tool that can fit averybody’s needs, excepting kids. So, in the folowing paragraphs I will state the main problems that I am concerned with.

• Convenient to carry

There are a lot of models on the martket, claiming to be very comfortable and convenient to carry. They might be when used for less than 5 minutes, but the truth is that there is no watering can convenient to carry for a longer period of time, no matter how old the user is.

• Easy to use

This might seem like a minor aspect, but it’s not. In order that people will love to use the watering can, it needs to meet this aspect. This means flexibility, far reach and water stop device.

• Easy to refill

Last but not least, this is one of the main problems of watering cans. They are either bulky meaning they wouldn’t fit into a sink, or small with a refill hole too hard to reach properly.

RECORDED DATA

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Is it easy to puton?

is the fillingprocess easy?

Does it fit youcomfortably?

Does it feelheavy?

How is the weightdistributed?

Rate themovement withthe watering can

on

Are the two hosesconveniently

placed?

How is thewatering process?

Women 45-60 Men 45-60 Women 61-75 Men 61-75

INITIAL IDEAS

DEVELOPMENT

FINAL CONCEPT

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND

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