Automatic card shuffler opportunity
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The other main area of competing products consists of home use shufflers. While these shufflers do vary slightly from model to model, the same main mechanical ideas come into play with all of the shufflers. In almost all of the shufflers, the deck is split in two, with each half deck placed on a different side of the shuffler. From that point, a button on the bottom of the shuffler is pressed, which initiates the motor that pushes the cards one by one into the center slot where the cards are collected. An example of a shuffler fitting this description would be the 4-Deck Casino Style Automatic Card Shuffler produced by CHH Imports that we analyzed during the dissection phase. We believe that there are areas for improvement within this area of shufflers to create a more enjoyable user atmosphere while adding additional features. Our goal is to make a new type of shuffler that is at least comparable in price to the current shufflers or potentially a little bit more expensive, but hopefully users will be willing to pay the little bit extra to due to the new features and overall card shuffler experience. | The other main area of competing products consists of home use shufflers. While these shufflers do vary slightly from model to model, the same main mechanical ideas come into play with all of the shufflers. In almost all of the shufflers, the deck is split in two, with each half deck placed on a different side of the shuffler. From that point, a button on the bottom of the shuffler is pressed, which initiates the motor that pushes the cards one by one into the center slot where the cards are collected. An example of a shuffler fitting this description would be the 4-Deck Casino Style Automatic Card Shuffler produced by CHH Imports that we analyzed during the dissection phase. We believe that there are areas for improvement within this area of shufflers to create a more enjoyable user atmosphere while adding additional features. Our goal is to make a new type of shuffler that is at least comparable in price to the current shufflers or potentially a little bit more expensive, but hopefully users will be willing to pay the little bit extra to due to the new features and overall card shuffler experience. | ||
| - | ==Pugh Chart== | + | ==Pugh Charts== |
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| + | ===Card Shufflers=== | ||
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| + | [[IMAGE:Pugh_Chart_Shufflers.jpg|700px|center|thumb|Figure 13: Card Shufflers Pugh Chart]] | ||
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| + | ===Hidden Storage Tables=== | ||
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| + | [[IMAGE:Pugh_Chart_Tables.jpg|700px|center|thumb|Figure 14: Hidden Storage Tables Pugh Chart]] | ||
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| + | ===Disc Guns=== | ||
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| + | [[IMAGE:Pugh_Chart_Guns.jpg|700px|center|thumb|Figure 15: Disc Guns Pugh Chart]] | ||
==Gantt Chart== | ==Gantt Chart== | ||
Revision as of 17:42, 20 February 2011
Contents
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Report 2: Opportunity - Market Research and Design Concepts
Executive Summary
Market Research
To further understand the stakeholder needs for the card shuffling device, we conducted several market research studies, including an anthropological study, user/customer interviews, expert interviews and an analysis of the online reviews for the product.
Anthropological Study
We observed while a group of five Carnegie Mellon students played a card game. We gave them the shuffler with the instructions to treat it as if it had just been received as a gift. The game lasted about an hour and took place on the CMU campus. What we saw during this study followed very closely with our own initial impressions of the device following Report 1. There seemed to be some initial excitement to use the device, but after its inconsistent performance, it was pushed to the side of the game and ignored. The following were our main findings:
- Noise: When the students shuffled their cards for the first time, there was a huge reaction from each of them to the noise, and the person pressing the shuffling button immediately stopped from shock. During its use throughout the game, it was impossible for their conversation to continue and sentences had to be repeated.
- Lack of instructions: When first inspecting the device, the students had more difficulty than we expected figuring out how it worked. They made comments about the lack of instruction manual.
- Aesthetics: Many of the students made comments about the "chintzy" or cheap look of the device.
- Inconsistency: From the very first shuffle, the deck was being shuffled unevenly, cards were being flipped face up and cards were getting stuck in the machine. There were many comments regarding the unfortunate inconsistency of the device. We noticed that most of the time, the students shuffled the deck a few times after using the device, displaying a lack of confidence with its performance.
- Redesign ideas: Interesting improvements were suggested during the game, many of which we had been considering already. We noticed that no one wanted to keep score or deal during the game. Adding these features to the device would increase its appeal. It was mentioned that although the device was advertised on the box as being an "Automatic Card Shuffler" it was not actually automatic and it would be cool if the device was voice-activated. The idea of transparency also came up and was reacted to positively.
User Interviews
After conducting the anthropological study, we had each of the players answer the following questions:
Card Shuffler
- How often do you play card games?
- When you play card games do they often use more than one deck of cards? How many?
- Why do you enjoy playing card games?
- Did you find the card shuffling device helpful? Please comment.
- What were the best aspects of the card shuffling device?
- What were the worst aspects of the card shuffling device?
- What improvements would you make to the card shuffling device?
- How much would you be willing to pay for a card shuffler?
Card Organizer
- Would you find a device that does this process for you helpful? Please comment.
- What features would you find important with this sort of device?
- What features would you find unnecessary with this device?
- Would you prefer to buy this “card-organizing” device or a card shuffling device?
- How much would you be willing to pay for the card-organizing device? What if it could also shuffle your cards?
Once again we found that the responses from users to go along with our initial findings. Most of the users reported playing cards about 2-3 times per week. Users reported disappointment with the device and said that it did not add anything to the game. The most common complaint was that it flipped cards face up during shuffling and was therefore ineffective and unreliable. Several people also mentioned that because it required splitting the deck of cards in half to feed them through the shuffler, it actually took more time to use the shuffler than to shuffle by hand. There were also comments about wasted time trying to figure out how to use the device and about the shockingly loud noise during operation of the device.
Expert Interviews
We went to the Rivers Casino in downtown Pittsburgh and interviewed some of the dealers that worked there. They use automatic card shufflers every day in a professional setting. We also walked around and observed the card shufflers in action. The types we saw in the casino were very different from the product that we dissected. Among our most important discoveries was the knowledge that a "Card Organizing/Deck Separating" device already exists and is used by most casinos.
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Online User Reviews
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Design Concepts
Through our findings in both the market research and idea generation stages, we have identified several design ideas that we would be interested in pursuing. Each of the designs has been thought of with a different market or stakeholder in mind. While we do feel that each of these ideas represents an advancement, they do not come without drawbacks as compared to current technology and products. At this stage, though, each of the designs will be explained in detail and what needs they address in regards to their target users.
Transparent Cylindrical Card "Swoosher"
All-Purpose Outdoor Shuffler
Improved Mini Card Shuffler
Table with Retractable Shelf
Card Gun
Competitor Products
The other main area of competing products consists of home use shufflers. While these shufflers do vary slightly from model to model, the same main mechanical ideas come into play with all of the shufflers. In almost all of the shufflers, the deck is split in two, with each half deck placed on a different side of the shuffler. From that point, a button on the bottom of the shuffler is pressed, which initiates the motor that pushes the cards one by one into the center slot where the cards are collected. An example of a shuffler fitting this description would be the 4-Deck Casino Style Automatic Card Shuffler produced by CHH Imports that we analyzed during the dissection phase. We believe that there are areas for improvement within this area of shufflers to create a more enjoyable user atmosphere while adding additional features. Our goal is to make a new type of shuffler that is at least comparable in price to the current shufflers or potentially a little bit more expensive, but hopefully users will be willing to pay the little bit extra to due to the new features and overall card shuffler experience.
Pugh Charts
Card Shufflers
Hidden Storage Tables
Disc Guns
Gantt Chart
Team Member Roles
- Alexander Harber
- Alana Yoel
- Paul Wagner
- Tanvi Bubna
Conclusions
Appendix A: List of 100 Design Ideas
Card Shuffling Ideas/Improvements
- 1. Cylindrical “Coin Bank” Casing
- 2. Single-press Button
- 3. Rounded Edges and Curves on the Casing
- 4. “Face-changing” cards
- 5. Removable, micro-thin, card faces (including dispensing machine that can take off the micro-film)
- 6. Water-wheel shuffling mechanism (for novelty)
- 7. Steam-powered “retro” card shuffler casing and mechanism (for novelty)
- 8. Built-in music or song playback device, or funny voices
- 9. Microprocessor control for card shuffling action
- 10. Throwable design
- 11. Zero-gravity-friendly design (for astronauts on the I.S.S.)
- 12. Electronic scorekeeper/ranking list addition
- 13. Upload link to global rankings or score-list server
- 14. Card acrobatics – a separate mechanism for “playing” with discarded cards during game play
- 15. Actually make mechanism automatic/hands free (maybe touch sensor activated by weight of cards)
- 16. Voice activated (respond to a name)
- 17. Single deck feed
- 18. Adapt shuffler so it is able to shuffle other objects (candy, marbles, etc)*
Card Re-organizer
- 19. Vision sensor for card recognition
- 20. Child safety lock
- 21. Face-down card orientating mechanism (makes sure cards all face the same way prior to organizing)*
- 22. Have machine put cards in numerical order as it separates the decks
- 23. Keep track of exact cards in each sorted pile so that even decks with the same pattern can be sorted
Other/Cross-applicable Ideas
- 24. Unique styling/colorings (interchangeable?)
- 25. Transparent Casing
- 26. Solitary power source for both motors
- 27. Rubber-grip base and edges over entire device
- 28. Built-in lamp light for use during household power outage or outdoors at night
- 29. Commercial-use light accents/decoration (identify with casino/gambling image)
- 30. Offline game database for rules, suggestions, instructions, and safety warnings
- 31. “Swiss Army Knife” additions – cup holder, poker chip holder, bottle opener, etc.
- 32. Wasp saliva “paper” – an environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic for the casing
- 33. Metal gear solid system
- 34. iPod/music player dock with built-in speaker
- 35. Power outlet cord power option (retractable)
- 36. Wi-Fi connection for restaurant/casino/lounge location search
- 37. Waterproof exterior (hide exposed gears or mechanisms)
- 38. Built-in Breathalyzer (to prevent guests from leaving the game night to drive under the influence)
- 39. Include paper instruction manual/safety guide
- 40. Have device deal cards too (some kind of lazy Susan-ish mechanism), can input number of players and number of cards per person
- 41. While shuffling or reorganizing, device would notice missing cards in the deck and which ones
- 42. Automatic/non-removable card dispensing tray
- 43. New kind of table that had slot for/was incorporated with card shuffler/snacks/etc (built-in)
- 44. Fun facts about cards, card games, etc pop-up after each round of shuffling
- 45. Built in air freshener
- 46. Wheels with stoppers/locks to facilitate moving device out of the way after use or passing between players
- 47. Built-in ashtray and lighter
- 48. Build-in AM/FM radio or Satellite/XM radio
- 49. Bulletproof
- 50. Collapsible/Foldable for easier storage
- 51. Fireproof—add a layer of fireproof material from fireman suits, also adds softness
- 52. Include safe to keep your gambling money safe, hidden and separate from other money
- 53. Built-in fan in case of hot weather or outdoor use
- 54. If no automatic score keeping, built-in pencil sharpener and many sticky notes for scorekeeping
- 55. Able to handle different sized playing cards
- 56. Speed controlled shuffler
- 57. Light to indicate low battery
- 58. Self-monitoring shuffler (will alert you if gears become misaligned or other problems come up)—like when printer alerts about being out of paper.
- 59. Include large clock
- 60. Remote controlled shuffler
- 61. Built-in “banker” –gives out poker chips in exchange for money, gives change, etc
- 62. Hand sanitizer
- 63. Less noisy in shuffling mechanism
- 64. Robotic arms to deal cards (feel like you are in a casino with a dealer
- 65. Can set max bet in shuffler and if on any given night that bet is exceeded, will automatically call 1-800-GAMBLER
- 66. Solar powered (links to solar panel on roof of home)
- 67. More environmentally friendly plastic
- 68. Use AA or AAA batteries exclusively (no C cells)
- 69. Buzzer to alert player that s/he has been gone from the table too long and his/her spot will be given away soon
- 70. Glowing buttons for operation of device
- 71. Money-ironer to fix crinkly bills
- 72. Call alert for waitress or manager
- 73. At end of game have shuffler evaluate player’s gambling tendencies and announce
- 74. GPS navigation to help you find you way around in a casino
- 75. Anti-corrosive metallic parts
