Post hole digger redesign
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| - | From the beginning of this test, it was immediately apparent that the soil was going to be quite difficult to dig. After encountering several rocks and a few roots, the user was only able to dig to a depth of 3" after the 5 minute time limit was reached.[[Image: | + | From the beginning of this test, it was immediately apparent that the soil was going to be quite difficult to dig. After encountering several rocks and a few roots, the user was only able to dig to a depth of 3" after the 5 minute time limit was reached.[[Image:IMG_0052B.jpg|thumb|right|150px|3" deep hole after 5 min. of digging]] |
Throughout the entire experiment the subject struggled with actually removing the dirt from the hole. As the dirt continued to fall out of the shovel before removal, the user became visibly frustrated. | Throughout the entire experiment the subject struggled with actually removing the dirt from the hole. As the dirt continued to fall out of the shovel before removal, the user became visibly frustrated. | ||
Revision as of 21:01, 3 October 2008
Contents |
Executive Summary
Research and Observations
Usability Study
In order to get a better understanding of how the user interacts with our product, we conducted two usability studies. To broaden our knowledge on the use of the tool, we chose to examine two subjects -- one male and one female, both college aged. Each user study was conducted in the exact same manner. The user dug a total of 4 holes; 2 with the simple post hole digger and 2 with the complex post hole digger. Of the 2 holes dug with each tool, one was in hard, grassy soil, the other in soft topsoil. The user first dug for 5 minutes in hard, grassy soil using the simple post hole digger. He or she was then given a few minutes to rest, and moved on to digging another hole for 5 minutes with the complex post hole digger. This hole was strategically dug in an area nearby the previous one to maintain a common consistency of the soil. After another brief rest, he or she moved to the soft topsoil. The user dug with the simple tool until 5 minutes was up or a depth of 36” was reached, resting only after this milestone. Lastly, the subject dug in the soft topsoil with the complex digger for 5 minutes or until the 36” depth was reached. Again, the hole was dug near the first one made in the soft topsoil to ensure common soil consistency. Throughout all of the experiments the group members noted the user’s actions, comments, and depth of the hole throughout the process. After finishing the physical testing, the group asked the user to comment on the experience, while also asking specific questions to help prompt them for a particular type of response. A detailed rundown of each study can be found in the following paragraphs.
Study I: Average Female User
- Name of Subject: Laurel Bancroft
- Age: 21
- Height: 5’ – 4”
- Weight: 120 lbs.
- Date: Friday, 9/26/08
Test 1: Simple post hole digger in hard, grassy soil
Observations made by group:
From the beginning of this test, it was immediately apparent that the soil was going to be quite difficult to dig. After encountering several rocks and a few roots, the user was only able to dig to a depth of 3" after the 5 minute time limit was reached.
Throughout the entire experiment the subject struggled with actually removing the dirt from the hole. As the dirt continued to fall out of the shovel before removal, the user became visibly frustrated.
User comments:
Most of the comments made by the user during the test were fully expected, and helped solidify many initial thoughts and concerns we had with the simple post hole digger. Some of the issues she had with the tool included: banging her knuckles together, difficulty aiming and hitting the hole, fatigue from the weight of the digger, and the fact that the dirt failed to remain in the shovels during removal. She also mentioned that the misalignment of the handles annoyed her, and suggested the use of gloves with the tool.
Test 2: Complex post hole digger in hard, grassy soil
Log of observations made by group:
-Start at 6:09 p.m. -User stood at side of tool when pulling handles apart rather than standing centered on tool. Rather than pulling apart with both arms from a centered location, she stood to the side, pushing with one hand and pulling with the other -User experimented with when to pull up on the dirt. Rather than pulling the handles apart immediately and getting the tips of the digging heads stuck on the hard soil at the bottom of the hole, she pulled up a bit before closing the digging heads. This allowed her to extract the loose soil in the hole without catching the shovel on the bottom. -User didn’t want to kill a worm, so she stopped digging and made Clay remove it -Reached a depth of 4” at 3 minute mark (6:12 p.m.) -When thrusting the tool downward into the ground, the user was holding the tool near the middle of its handles rather than the top where its grips are located. Once in the hole, she then moved her hands to the grips to pull the handles apart and extract the dirt. -Reached a depth of 6” at 5 minute mark (6:14 p.m.) -Much cleaner hole
Log of user comments:
-The handles are a lot longer -The tool is really heavy. I’m getting tired much more quickly -The tips of the shovel are sharper. I’m able to pierce the ground more effectively -I don’t want to kill that worm, Clay, move the worm -This tool is easier to aim with
General user comments at this point:
-If the simple shovel was aligned better and had sharper tips, I’d rather use it because of its light weight -I personally would prefer to use a lighter tool and sacrifice the higher number of reps vs. using a heavier tool and possibly making fewer strokes -When asked if she had to dig a 6” hole right now, she said she’d choose to use the complex digger
Test 3: Simple post hole digger in soft topsoil
Log of observations made by group:
-Start at 6:30 p.m. - Reached a depth of 14” at 1 minute mark (6:31 p.m.) -User having trouble aiming as hole deepens. She keeps hitting the edges of the hole at the top -Reached a depth of 24” at 3 minute mark (6:33 p.m.) -The handles are starting to hit the sides of the hole at the top -Reached a depth of 36” at 4 minute mark (6:34 p.m.) -Much quicker and easier medium to dig in
Log of user comments:
-It’s so much easier to dig in this soft soil -I’m having trouble aiming -I’m afraid to thrust the tool down really hard in fear of collapsing the hole
Test 4: Complex post hole digger in soft topsoil
Log of observations made by group:
-Start at 6:36 p.m. -This shovel gets more dirt with one scoop -Reached a depth of 18” at 1 minute mark (6:37 p.m.) -User stood at side of tool when pulling handles apart rather than standing centered on tool. Rather than pulling apart with both arms from a centered location, she stood to the side, pushing with one hand and pulling with the other -Reached a depth of 24” at 2 minute mark (6:38 p.m.) -As she gets deeper, it’s becoming obvious that being short is making it difficult for her. She’s initially gripping the handles on the grips to get the dirt half way up the hole, but she’s too short to get the entire tool out. As a result, she tries to move her grip down to the middle of the handles so she can extract the dirt, but this often causes a good portion of it to fall out of the shovel. -Reached a depth of 36” at 3 minute mark (6:39 p.m.) -Handles did NOT touch the sides of the hole at the top when at a depth of 36” -Again, a much quicker and easier medium to dig in
Log of user comments:
-Because you can get so much more dirt with one scoop, it’s pretty heavy, so it seems a bit harder to use than the simple digger -I’m noticing now that this tool is heavier than the other. Again, the ability to dig more per scoop is really tiring me out. -When the hole gets really deep, it’s hard to get the dirt out since I’m short. Also, bending over is not fun.
General user comments at this point:
-The complex tool’s handles are a little too long -When digging a 36” hole, I’d much rather use the simple digger. Any deeper though, then I’d go with the complex digger. -The simple tool is much easier to pull apart than the complex tool. It seems like the complex tool tends to stick when trying to pull it apart. -The sharp tips of the complex digger and its ability to completely close are great attributes, but it’s not really applicable to soft soil digging. -The diameters of the handles of each tool were a little too big. They make my hands hurt. -I like the fact that you can’t bust your knuckles using the complex digger -I personally think the wood handle would splinter really easily -I think the simple digger would definitely break first -When the idea of using a gas powered auger was proposed, she said just not knowing how to use one would completely deter her from using it, plus the danger involved was not appealing. She’d go with the mechanical version instead. -When asked which tool she would choose in a store and why, she said she would’ve chosen the complex digger for the following reasons: -The sharp tips allow you to get better penetration -I would’ve assumed they were both the same weight even though the complex tool was quite a bit larger. It just seems like it’s made of more high-tech material and wouldn’t weigh any more than the simple digger. -Since the complex one was 2x’s as much money, I would assume that expense = a better product
