Human-centered design creates recipe for rapid adoption and eliminates user frustration

SAN DIEGO – SolidWorks World is always an entertaining event on the engineering calendar, and the 2008 edition here was no exception for the more than 4300 in attendance.

Opinionated, insightful keynote speakers hold court on a variety of design topics, not just mechanical CAD. For example, this year Dr. Don Norman (click video button below), a Benjamin Franklin Medal award winner (along with Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and Thomas Edison), talked about his ''human-centered design'' approach.

Dr. Norman outlined his ''four rules to design by'':
• Think People
• Make It Usable
• No Signs
• Make It Beautiful

''Put humans in your designs,'' said Norman, (such as the motorcycle rider on the right). He also questioned why machine tool builders invariably mount the displays too high, forcing older, bifocal-wearing operators to tilt their heads way back into uncomfortable positions. And, ''design things so that signs aren't necessary,'' Norman emphasized.

Mike Edwards, Editor, DPN Magazine medwards@clbmedia.ca
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USEFUL SITES

Solenoid valves. Online tool for the 8290 series actuated globe valve assembly from ASCO enables users to select an actuated globe valve, solenoid pilot valve and position indicator in an assembly (ascovalve.com/8290Configurator).

Forming, fastening. The Orbitform Group website (orbitform.com) provides the ability to find and compare equipment features, downloadable SolidWorks files, PDFs, pictures and videos.

Green computing competition. Dell has challenged designers with ReGeneration: International Green Computing Technology Design Competition (dell.com/designregeneration). Entries and online popular vote continue through April 2008.
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The March/April DPN cover story has LC Bakery Equipment Services of Brantford, ON, demonstrating an automated oven for commercial bakeries. Installed at Italian Home Bakeries in Toronto, the oven designed by Robert Casasanta, LC Bakery's VP of Engineering, makes use of traditional stone integrated on a conveyor belt that automatically takes raw loaves through a unique 100-ft, multiple-zone convection oven.
Please click on the ''Artisan bakery'' video button (below, right) for a demo of this new multitasking product.

        DPNCANADA.COM EXCLUSIVES

Screwfeeding systems. Weber has introduced three screwfeeding systems said to work with any tool. Handheld and fixtured units handle torques up to 50 Nm and a dual durometer polycast bowl minimizes fastener wear and noise.

DeviceNet I/O blocks. Machine-mount I/O blocks from Balluff include 16 input-only, 16 point configurable, 8 input/8 output, and 8 output-only models.

Foot switches. AutomationDirect has added foot switches to its line of products. The switches, in single and double units, are available in two operational formats: free movement and foot switch locked in neutral position.  ________________________________________________

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SPONSOR MESSAGE: BC Industrial Expo

  

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                    UPCOMING EVENTS

April 8-10, 2008. Mississauga, ON. Festo Technology presents EP211: Introduction to Electropneumatics at its Learning Centre (june.davies@ca.festo.com).

April 30-May 1, 2008. Abbotsford, BC. The BC Industrial Expo returns to the TRADEX Trade & Exhibition Centre (bcindustrialexpo.ca). Register for free by April 1 quoting promotion code BCPem08. After April 1, pay $10 with this code.

May 12-14, 2008. Montreal. Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show, including the National Factory Automation Show (smecanada.ca/montreal).

May 29-31, 2008. Whistler, BC. PTDA Canadian Conference presented by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (ptda.org).

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