| Goal |
To use principles of human factors and
ergonomics to design an interactive kiosk to help educate the public about
the needs, processes, and implications of Lake Source Cooling at Cornell
University.
|
| Considerations |
There were many factors to consider throughout
the design process. Listed below are several of the design requirements
presented to us at the outset of the project:
-
range of user dimensions
-
mobile
-
compact (fit through doorway)
-
easy access for maintenance
-
simple, low cost design
|
| Process |
The design team conducted research into
basic design principles, and investigated examples of modern information
kiosks. As a result, several issues were included to the list above
as considerations for the design of a public information kiosk:
-
use of mouse (vs. touch-screen)
-
height adjustability of controls
-
use of multiple display screens
-
acoustics
-
glare and lighting considerations
|
| Result |
Part way through the design process, a
short presentation of design ideas was given, and the feedback from the
clients was incorporated into the final design of the kiosk. The
design includes an adjustable arm holding the monitor and mouse tray to
allow for adjustability and provide access for a variety of users, including
wheelchair bound visitors. The "wave-like" shape of the housing can
provide acoustic privacy while incorporating a second monitor for larger
groups of users. Also, glare screens are positioned on the sides
of the kiosk to increase visibility of the screen, especially in an environment
with a large amount of natural light, such as the Lake Source Cooling facility.
In general, the final recommendations for
the kiosk blended aesthetic appearance with ergonomic principles in order
to provide the Lake Source Cooling facility with an easy to use, attention
grabbing information kiosk.
|
|
|
|
|
