Pump up the Volume
Brief
Context :
The new specifications for short courses in GCSE Design and Technology focus strongly on the processes of designing and making. They allow students to build on the skills and knowledge that they acquired following the KS3 Design and Technology strategy by designing and making a small scale, quality product.
The following requirement is typical:
‘Candidates are required to produce a prototype product that can be marketed. The underlying influence on the project should be that the product will be the first of a batch of 50, realised in school/college with the facilities that are available. The candidate will realise the first prototype of this product. The evidence to be submitted for assessment must include a 3 dimensional product with a concise portfolio (including evidence of modelling) and/or appropriate ICT evidence.’
Assignment:
‘MP3 players are very popular and are ideally suited for individual listening. Sometimes however it is useful to amplify sound so that the device can be listened to without the restriction of headphones or a small group of people can listen to it together.’
The above is a typical context taken from a GCSE Short Course specification.
Your task is to design and manufacture a prototype product in response to this context that incorporates the given amplifier circuit. CAD/CAM is to be used extensively in the development of your prototype. This will be a corporate 'freebie' used to promote the launch of one of the following new ventures:
· An energy sports drink
· A product to be used on the set of the movie Tron Legacy
· A high speed commuter rail network
· A web based info service for the 2012 olympics
I have selected to design and manufacture a speaker based on the promotion of the web based information service for the 2012 Olympics so my next step will be to research imagery/products associated with the Olympics and also to look at existing products on the market before I begin my design ideas.
Specification:
Purpose: To play music out loud from an MP3 player without the use of headphones.
To be a promotional product for the web based information service for the 2012 Olympics.
Form: The product styling should be inspired by the 2012 Olympics as to promote the information service for them. Incorporate Olympic logo so that it is easily recognised as a promo product.
Function: Product must play music out loud from an ipod or mp3 player. Must have a switch to turn on/off. Must have universal cable lead to plug into any mp3 player.
Technical Requirements: Must be big enough to house speaker/circuit board and a 9V battery.
Materials and Components: Should be made of hard/ durable materials as speaker is a small promo product will be probably be used as a portable product and therefore able to withstand its required usage. Will be made using CAD/CAM processes so materials to take into consideration when designing are: model board, gelutong, 3d printer, Rapid prototyping.
Size: Speaker will be small as is to be used as a free give away. This will lower cost of manufacture and be easier to distribute to the public during promotion.
Safety: As it is an electrical product components must be safely held inside the speaker with no loose wires. A switch will be on the outside with all wires inside the casing.
