A. Prediction
The purpose of this device is to froth milk, and other substances the user intends to froth. It works by rotating a whisk in the liquid. This device appeals to the food, specifically cafe, market. As it produces foam which is an optional feature of drinks it would appeal to producers of elevated foods. The design objectives are ergonomic use, foaming function, cheap, and simple use. Some constraints may have been the weight(as batteries and motor is necessary) and cost of materials.
B. Observation
Once switch is on, motor turns whisk to produce foam from the substance it has been immersed in. User holds the handle and guides the whisk in and out the milk. It meets the overall objective well as it will foam the milk. It has been designed this because it requires less materials, meaning it is lighter, has clear mapping, and affordances.
Mappings would be the switch that slides up and down, the shape of handle narrowing to be held, whisk to show end that is to go in the milk, length of rod to show distance from spillage. Some affordances are the ease in switching on and off the device, clear direction to enter whisk, and (often times) awareness to plunge devise deep into milk to avoid splashing. Feedbacks would be the functioning of the device in the form of foam, and possible complaints of how deep the whisk must be inserted(new users may be unaware of splashing).
C. Test
The device works well in foaming the milk in less than five minutes. It is highly durable, and will remain functional as long as whisk is intact with the motor. Given that it is a hand held devise it is ergonomic for the time it takes to froth milk.
Upon testing our devise we found, as expected, it didn’t function as well as the Ikea frother. However, it performed fairly better than our expectations– producing a bit of foam. Our mapping was the cup(to contain the milk) and lid(to seal and stop spillage). Our affordances were the spillage from the top hole, they may choose to use a different lid or use another type of seal, and may use another cup as it is hard to hold. Feedbacks would be some foam, spillage, and complaints due too low ergonomics of the product. Some strengths of my product are that it is cheap, made from readily available goods, and easily replaceable when broken. Drawbacks would be its weakness, the capacity of the cup, it’s leakage, and the fact that it isn’t ergonomic. If we were to improve our frother we would use a smaller, ergonomic cup with a leak proof lid.
D. Disassembly of Ikea device
The device works by reigning power from two AA batteries. This power is transferred to a small motor that is attached to the whisk by a plastic tube and rod. This whisk froths by rotating, stirring air into the milk, with its coil.
It was made by assembling the motor, electric conductors, and whisk into a neat plastic case that functions as a handle.
It has roughly fourteen parts to it(without opening the motor), five of which moves.
E. Analyze
Spread sheet link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15kuWvu169DDA3ZA0M1qtFM2tnV5xVEAM-11pSDfwvy8/edit?usp=sharing
The strengths of this product is that it is very cheap to produce in bulk. Furthermore the materials used are relatively durable, and doesn’t require a lot of a single material. However this also makes the product prone to damages, although it will last if handled with care, once dropped the plastic holding the rod and motor can shift or snap. Or the handle it self, made of plastic, can break. Some of these blemishes can be fixed with tape, but not all.
A reinforced handle would go a long way to make it last longer. Replace the plastic tube with a locking material. Perhaps place images on the switch to show different speeds.
I have learned that there is more that goes into the simple electronic plus whisk in a milk frother. I hadn’t thought of the friction that would occur if not for the silicone base that separates the rod from the handle. It also showed me how a switch connects the electric circuit, activating the devise.