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High tricycle target group. Backtracking the requirements of potential high tricycle users

Hettinga, M.E.M. (2017) High tricycle target group. Backtracking the requirements of potential high tricycle users.

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Abstract:Van Raam currently manufacture a high tricycle design dating back to 1998. Efforts to update the design have been unsuccessful. With the goal in mind to offer a new Van Raam model with added value to potential high tricycle users, a design process is started independent from the current high tricycle models. The target group is defined through segmentation of the complete population. Segments who experience too little benefit from owning a high tricycle are eliminated, leaving people with motor disabilities or an IQ between 55 and 70. Motor disabled over 40 years old are by far the most numerous demographic segment. In order to make the target group homogeneous, only people with motor disabilities aged over 40 who do not participate in the workforce are selected as the target group. A behavioural segmentation is used to segment this target segment into user segments. The variables of this segmentation are sought benefit, distance per use, frequency of use and the influence the weather has on both frequency and use. From this segmentation, two segments are selected, a mobility user and a recreational user. The mobility user wants to use the tricycle to increase their mobility outside the home, with use mainly restricted to the town of the user. The recreational user uses the tricycle as a tool of recreation by cycling routes through appealing landscapes in the company of bicycle users. In order to specify the requirements the tricycle design has to meet to enable the users in their desired use, several analyses are conducted. Tasks are analysed to see the interaction between the steps the user needs to take in using a tricycle. These tasks are parking, mounting, cycling and dismounting. If the user chooses to transport load, the tasks of loading, securing and unloading are added. The recreational user wants to cycle longer distances, making the cycling task the most important task to the user. As the mobility user frequently uses the tricycle for short distances, all tasks are equally important. Scenarios are used to describe different things a user can use the tricycle for, such as getting groceries, going to appointments, visit friends or family and recreational touring. These scenarios combine the tasks with the environments the tasks are preformed in during the scenario. Recreational touring in the main divider of the two segments, as it is the reason for the recreational user to purchase a tricycle and irrelevant to the mobility user. The information from these analyses are gathered in two separate programs of requirements which will be used as a basis for future product development. The recreational user is a user that is currently unserviced by the Van Raam product portfolio. To satisfy the recreational user, a cycle has to be stable while mounting, but otherwise similar in use experience to a regular bicycle. Low noise levels and operating the vehicle at higher speeds are very important. To enable the desired use, the user does not want to be influences in their seating position if the road cycled on has a cross slope. Prolonged cycling has to be comfortable, otherwise the user will not be satisfied. The mobility user is able to satisfy a large part of their needs by the current Van Raam product portfolio. Their needs could be satisfied more by a design that offers stability and little changes in the seating position of the user if the wheels of the cycle are at different height levels. Features that needs to be activated by the user need a low force threshold, as well as easy access.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:ET: Engineering Technology
Subject:20 art studies
Programme:Industrial Design BSc (56955)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/73153
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