Assignment 7.1 Beta/Final Prototype

TrainerJames, aka James aka T.J., 
the tool that aids trainers in their daily work

James, T.J., TrainerJames: a toolbag for trainers, here filled with tools. Hook is for hanging the A4 notes (see below, also for the different use options)

Gap
This prototype was built to fill a need for a tool that supports a trainer in having all the devices needed for the training (pen, marker, iphone, A4/letter sized notes) at their disposal whenever needed. Concentration should be on training instead of searching for dropped pens and stuff. 

Primary User Needs
The primary user needs are:

• The tool holds devices (i.e. at least A4/letter sized notes, 4 board markers, watch/timer, smartphone, 2-3 caps of markers, Post-Is, tape, pen)
  
• The tool aids Trainers to intuitively store and retrieve things (without cognitive load)
  
• The tool provides easy access to specific devices
  
• The tool is robust to it’s use, holds the devices such that they do not fall out. 
  
• The tools is always 'at hand', ready to use, at the right place where needed (e.g. at FlipChart or personal chair or table)
  
• The tool is a personal extension of trainer and liked by him/her

 
Notes about the Prototype
The prototype is a Toolbag, now called James, or TrainerJames, that can be attached in different ways, either to the user with a belt or to flipcharts with pliers and strings, or to a board just by hanging it over the top of the board. Regarding aesthetics and appearance, I wanted to give the tool an unobstrusive and elegant design. This called for a black fabric in this final prototypical version. A sewing machine is now there. The personalization is e.g. through the choice of position and fitting belt. 

Material: I used black felt in two different thicknesses. The thicker one is approximately 3 mm thick and much stiffer then the thinner one with 1 - 1.5 mm. The thinner one feels more like a normal fabric. Both were easy to sew. I used black thread and for one of the pen holders a 8 cm wide rubber thread based elastic fabric (not sure what the proper name is).

Process: The thicker felt is the base for the bag (base plate). I cut a roughly square peace. About 6 cm of this folds over on the top to make a hanger for attaching the bag to a belt or board. The rest is the ground plate for the smaller dedicated bags for the various tools. With my new sewing machine that I bought just two days ago (finally a reason to get it ;-)), I did some initial test on how to make a small compartment and attach it to the base plate. I also experimented with the elastic fabric to attach pens. 

Name: TrainerJames or simply James
The tool is called James or TrainerJames. The latter is available as web address with a .de ending, TJ as well, James is not, however this is the name that it inevitably will be referred to when working with it ;-). Or maybe J.T. Both are easy to say. It is unambigious, everybody knows how to write the word, And it is easy to say. 
The reason to choose James is that the tool is supposed to help and aid without being in the way and disturb. This is exactly how I envision a proper british butler. The first name that comes to my mind when thinking about a british butler is: James. That gave the toolbag the name. 

Look & feel of the prototype and several use cases

Toolbag filled with different things than in the top image (instead of phone there are scissors. The top right bag now holds a larger tape. The smaller still fits inside. (it is there but not visible in the upper image)

The view of the bag as seen by the user/trainer when attached to the body around the lower waist. All tools are easily identifiable.

The following pictures show several use cases of the bag. Images have captions, click on them to see the large version and read the caption. These images show the successful integration of the user request from the survey like: 

1. remote control (instead of smartphone), 
   
2. large taperoll, 
3. used as attachment to board, 
4. using a personalized belt
   - black belt (any belt is possible, 
   - pink belt
   - even a no belt version is possible, the top of the trouser is used to hang the bag (James ;-)), the flip goes inside the trouser's waistband. 

The pictures also demonstrate how the bag looks and feels, if

• simply  layed on the desk or attached to books. 
• is attached to a small board like device and leaned on something on the tabel. 
• is attached to the A4 board for the notes.  

Please click on images to see their caption, move to next image by clicking on > (right side of image):

One idea after week 4 was to attach the toolbag (James) not only to the body but also to a board or a flipchart. Here is the bag attach to the top of a foamboard that I frequently use in my seminars. A small plier fixes it in place. It took a second to fix and looks really cool on the big board. To attach it to a chair or flipchart is equally simple, as long as (for the chair) the plier is big enough or an intermediate string is used.

Here, the hook is attached to the top hole in the holder. This way the A4 notes hang higher which might be more comfortable when walking. (I do not envision that they hang there all the time. It is only there to occasionally store them away when both hands are needed). In this setting, still all things in the compartments are easily accessible.

How it was done

early production phase of prototype. I started working from the top to the bottom. Here the holder for the hook with its three possible positions for the hook can be seen well. To the right is the stretchable holder for the pen.

I discarded the idea to use sewn in metal clips and now use the flip plus pliers (small or big) instead. The advantage is that with the belt, the bag is much better and stiffer fixed to the belt, even with only two small pliers. The second advantage is that now the flip can be used in any way, even unflipped and the opportunities to attach it to something are bigger. This more simple solution proved to be more efficient.

Next Steps

1. The next steps will be to use this tool for a while in training and daily life. 
   
2. I might also give it to the colleagues who were sharing their thoughts for further testing. 
   
3. Regarding style I might do a different version in grey and orange. This will definitely not look as elegant but on the other hand look a bit more dynamic. 
   
4. One other option I want to try is the use of more elastic band to hold the devices. It has advantages and disadvantages and it would be great to test them. 
   
5. I also wanted to add a thin sheet of black felt that can be used as a cover sheet to hide the tools. It would be folded behind the belt or whatever to open the bag. 
   
6. It might be a nice idea to cut a handle in the flip to make it easily to carry it if used as such. This has to wait until I am sure that I do not need the stiffness of the unsevered flip.  
7. I might do a description, maybe a website for the product
8. The idea to maybe make this product available to people will be considered. This also encompasses thinking of how much it will cost to fabricate it and to what extend it makes sense to propose different materials and arrangements for potential customers to choose from.