Dyson Vacuum Cleaner Case Study

Dyson Vacuum cleaner Case study

1. List the steps involved in the development of the Dyson Vacuum cleaner * Design process * Design brief: designed upon the response of consumers, engineering team, national and international market place * Generating Ideas: several different concepts, produced a large number of sketches * Research and analysis: consider factors such as current market conditions, competitors etc * The process: designers had to balance ideas about how it would function, aesthetics, safety, reliability and cost * Modeling * Manufacturing process * Testing * Evaluation

2. Describe how the Dyson Vacuum cleaner works
The Dyson Vacuum cleaner has two cyclone chambers that does not clog with dust and have replaced the traditional bag. Centrifugal forced in the cyclones spin out dust and debris into the clear bin. The first cyclone spins out larger particles. The shroud separates out fluff and hair and then the inner cyclone spins the minute particles out of the airstream. In this way and due to the unique cyclonic design, The Dyson is able to capture heath-threatening particles such as pollen, dust mite allergens and cigarette smoke.

3. Explain why the vacuum cleaner is considered an innovation
“Rather than copying the existing vacuum cleaner style, James Doyle thought that as the technology was different then the machine should look new and it should reveal its revolutionary technology to the consumer”. The Dyson vacuum cleaner is different to any of vacuum cleaner available to the market therefore it is considered an innovation, using new and improved technology to further enhance the Vacuum cleaner.

4. Evaluate the factors that have contributed to the success of the innovation e.g. government agencies, entrepreneurial activity, economics, and trends, legal and ethical issues
Economic – consumer spending has risen over the past decade so people are more likely to spend money on items that are not essential or necessary, such as a vacuum cleaner.
Trends- In today’s society the vacuum cleaner has become more popular and taken over from the traditional cleaning methods. This has meant more people feel the need and ‘pressure’ to own a vacuum cleaner within their household and are more likely to use it.
Ethical Issues – In today’s society, people are more concerned about their heath and of the harmful effects that dust and dirt can have. Due to this concern, peple have been purchasing vacuum cleaners to ensure a cleaner environment, leading to better heath.

5. Discuss how emerging technologies have influenced the innovation
The emerging technologies such as the two cyclone chambers that cannot clog with dust have replaced the traditional bag and centrifugal forces in the cyclones spin out dust and debris into the clear bin.

6. Evaluate the impact of this innovation on society
Vacuum cleaners have allowed society to clean surfaces much more effectively, saving time, effort and energy, allowing them to do other things. They have also improved society’s health and hygiene as they help to remove dirt and dust from areas, providing less bacteria and germs. This ensures that people have a lower risk of getting sick. A negative impact that the vacuum cleaners have on society is that they require electricity to run and operate, which can be harmful and impact on the environment. They are also costly, which therefore affects the economy. Vacuum cleaners have also had a social impact on society in that people may feel pressured into owning one and not feel comfortable sticking to their traditional methods of cleaning.