market trolley

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HUMAN FACTORS AND ETHNOGRAPHY

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Universal trolley that enables the user to adjust the width/length to stack various sized crates. A cord threads through each corner and when pulled by the user, the tension clamps in the crates. After transporting the crates to the stall area, the user has the option to either leave the crates on (use as part of the stall) or remove them, close up the trolley and place it out of sight until required. (Jan-Feb 2011)

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Market Trolley

HUMAN FACTORS ANDETHNOGRAPHY

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Introduction

Initial Research Findings

Analysis of Initial Research

Area of Interest Research

Area of Inquiry

Ergonomics Research

Concept Sheets

Change to Area of Inquiry

Ergonomic Research for New Area of Inquiry

Trolley Prototype V1

Testing V1 Prototype

Average Stall Sizes

Trolley Prototype V2

CAD Model of Prototype

Orthographic Drawings

In this research document...Page

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Introduction

With the brief in mind, I will first visit several markets that sell food, products, antiques, etc. At each market, I will use photography as a main tool of documentation but will also be taking notes of different experiences and answers I get from the stallholders. From my observations, I will be able to examine how customers and stallholders interact within the market place and therefore see if there are any problems that may need to be researched further.

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INITIAL RESEARCH FINDINGSBorough Market is one of London’s largest and oldest food markets, dating back to 1014. Even after being closed by the parliament of 1755, the Southwark residents revived the area by buying back the triangular plot of land that is now the heart of the market.

In the centre of the market, the layout of the stalls is cleverly planned to work alongside the buildings pillars so that space is saved to allow the customers to move freely around without feeling

too compact. It also means that the traders can more easily set up, bring in stock and remove waste products. Mixtures of natural and artificial lights diffuse throughout the entire area along with a constant change of interesting smells. The temperature maintains the same as outdoors plus it is sheltered from the rain. Being a semi open-air market, the atmospheric conditions make

the user’s and worker’s overall experience more comforting. Therefore contributing to keeping a friendly well being within the traders. BOROUGH M

ARKET

Most of the customers that visit are tourists but there is still a large group of nearby restaurant chefs and amateur cooks that come to buy the fresh produce. Even though haggling/bartering is legal in high street stores, it is uncommon for people to do. Whereas in a

market place, haggling/bartering is seen as a norm and socially accepted.

Borough Market was and still is important to society. Whether it being more important to attract tourists or local companies, the market place will always be needed.

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WASTE AND STORAGE

Marked pathways direct the stallholders straight to either an area for the card and plastic crates to be stored or to the selection of waste bins. The waste system there

also encourages the stallholders to recycle or re-use whatever they can by allocating different types of waste to specific bins, therefore reducing the amount of landfill waste.

Having these systems at Borough Market makes the stallholder’s day simpler by reducing the time it takes to setup in the morning, replenish throughout the day and

takedown at the end of the day.

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MARKET STALLS

There are around 3-4 types of market stalls in Borough Market. In the top photo is the traditional market layout, which is mainly in the Jubilee market area. Neighbouring the stallholders together like this creates stronger security as the

stallholders can easily watch over each other, which is especially helpful when there is only one worker on the stall.

The middle and bottom photo includes very different types of stalls compared to the standard layout. The middle photo shows an enclosed stall, meaning that the customer has to ask over a high counter to view or purchase the product. The bottom photo shows an uncommon layout for a market stall, the layout is more of a miniature store so that customers are encouraged to browse the products on show. However, this type is more vulnerable to theft.

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CUSTOMERS

The market’s layout allows easy movement around each area for the customers. Even at peak times, customers can still easily browse different stalls. There is also seating provided so that customers are encouraged to buy the ready-made food at the market.

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QUALITY

One of the biggest elements that attract customers to Borough Market is the attention to quality. This

is achieved by many factors but one of the main aspects that make me want to revisit is the ability to talk to the skilled traders and ask them about where the product was sourced and manufactured. With food and drink products especially, you can ask for the traders personal opinions on how to store, prepare, what other products work well with it, etc.

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SPIT

ALFI

ELDS

MAR

KET

However, if the stallholders want to add any more structural properties they have to provide for

themselves, usually they make good use of the plastic and card storage crates they brought the products in as part of the stall. They usually provide themselves with little tools to clip or hang products as well. I also saw this occurring especially at Stratford Market, which spreads from the inside of the shopping centre to the exterior. At Stratford, I have seen stallholders use storage crates to make up over half of their stall.

CONSTRUCTION At Spitalfields Market, the stallholders are supplied with the standard metal framing and lighting to create their stalls.

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MISCELLANEOUS

There aren’t many market places with public toilets but Spitalfields supplies this service for customers. Whereas at Borough Market I couldn’t find any public toilets so you would have to go into a nearby pub or restaurant.

Another point worth mentioning is the decreasing amount of people that carry round cash. A small

amount of stallholders have taken this developing problem into account and now supply card payments as an option. The owners of Spitalfields have also taken this account and have installed ATMs at various points within the complex.

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ANALYSIS OF INITIAL RESEARCHI have also been noting down the activities of one other market in Stratford. As I walk through Stratford Centre’s market nearly everyday, I have noticed how the stallholders there use most of the plastic and card crates not only as a tool to transport products but to build up to 50% of their stall and even pieces of unsteady furniture. Stratford probably does this the most out of the markets I visited but many other markets also use their crates as ingenious multipurpose tools. Therefore I will study this area of interest further by returning to some of these markets to document the daily lives of simple storage crates.

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AREA OF INTEREST RESEARCH

The majority of stallholders I have seen around various markets use trolleys, which come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. However after they have been used and the stall is setup, they can become obtrusive.

For example, the bottom left image shows how the trolley and the crates are obstructing the entrance, this causes less attraction to the stall.

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The photos best describe how stallholders use the storage crates as part of the stall’s structure. Yet,

some stallholders still bring wooden or plastic trestles specifically to setup, which leaves the storage crates cluttering up their workspace.

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These are just some more methods used to transport the products around, starting from the simple

to the extreme like the hydraulic pallet trolley in the bottom left of the page. Again the trolley would be left at the stall becoming obtrusive.

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The two above photos explain how the

products are first shipped in on pallet then transferred to small cages. This would be an area worth revising as the stages of transporting the goods could be cut down.

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I noticed how a lot of the

unused crates are thrown to the side

throughout the day; these unused crates could be

used for something else.

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AREA OF INQUIRYFrom this further research, I have seen similar means of transportation, construction and storage around the market environment, this has now given me a greater understanding of the area I want to progress with. I want to look into different methods of using storage crates as part of the stall. Where some stallholders use every crate possible to produce their stall, others put a lot of their crates to the side. Not only do the leftover crates become physically and visually obtrusive to the workers but to the customers as well. This gives the overall market an unorganised and uncomfortable impression. To overcome this, I want to see whether I can reduce the amount of cluttering with spare crates by encouraging the stallholders to try alternative methods. One concept I want to develop is a way of locking and unlocking the crates together. However, if I want to be able to persuade the stallholders to use alternative methods, I will not only need to look at creating a concept that includes good physical ergonomics but good cognitive and emotional ergonomics.

As I create some initial concepts, I will start researching the various types of ergonomics so I can incorporate my findings throughout the time I am producing different ideas and designs.

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ERGONOMICS RESEARCH“The study of the relationship between workers and their environment.”

http://www.collinslanguage.com

Joints should be kept as far away as possible in the neutral position.

When using hand-held tools, the wrist should be kept as straight as possible.

Correct locations of handgrips on tools avoids having to bend the wrist, bending the wrist should be avoided.

Ergonomics for beginners: A Quick Reference Guide – Jan Dul & Bernard Weerdmeester (May 2001)

At the moment, I have just collected different parts of information on Ergonomics just to get me started but throughout the rest of my research and through designing, I will continue researching Ergonomics to help develop my idea.

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By understanding the constraints and capabilities of the human body, we can design products,

services and environments that are effective, reliable, safe and comfortable to use. Mastering physical ergonomics is fundamental if you want to create products that people are able to

use and enjoy using, and of course to avoid strain injuries and minimise the risk for accidents. Did you know that the person with strongest hands often has the smallest grip? When the hand has more muscles, the space inside the fist is smaller, yet the end user still might choose the hammer with the largest handle.

It’s hard to feel cool when you feel stupid. A product or service should be both natural and easy to use. Even if you have never seen or used it before. By understanding how people interpret and understand the world around them, we know how to

design products, services and systems that are intuitive and efficient, but also appealing and exciting. For professionals as well as amateurs. Mastering cognitive ergonomics is extremely important in digital solutions, particularly with the development of complex, high-technological and automated systems.

Emotional ergonomics makes products and services more meaningful, in every aspect of the design, from functionality to aesthetics. Just as today’s market offers different shoe sizes or different types of mobile handsets, in the future we will see products that suit different emotional types. Simply put, it’s

the difference between want and need. By understanding the end-users emotional relations to different brands, and their products

and services, we know how to develop design solutions that are engaging, rewarding, aesthetically pleasing, and fun to use. Mastering emotional ergonomics is crucial in brand building and to increase customer loyalty.

Emotional Ergonomics

Cognitive Ergonomics

Physical Ergonomics

Information taken from - http://www.ergonomidesign.com/ERGONOMICS³.aspx

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CONNECTORS PROTOTYPE - V3From my concept sheets I produced a few CAD models of the small connector tools on the computer. The image above includes the third version that has been printed off using a rapid prototype machine. This idea works by placing the two parts in the handle of two crates and compressing the male component and inserting into the female component until the point they lock. To unlock the assembly, the user just has to press in the two pins and pull the male component out.

CHANGE TO AREA OF INQUIRY

However, I feel this idea wouldn’t be used enough by the user and have decided to develop a different idea that I thought of on my first concept sheet, which is a trolley that can be an adjusted to suit different crate shapes and sizes. My previous research showed a real problem with trolleys being left unused throughout the day and becoming physically and visually obtrusive. To develop this idea, I will look further into how stallholders transport their products in and out of the market and the typical dimensions of an average stall area, as I already know how market owners can be very strict about the stallholders keeping to their dedicated area.

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STRA

TFOR

D M

ARKE

T

With my idea to develop a new trolley for stallholders to use, I revisited Stratford Market to document the stallholder’s ways of transporting goods in and out. I got to the market just as they were setting up in the morning and started documenting different stalls to get an idea of what equipment they use.

In the photo above, you can see a typical trolley they are using to get the products in. Some of these trolleys could be taken back through a corridor to outside the centre. However some of the stallholders either willingly kept the trolley at the stall, whereas others had to keep them. Therefore cluttering up their stall. Another small detail I noticed on the trolleys was the use of cardboard on the stacking surface. This must act as cushioning to balance the stack of crates as the trolley only has a metal mesh base. This is a factor I will need to keep in mind as I develop my idea.

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This type of trolley was also a popular tool used at Stratford but also a common problem when it came to storing the trolley at the stall. Even though the user has multiple shelves to stack their products on the crates are very likely to fall off the side. A few stallholders use plastic film to wrap up the side of the trolleys, which seemed to me as a waste of material, money and time if they have to do it once in the morning and once at the end of the day. One good point of this design is that the user is able to change the heights of the shelves.

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These photos are a prime example of how the trolleys and crates are left to clutter up the stall. Yet, you can actually see in the top photo how one of the trolleys is still used as part of the stall, which I feel is an efficient use of the trolley after its initial purpose.

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The photo in the left shows one of the commonly used trolleys to transport a large amount of stacked crates. This is not only dangerous to the worker but to customers passing by and is a greater threat when the actual trolley is mobile. The other photo shows another type of trolley used by the stallholders but I know this type to be used more for high street stores. Even though this type looks quite sturdy and safe, from personal experience I know how hard they are for a user. They are heavy and hard to move freely but the worst part of this design is there is no real grip to pull the cage, which can be quite dangerous you are likely to trap or twist your fingers when pulling on the metal frame.

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TROLLEY PROTOTYPE - V1

This is the first physical prototype of my idea and even though I have already thought of a better way to join the two halves together, I just wanted to make this initial model to get a feel for the size so I can work on developing the dimensions. This model doesn’t include the other key components that are needed for the design but will do in the next prototype.

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The crates used for this demonstration are quite commonly used at markets and are probably the largest type you get in the sense of width and length, which is a key factor I need to look at carefully when creating my design. Other key factors that I need to be aware of as I look at dimensions are; the area of the stall and the available area to manoeuvre to and from the stall.

I need to also look into the ergonomics of when the trolley is pulled by the user. This is because my idea includes a rope that passes through each corner of the trolley so the user can pull it from either side. However, the rope is a multipurpose element to the design, as the rope is pulled, the corners lock inwards holding the crates in place.

CRATES APPROX: 600(W) X 720(L)

Below is the first CAD model I created for this type of joint at the centre.

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APPROX WIDTH 2.5M

AVERAGE STALL SIZES

For my next prototype I will need to focus at getting the trolley to an average size so that it can be used easily for all types of market stalls. These annotated images show the sizes of the stalls, I have noticed that the width of the stall is more important than its depth. On average, the stall’s width ranges from 1.5m to 2.5m. I need to be making the trolleys maximum length at the lower end of the range so that the trolley is as easy as possible for the user to operate.

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TROLLEY PROTOTYPE - V2This second prototype is slightly larger in length and width than the first as this middle joint I developed allows the two halves of the trolley to sit parallel to each other whilst closed and a greater spread when opened.

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Because the rope passes through guides at each corner of the frame, the crates can be locked into position when on the trolley. This works as the user pulls the trolley by the rope, which makes the structure of the trolley wants to close but instead just compresses the crates inwards.

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The trolley uses a simple nut and bolt as the user can maintain the tension in the middle whereas a fixed bolt may become loose through time.

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Even though this prototype is larger than the last version, I still not sure whether the scale of the trolley is satisfying enough for the stallholder to feel that it is more useful than the standard trolley they already use. To finally make sure whether the size of the trolley is suitable for the market place, I will need to test the product in that environment. I also need to see how the stallholder interacts with the product; this will show me whether the trolley is self-explanatory enough for someone to know how to use it straight away.

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CAD MODEL OF PROTOTYPEProducing the CAD model before making the physical prototype helped especially with the dimensions at the middle joint. There are a few differences between the physical prototype and the actual design. The obvious main difference is that the actual design would be made from metal materials such as aluminium and steel. The wheels I used on the wooden prototype are small caster wheels whereas I would really use large nylon caster wheels that maybe locked. The radiuses on the filleted corners are much larger on the actual design as well.

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There are two versions for the corner plates that I designed as the cut guide on the top plane needs to different for each half of the frame. The corner plate only rotates a certain amount to reduce complexity when loading the crates and works by constraining the pin, which is attached to the frame, in the guide. Where I use very basic screw eyelets on the wooden prototype, the design actually has a 45-degree cut for each corner of the frame to guide the rope.

The next two pages contain the orthographic drawings for the components of the trolley.

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