PD Bathroom Blog: April 2010

TheGermaphobe.net

Here is a blog by someone who suffers from Mysophobia, it outlines tips and ideas concerning symptoms of the phobia, as well as just insight into opinions held by Myso/Germaphobes. Read it!

Rideable Vacuum

For the mega Germaphobe: a Rideable Vacuum Cleaner

Germaphobes = Mockable

Here is an interesting article I found taking a stance against Mysophobes/Germaphobes and essentially calling them out for the extreme measures to which some of them go to avoid germs. I think it is a bit closed minded and not very understanding, however it is a good look at the opposite side of the spectrum from those that I am studying. It is also good because it clarifies some sort of distinction between someone who is slightly concerned with their health and germs and someone who is drastically crippled by their fear. Read it!

"Germaphobes = Mockable"

SaniDoor - Sensor Door

Here is a product I found, the SaniDoor, which is essentially a sensor operated bathroom door. It works exactly like the sinks and soap dispensers, however on a door. Check out the YouTube link, it features it on a local news program.

SaniDoor Website

StepNPull Door Opener

Here is a product I found online that addresses Germaphobes' need to open doors with their feet. This is designed for a stall, and sells for $29.95. Check out the link:

StepNPull Website

Mysophobia!

So I have pinpointed my target demographic of bathroom users within the scope of my habit (newly being the study of people who cannot touch anything in the bathroom), and they are Mysophobes! It is the broader categorization of Germaphobes, but with a more general emphasis on a fear of contact with anything dirty, in hopes of avoiding contact with germs and other perceived harmful substances. To read more about the medical and specific detail of Mysophobia, follow the links below. I am doing work on my prototypes and product ideas currently, and believe I am on to a good one. I will post details and images as soon as possible. Please comment if you get the chance!

Mysophobia Wiki
About Automysophobia
WiseGeek: What is Mysophobia?
FearOfGerms.com

Four Websites About Germaphobes:

PC Mag: 10 Gadgets for Germaphobes

MedicineNet's "Cleanliness Rules Germaphobes' Lives"

FitSugar.com "Germaphobes: Avoid These Five Things"

NineToThrive's "Germaphobes Rejoice! Solutions to Touching the WC Door"

Assignment 1 Habit 11x17s

I completely forgot to post these after we reviewed them, so here they are.

Portable Apartments

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/10/portable.housing.concept/index.html?hpt=Mid

Sources

Different websites that I used in obtaining information and ideas for Assignment 1:

Psychology of the Bathroom
http://www.mindalive.ca/3_2.htm
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/sad.htm
http://www.psychtreatment.com/seasonal_affective_disorder.htm
http://content.nhiondemand.com/psv/HC1.asp?objID=101038&ctype=hc

Urinal Splashback
http://www.marketlaunchers.com/wilkins.html
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/No_20splashback_20urinal_20cake
http://www.golfhos.com/topic-11606.html
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6055681/description.html
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6698035.html

IDEO Method Cards

So here are the IDEO Method Cards I chose, they include:

Learn

Anthropometric Analysis

Activity Analysis

Cognitive Task Analysis

Cross Cultural Comparisons

Competitive Product Survey

Look

Personal Inventory

Behavioral Mapping

Behavioral Archaeology

Time Laps Video

Still-Photo Survey

Ask

Collage

Cognitive Maps

Camera Journal

Cultural Probes

Extreme User Interviews

Try

Experience Prototype

Be Your Customer

Predict Next Year's Headlines

Bodystorming

Scale Modeling

Patent for Anti-Splash texture

Here is the cover page for a patent I found regarding special surfaces which decrease the amount of splash back. The rest can be found here: Urinal Splashback Patents

Anti-Splash Urinal Patent

Here are pictures from a patent that I found online, which achieves almost exactly what I am aiming for in my Anti-Splash design ideas, however does so in a completely different way - using the curve of the porcelain instead of a different type of surface. Ingenius!

Here is the link: Wilkin's Anti-Splash Urinal Patent

Just for reference people... here is the standard commercial toilet dimensions.

Interesting use of fixtures outside of their intended environment. Thinking OUTSIDE of the box.

How do we deal with graffiti like this? Seems unpreventable, yet at the same time how often does it happen on a scale such as this?

A couple different wacky ideas from other countries.

ARA Bathroom Standards & Requirements

Here is a link to a page on the American Restroom Associations with downloadable tables and charts about the federal requirements for number of bathrooms as well as the equipment.

ARA Standards & Requirements Page

IDEO 'Deep Dive' Video

I had already seen the Deep Dive video in a BA minor class I took fall quarter, so there were no surprises, but some NEW things I took from the video this time around were:

Build on wild ideas, they become great.
If you don't have time constraints, you won't get anything done.
Being playful is the key to innovation.
Try things and ask for forgiveness - not permission.
Don't just sit at your desk, get out there!
It's not an effortless "aha" to get to a solution, it takes hard work.

Here is the German urinal with a fly in it (if you can see that close up) that I referenced in the first class.

Bathroom Pictures

So I thought I would take pictures of each of the bathrooms from multiple angles and post them, just for reference. I'm not sure which one is exactly which, but they are all there, so if you look closely you can figure it out.