04_Class Notes: Tues. (event date: 1/9/15)

Due Thursday:
- 1st ENGR Notebook
- Quiz 3 Chapter 5

Topic Selection:
Project Topic: short phrase that describes your planned prototype
- Problems: your product will solve
- Project Description: full paragraph(s) depicting overall function(s) of device and technological scope
- Benefits: benefits for intended users
- Decision Matrix: 3 or more project finalists with decision summary
- Team Members and designated leader: submit one MS Word document to Canvas

Senior Design Rule #2: have a passion for your design project

Decision Matrix:
(1) Determine the selection criteria
(2) Determine criteria weights
    (a) percentage = relative importance
    (b) ensure total of all weights
(3) Identify reasonable alternatives
(4) Rate alternatives relative to the criteria
    (a) recommend 1,5,9 (good,better,best)
    (b) never use more than 5 levels
(5) Compute scores for alternatives
(6) Evaluate and review decision
    (a) usually reject several alternatives
    (b) if 2+ alternatives look feasible
          (i) review eights and re-score
          (ii) multiply scores rather than add
          (iii) determine additional realistic criteria to help discriminate

Recommended Criteria:
class requirements

Group Thoughts:
After discussing Physical Therapy tour, the finger tensioner forearm-device seemed to be preferred project trajectory.

Hand plant/weight shift device
    
Finger tensioner/extender; forearm equivalent:
    discussed more extensively, included as a possible project topic due to feasibility and inclusion of         electrical and mechanical components

Shoulder assist:
    discarded as project topic due to the problem of overcomplicating the device with electronics when mechanical systems may be better for this application

Scoliosis back support/breathing ability:

Leg splint with on/off capability:

Sit-to-stand back corrector: not leaning forward far enough: "nose-to-toes":
    discarded due to complicated nature of gait and human locomotion (lots of research would need to be done studying how device would affect other aspects of sit-to-stand locomotion other than simply the "nose-to-toes" movement

Weight assisted treadmill:
    added as project topic possibility because of good BME/EE field inclusion and feasibility

Sterilization solar-clave:
    added as potential project topic for feasibility & BME/EE inclusion but not as preferred due to smaller innovation aspect

Prosthetic arm: hand replacement, attaches to forearm
    added as potential project topic


To finish up our in-class meeting we decided on the criteria points for our project topic selection matrix.