Open source chairs

Subject classification: this is an information technology resource.

Subject classification: this is an English language and literature resource.

Subject classification: this is an engineering resource.

Part of Technical writing projects at wikiversity.

An Open Source repository of accurate requirements for various user persona.

Online students are welcome to practice and collaborate here.

Begin posting at the bottom of this page...for startup details, contact TWFred

Describe your persona.

Suggetions:

Grandmother

When Grandmother is comfortable napping in front of television will she need anything?

• Name
• Age, physical health, job, children, history
• Goals in life
• How a chair could support those goals

Other personas

• Movie Cowboy. Has to break his chair over his fellow actor's back, looking good for the camera. This one is fun for beginners.
• Astronaut. Name, rank and serial number --or-- new open source space race supporter. Describe your astronauts and their needs in a chair. Intermediate students.
• Make up your own, practical or outlandish. It's a wiki and we encourage experimental learning.

Nani's Chair

Persona Description

Nani is a grandmother who is 85 years old.She is a retired person and spends most of the time at home. Nani suffers from periodic backaches and stiff joints. Nani lives with one of her sons. She has 3 sons and a daughter.

User Goals

Nani suffers from periodic backaches and stiff joints. She spends most of her time lying on her bed. Nani loves watching TV but oftens complains that she is uncomfortable watching TV sitting on the sofa in the living room, so she needs a chair that can provide her comfort and relief from joint pains when watching TV.

Nani's Chair Goals

• Nani wants to sit for at least two hours without feeling pain from the chair
• Nani wants to be seated in a position that allows her to watch and control the television
• Nani wants the chair to operate normally, and allow her to get up and down without ever looking or feeling awkward

Requirements Specification

Functional Requirements

Relief from pain goal

Pain-010

Chair must provide additional cushioned head, shoulders, back, bottom and arm support for elderly females,while allowing ventilation and not restricting circulation to arms,legs or other areas of body that contact the chair.

TV-010

Chair must in no way interfere with the operation of any standard television or it's remote control devices. Chair must allow for placement of control device within reach of hand, without exertion or extension of arm or wrist. Chair must have side-pockets for magazines or knitting supplies. Side pockets should be positioned so as not to interfere with operation of chair or TV remote controls.

TV-020

Chair shall support television through optimum positioning of Nani for viewing and hearing her television. (note: implies moving parts for the chair? if so, mechanical or electrical? how controlled?)Chair must be ergonomically enhanced to adequately support television and to allow for safe placement of all cables and power supply cords out of the path of access to chair. Chair will move and adjust to allow tv to swing or arc in three planes of rotation. TV will transmit audio into speakers in (optional) head rest. TV audio will be available via headphone jacks in right or left arm rest. Auxiliary audio jacks will be located within headphone storage pouches within easy reach of left or right arm. Optional upgrade will be task lighting feature available in flexible low voltage fiber optics that retract into left or right arm rest.

Normal chair use goal

Universal "never make the user feel stupid" goal

Safe-010

Chair fabric will be available in four textures and colors to allow matching to existing furniture and decorum of host room. Nani's Chair will compliment existing furniture and attract positive comments. Fabrics and cushions will be UL-listed as fire-resistant and anit-microbial. Seat cushions will be moisture resistive. Chair will have optional integrated remote assistance request capabilities.

Safe-020

Chair shall be situated in height, depth, and breadth to allow Nani to seat herself and stand up unassisted

Safe-030

While seating herself or standing up, the chair must provide support situated so that Nani does not make any strenuous efforts and is safe from falling

Structural Requirements

Pain-011

Chair must provide head and back support as well as comfortable seating for at least 2 hours (Test note: Nani will not fidget or readjust herself for discomfort reasons for at least 2 hours while watching television)

Pain-011

Chair shall incorporate rests and supports for head, shoulder, back, and arms consistent with clinical research (insert reference here) demonstrating increased comfort for elderly females.

Chair should have the ability to gently push grandma to a standing position so that she does not have to heave herself out of it.

Test Cases

Test Pain-010

• Functional Requirement: Pain-010

Chair must provide additional cushioned head, shoulders, back, bottom and arm support for elderly females

Note also: Structural Requirement: Pain-011

Chair must provide head and back support as well as comfortable seating for at least 2 hours (Test note: Nani will not fidget or readjust herself for discomfort reasons for at least 2 hours while watching television)

• Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television

• Steps

1. Nani sits in chair and watches television for 2 hours
2. Video tape Nani from three directions while she sits
3. Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any pain or discomfort in head, neck, shoulders, back, bottom, and arms.

• Outcome

1. The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests
2. The video tapes shows Nani sitting, watching television with no visible distraction from pain due to her seating position
3. The interview contains no reports of pain or discomfort from Nani

  Functional Requirement: Television watching and controlling goal 

TV-010 Chair must in no way interfere with the operation of any standard television or it's remote control devices

	Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television, measured distance between Nani and chair 

Steps 1. Nani sits in chair and watches television for 2 hours 2. Video tape Nani watching the TV and the remote control from measured distance between Nani and chair 3. Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any problems in operating the TV and the remote control. Outcomes 1. The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests 2. The video tapes shows Nani operating the TV with the remote control with no visible inconvenience due to her seating position 3. The interview contains no reports of discomfort or inconvenience from Nani

TV-020 Chair shall support television through optimum positioning of Nani for viewing and hearing her television. (note: implies moving parts for the chair? if so, mechanical or electrical? how controlled?)

	Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television, measured distance between Nani and chair 

Steps 1. Nani sits in chair and watches television for 2 hours 2. Video tape Nani watching the TV from measured distance between Nani and chair 3. Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any problems in viewing, hearing and operating the chair ( the chair is operated manually) Outcomes 1. The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests 2. The video tapes shows Nani watching the TV with no visible inconvenience of hearing or viewing due to her seating position 3. The interview contains no reports of discomfort of hearing or viewing from Nani

Safe-010 Chair must conform with standards of chair usage and appearance in Nani's home culture

	Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television 

Steps 1. Nani sits in chair for 2 hours 2. Video tape Nani sitting in the chair and relaxing 3. Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any problems in comfort and appearance as per her taste and expectations Outcomes 1. The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests 2. The video tapes shows Nani relaxing and watching the TV with no visible inconvenience due to appearance or usage 3. The interview contains no reports of discomfort in chair usage or appearance from Nani

Safe-020 Chair shall be situated in height, depth, and breadth to allow Nani to seat herself and stand up unassisted

	Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television

Steps 1. Nani sits in chair for 2 hours 2. Video tape Nani sitting in the chair and standing for every 30 minutes up without assistance 3. Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any problems in seating and standing up herself without assistance Outcomes 1. The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests 2. The video tapes shows Nani relaxing and using the chair, standing and sitting up with no visible inconvenience due to her seating position and absence of assistance 3. The interview contains no reports of discomfort in chair usage from Nani

Safe-030 While seating herself or standing up, the chair must provide support situated so that Nani does not make any strenuous efforts and is safe from falling

	Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television

Steps 1. Nani sits in chair for 2 hours 2. Video tape Nani sitting in the chair and standing up without falling or making any strenuous efforts 3. Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any problems in the support offered by the chair Outcomes

	The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests 
	The video tapes shows Nani standing up and sitting herself without assistance
	The interview contains no reports of strenuous efforts or falling during chair usage from Nani 
	
	Pain-011 
	Chair shall incorporate rests and supports for head, shoulder, back, and arms consistent with clinical research demonstrating increased comfort for elderly females (Tinetti has proposed an algorithm based on evidence from randomised controlled trials and the epidemiological literature. She recommends that people of 75 years or older, or over 70 if they are known to be at increased risk of falling, should be asked about falls and balance or gait difficulties, and observed getting into and out of a chair and walking.
	Reference: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD
	http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/bmj;328/7441/653)

	Test Prerequisites: Nani, chair, interviewer, video camera, television

Steps 1. 1.Nani sits in the chair and watches television for 2 hours 2. 2.Video tape Nani from three directions while she sits 3. 3.Interview Nani after the two hours specifically asking about any pain or discomfort in head, neck, shoulders, back, bottom, and arms. Outcomes 1. The video tapes shows Nani using the head, shoulder, bottom, and arm rests 2. The video tapes shows Nani sitting, watching television with no visible distraction from pain due to rests and supports for head, shoulder, back, and arms 3. The interview contains no reports of pain or discomfort from Nani