Assignment 3

By Nagesh Agrawal 19bdi022

Object Chosen: Plier
The main reason on choosing this object is the fact that it has a
basic mechanism called ‘levers’ which made such a huge impact
to our world that it becomes one of the most common tools in
the history. The plier generally consists of a pair of metal levers
coupled at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers,
creating small jaws on one side of the fulcrum and longer
handles on the other side. This design creates a mechanical
advantage allowing the force of the user hand's grasp to be
magnified and focused on an object with precision. The plier's
jaws can also be used to manipulate objects too small or
unwieldy to be handled with the fingers.

Affordability & Conceptual Model

A tool is a device that can be used to construct an object or
execute a task, but which is not consumed in the process.
While in use, a tool is a kind of extension of the hand,
basically, an attachment to it or even a part of the user's own
body, and hence is no longer a part of the environment of the
user. But if it is not in use, the tool is simply a disconnected
object of the environment, graspable and portable, to be
certain, but nevertheless external to the observer.
Affordance
“According to Gibson’s (1979) theory, it is the affordances,
described as opportunities for action that are directly offered
by the intrinsic perceptual properties of objects, that allow us
to use tools. Since these properties are invariant, the
affordances do not change as a function of our needs and
goals. They are directly perceived without any need to call on
previous experiences with the tool and knowledge of its
function. This view of affordances was modified by authors
who pointed out that they are relations between one’s abilities
and features of the environmental situation (Tucker and Ellis,
2001; Chemero, 2003) and that they depend on previous
experience and the current goal (Rosenbaum et al., 1990).
Given this view, the perception of affordances depends on
one’s needs in the specific situation at hand as well as on the
ultimate aim of the action. For example, the affordance of a
knife lies in the ability to cut food at lunchtime even though it
may also be used to retighten the screw of one’s spectacles if
needed.”
(From article - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01073)
The affordance of the object: As mentioned above- the
affordance of the plier varies between functional and
situational aspects. Here, the perceptual properties of
objects can be identified by their looks, weight and material.
A user may perceive grasping affordance as the fulcrum that
will help them to recognize the handles and jaws of the plier.
Also, the jaws of the object can be perceived for cutting,
gripping, compressing, pulling, bending, twisting affordance.
These affordances were based on looks and functional
aspects.
A user may perceive it for hammering and anvilling
affordance because of its materialistic aesthetics. Where a
user also perceives the object for its weight affordance.
These affordances are based on the situational aspect.
In all these cases, the previous experience and knowledge
may not be a factor here. And hence the functional
perceptual properties remain invariant but because of an aim
or goals of the user, they may discover different affordance
of the object as well.
Conceptual Model:
A ‘mental model’ describes a user’s fundamental
expectations about how something should work which is
constantly evolving and subject to change. A conceptual
model is a part of a mental model created by the designers as
a high-level plan for how the product will work and fit
together. It is made up of different elements and ultimately
represents the interface that the user interacts with. The
conceptual model includes for the chosen object are the
elements like architecture similar to lever having jaw and
handle based products such as scissors, pincer, etc. making
the interface common for all similar designs.

Story About the Product

Since the mechanical characteristic of this object is so simple
that can be learned without doing any study and thus,
making it a historical tool. I guess the inventor of this tool find
difficulty on hold things that may be hot, tiny, toxic material
or harmful and hence invented the plier for the world, back
then maybe the material of this product was different and
weak comparative to today’s plier material but till that time
they were much aware of the leverage mechanism and how
they can take benefit from it. For them maybe the frippery
was not their priority and made the tool for single
functionality but since then this product start evolving till the
current stage.

The Possible New Redesigns:

The possible redesigns that can improve the perceivability of
the product are:
1. Introduce the semi-hard rubber grip over the handle
allowing the user better grip thus improving the
perceivability of the product.
2. Redesign the jaws into a better combination of
teethes and cutter avoiding the wrong affordance of
the product.
3. Introduce Add-on handles to improve the strength of
the jaw for better holding affordance perceiving.
4. Introduce clamps to lock the position of the jaws in
place so that the user's hands get free.