A 5.2a Identifying Functions

The following is an exercise in identifying functions of design problems we might encounter today. For each problem, I have identified not only what the design is supposed to DO, but also what functions those actions might translate into.

Problem: We need a way to provide housing to people displaced by natural disasters.

◦       What do we want to DO?

▪       Protect from elements

▪       Protect from thieving

▪       Set up quickly

▪       Stay in one spot

▪       Be inexpensive

▪       Hold multiple people

▪       Hold multiple people comfortably

▪       Allow for basic electrical use

▪       Stay warm enough

▪       Stay cool enough

▪       Allow for circulation of air

▪       Allow for people to enter/exit

▪       Provide for biological needs

▪       Food storage

▪       Sleep

▪       Bathroom

◦       Functions

▪       Attach

▪       Temporarily

▪       Permanently

▪       Protect from biotic factors

▪       Animals

▪       Fungi

▪       Protect from abiotic factors

▪       Excess liquids

▪       Winds

▪       Gasses

▪       Fire

▪       Ice

▪       Temperature

▪       Prevent structural failure

▪       Buckling

▪       Deformation

▪       Fatigue

▪       Melting

▪       Manage structural forces

▪       Thermal shock

▪       Impact

▪       Tension

▪       Turbulence

▪       Mechanical wear

▪       Chemical wear

▪       Compression

▪       Coordinate

▪       Groups

▪       Systems

▪       Provide ecosystem services

▪       Regulate habitat response to disturbance

▪       Regulate water storage

▪       Regulate climate (small scale)

▪       Store

▪       Bulk solids

▪       Energy

▪       Liquids

▪       Distribute

▪       Liquids

▪       Gases

▪       Energy

▪       Expel

▪       Solids

▪       Liquids

▪       Gases

Problem: Our laptops are too noisy.

◦       What do we want to DO?

▪       Open and shut

▪       Process data

▪       Visualize data

▪       Input data

▪       Store data

▪       Stay cool enough

▪       Stay quiet

▪       Stay where we put it

▪       Stay dry

▪       Fit in our laps

▪       Use a battery

▪       Hold a charge

▪       Fit in a bag

▪       Weigh enough to carry easily

◦       Functions

▪       Attach

▪       Permanently (on hinge)

▪       Temporarily (on latch, also on table/lap)

▪       Protect from abiotic factors

▪       Dirt/solids

▪       Chemicals

▪       Temperature

▪       Manage structural forces

▪       Thermal shock

▪       Impact

▪       Tension

▪       Compression

▪       Prevent structural failure

▪       Buckling

▪       Deformation

▪       Modify

▪       Light/color

▪       Energy state

▪       Electron transport

▪       Generate/convert

▪       Electrical energy

▪       Mechanical energy

▪       Radiant energy

▪       Send signals

▪       Light

▪       Sound

▪       Tactile

▪       Electrical/magnetic

▪       Sense signals

▪       Touch and mechanical forces

▪       Electricity/magnetism

▪       Compute/Learn/Encode/Decode

▪       Store

▪       Energy

▪       Distribute

▪       Energy

▪       Gases

▪       Expel

▪       Gases