The idea behind it
The Problem:
At the start of the year I had an idea of some things I wanted to include in my honours project. I wanted it to be a physical object, for it to be a working prototype, and for it to tackle some sort of issue that affects me personally.
The ‘E for Effort’ idea arose when I had my annual “I must get fit” phase. It hit me that I have all the best intentions when it comes to getting fit, but they never amount to much due to my laziness, the inconvenience of exercising, and the convenience of things like TV to entertain me.
I thought I must not be the only one like this, so I looked into it. I found a society of people who eat too much, watch too much TV and don’t do enough exercise. Click here for the research.
My Solution:
To combat the rise in obesity and the lack of fitness in people like myself. Who have the intention to get fit, but fall into the same bad habits. I propose the ‘E for effort’ Interactive Coffee Table(Inital Prototype shown above), which is part of a range of ideas for devices to encourage people to do more exercise and watch less TV.
The table is placed between the TV and the power supply of the TV, incorporates a simple piece of home fitness equipment, a lifting bar, which you use to earn TV as a reward for your exercise. That’s how the name ‘E for Effort’ or ENERGY for Effort came about.
Hopefully this would mean that when you have finished watching the programme you intended, the time you have earned expires, and you would go and do something else besides watching more TV. If not you would at least have to do more exercise.
The current table has been designed for people between 18 and 45, but modifications of the table could make it suitable for parent to use with their children (of teenage years).
To see the Design Process click here.
Which way to go?
