Christine CBS

Hi all,

My name is Christine, I’m studying at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark on a course called User Driven Innovation, in which I have to come up with a problem to which there is no current solution. Through gaining insights from potential users, I have to find possible solutions and write an exam project about this. I came up with this problem:

“Daily commuters riding bikes often use several electric communication and entertainment devices, like their phones, IPod’s etc., while on the move.

This demands visual attention due to the use of touch screens, navigating through operation menus etc.. Furthermore the devices are hard to reach because they are carried inside pockets or bags. This makes them challenging to operate. These factors distract attention from traffic and thereby reduces the safety of the cyclist.

How can the operation of cyclist’s electrical devices be coordinated and managed to help keeping focus on traffic, without sacrificing the use and function of these devices?”

Since you guys might be facing a problem like this, I would like to know if any of you could think of a solution. This should not be an existing problem, and you don’t even have to think about costs, manufacturing or anything – just throw your ideas at me

This is not for commercial use, I just have to evaluate the quality of the ideas generated through the use of user participation in forums like this and compare it with other methods of gathering ideas.

I’m looking forward to your replies

Christine

johnny99

I turn the phone and everything else off when I'm commuting. I don't need any extra distractions when traffic is at its worst.

Yan 

Toronto just proposed a law that would make it illegal to operate a cellphone while driving. This law is already in effect in several other areas of Canada. Apart from my lights and cycle computer, I don't operate any other electronic devices while riding. I do not listen to music because I need situational awareness.

Christine CBS

Good point. The problem is that here in Copenhagen in Denmark many people ride their bike to school, work etc. and listen to their Ipod and use their phone while driving (we don't have a law here, only that you are lot allowed to use your phone while driving your car). I believe that most of the people who do it will continue (unless we also get that law) and therefore it should be made safer for those people, and the people around them. There are already some devices that have some of the needed features, such as the IBikeConsole, but this new device should both make it possible to operate your audio device, your phone, and maybe making it possible to integrate an GPS. Of course its best to keep focus on the street, but many people do use their phone and listen to music. I think people in this forum could have some good ideas, since you now whats possible to do on the bike