Latest posts for the topic "Ski boot project"

Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 11:44:54 GMT

hello everyone my name is Alex Vindis I am a 3rd year design student at the University college of Falmouth in cornwall, I'm doing one of my major projects on redesigning some kind of skiing equipment. As you might guess I'm a kean skier and have been since I was two years old. So relating my project to one of my passions is an absolute must. My main attention towards my projects concern is at the moment alphine ski boots. Everyones experiences of ski-boots vary but for me personally and those who I go skiing that I know, its a problem:
too much bending down to adjust, tighten, loosen and getting the boot on or off. the boots are too heavy to walk very far without tiring, the boot becomes uncomfortable to ski at the end of day, new boots can be expensive, walking downstairs, upstairs or on bad surfaces is difficult with the boots on, etc......

I am attaching a questionnaire to this page about the issues specific to ski boots, there isn't any detail collection other than your age and gender, it is purely for research purposes and it will only take a very short amount of time.

Also if you experience anything else problematic with anything related to ski-products, please note it down as it is always helpful in the development of this project and I will be very greatful for your insights.

I look forward to the results and your oppinions, cheers.....

http://app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/aceofspades/skiing-project-survey/

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 12:46:12 GMT

Alex,

Answered your survey.

May I suggest the following;

Read your intro text. Researcher should never bias subject at onset! You did with, "Too much bending down,,,,,"!
Problem = adjustment, loosen, off boots too heavy to walk ,,,,,

What is specific goal of research ?
To design new boots?
To modify older boots?
To evaluate skier satisfaction,,,,

Have your teacher help you "define" your project before presenting to questionnaire !

Then before you do present questionnaire make sure you know how you will analyse date !
Descriptive statistics!
Inferential statistics !

Need more planning of your project before presenting to public!

Who is your teacher ?
What is your course code ?

Now if you want a great unique project that will be far above all others,,,try looking into ;
a GPS embedded unit in skis
a self waxing unite within the ski
a variable vibration damping unit within ski like Volk
10 modifications to modern ski boot to increase fit
interface possibilities with phone or GPS unit with ski or boot

Alex, read up on designing survey questionnaires and sampling techniques before doing this!

You are in the world net thus the information you gather is as relevant as the persons answering this questionnaire. Need more info on participants!

Key slogan in all research! JUNK IN = JUNK OUT !!!

All this information you will get from all sorts of skiers has a value,,,you must determine how much is "junk" !

Enjoy your study !

Can you post results,,,,or at least your grades on this project !

May I finish with this quote,,,,
"The formulation of a problem is far more essential than the solution, which may be merely a matter of experiential skill. To raise a new question, new possibilities, to regard old problems in a new light THAT is the essence if research "

Take the time to define that new question !

Respectfully,
A researcher

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 12:52:59 GMT

Alex,
Sorry forgot most important!

Look up;

"Handbook in Research,,,,,,,," by Stephan Isaac ! Small thin old green book but a treasure about research ! Much better than Google !

You will love it ,,especially chapter 3 on questionnaires!

Will save you lots of time and impress your teacher !!!!

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 13:25:09 GMT

Done!

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:08:16 GMT

Although I am not planning to participate in this survey, I would just like to commend Pavel for taking so much time and trouble to offer a wealth of sound advice. A consultant would charge real money for that kind of guidance !

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 16:03:18 GMT

A lot of people have tried to improve ski boot and failed. I saw these on sale new for sixty pounds.

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 16:17:19 GMT

Aha, Trencher. I knew if I kept my one-clip Reichles, that one day, they would once again be ahead of the boot race!

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 18:32:43 GMT

Completed :)

Totally agree with questions being a bit biased towards your personal feelings though. In a way you might get skewed results as people are likely to disagree with you because they feel you are making assumptions.

Good luck with the survey :thumbup:

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 19:45:06 GMT

Well, I said I would like to stop my boots getting wet inside. I don't know if it's because my feet sweat loads when I'm ski-ing or if it's because they leak. I rather think it's because they leak as it seemed to be much worse when I was ski-ing (and falling) in powder.

Ally

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 21:33:13 GMT

Alex, there are already two ski boots on the market that address the issues you list.

The Freemotion carving boot from Austria at Euro 399

http://www.freemotion.cc/en/set1.html
http://www.proidee.de/?P=200610717&H=SHOPPING.COM

and the Apex ski boot from the US at $1295 (probably more than most people would like to pay)

http://www.apexsportsgroup.com/index.htm

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 22:36:34 GMT

SwingBeep wrote:Alex, there are already two ski boots on the market that address the issues you list.

I had forgotten about Apex boots. I did try using some Nordica (I think) soft boots several years ago, but they booted out if you tipped the skis just a little. Now skis are much wider, the width of those boots might not be such a problem.

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 23:36:29 GMT

Perhaps you should have used a thicker plate ':wink:'

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 23:45:22 GMT

Swingbeep, you really whetted the interest with the Freemotion - a one clip boot. BUT - as far as I can tell, it is not a rear entry boot.

My Raichle are entering their 26th season, but I open them really wide, slide the foot in, and operate just one clip. OK, the soles are b*ggered.....

Way to go.

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 23:52:43 GMT

Alex, done, but as I comment, you do not make clear if we should be addressing ski boots in general, or one's own ski boots. They would have different responses.

Re:Ski boot project

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 23:58:40 GMT

SwingBeep wrote:Perhaps you should have used a thicker plate ':wink:'

:lol: Do those come with a tight rope balancing pole? and look at those brake arms :shock:

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 05:00:44 GMT

Done, and I agree with Pavel - your research will be of limited use in formulating your project. Best of luck with your endeavours, though.

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 10:31:45 GMT

AllyG wrote:Well, I said I would like to stop my boots getting wet inside. I don't know if it's because my feet sweat loads when I'm ski-ing or if it's because they leak. I rather think it's because they leak as it seemed to be much worse when I was ski-ing (and falling) in powder.

Ally

There is a simple solution for this issue - a duct tape:)

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 11:06:41 GMT

The questionnaire itself wasn't necessarily too skewed to be useful.

Ultimately this was to get an impression of what aspects of ski boots' design was of greatest relevance to skiers. In the end - even the best designed questionnaire's will have an element of bias in them particularly if the questions are of yes/no nature or option selections.

The intro Alex put on this forum perhaps skewed it by naming some of his own perceptions but could be argued that it was about boot functionality & ergonomics rather than a wish list like colour, rocket propulsion or GPS which some may interpret as being important.

The questionaire itself gives a number of choices from the writer's identified areas that he feels may be possible targets to improve by design.

Do you need a statiscially valid, double blind trial to get a ball park understanding of users concerns? No. It's a design project not statistical research.

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 11:41:04 GMT

Done. I'm happy with most aspects other than level of comfort. The problem is me (bony feet) rather then the boots though. Probably should have been a boarder!

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 13:12:10 GMT

It's the only thing that I am envious of with Boarders, their comfy shoes.....

Shame they all get wet bottoms :shock:

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 17:19:39 GMT

Hello everyone I appreciate the level of concern about my questionnaire, if it makes anyone feel better it was a first questionnaire to underline just some of the issues related the ski boots itself because it is an product with the most obvious flawes I have looked at. Obviously more improved questionnaires will be updated on here and (so it seems) troubling bias questions that have shuned some people will be vapourized. I am not trying to press anyone to forwarding their answers to a specfic answer for the sake of easing the work. Your oppinion is your own. Some of the questions mention facts that potentially people may not know. I only want to know what you think are the issues with skiing equipment and how it can be redesigned to benefit us..... If there's a similarity with the issues you face then that is what to look towards redesigning.
Not for people to complain about the questionnaire, if you think your going to see industry grade questionnaire you need go somewhere else. But you must understand that I have only just started this project, questions will be bare to the specific's straight away. But I will post my drawings, ideas and prototypes here for those who are interested.
.

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 17:41:49 GMT

Alex, get used to forums. This is actually one of the nicer forums on the net. People feel free to chat about topics, without being called out for their lack of knowledge, or views. Saying people look like dicks is not a way to get your business done. I completed the questionnaire, but also wanted to comment, by way of general discussion. I would edit your post at the earliest opportunity.

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 18:56:40 GMT

Totally agree with trencher there. You will find that we are a friendly bunch who voice their opinions.

Your final comment will have alienated a lot of people. Not a wise move when you are looking for help.

Also, you may feel the sharp edge of the admin axe!

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 20:21:35 GMT

Blimey, after reading that post i kinda wish i didn't fill out the survey now.

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 20:25:26 GMT

Agree!!

Think he will struggle to get anymore feedback. I would suggest adders deletes the thread!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Re:Ski boot project

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 20:58:48 GMT

Trencher is spot on. This IS a friendly forum, not the students union. Just edit the comment, and, as you were.

I do have some further aspects of boot design that I would like to raise, and I was an engineering designer, (with two patents).

Awaiting the edit.

Re:Ski boot project

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 09:47:52 GMT

The UK needs more successful engineers and designers, but please learn that that is not the only skill that is important to the success of your project. If we had all been sat in a room together discussing this, some people would have left after your last comment. This is a forum for opinions and discussion. You will find many opinions here, some of them you may agree with, some of them may be irrelevant, some unwelcome or unnecessary, but very few of them will contain insults. Please keep it that way.

Re:Ski boot project

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 10:52:52 GMT

Ok I must make myself absolutely clear, I am a friendly person, I didn't start this, but when you are kean to do your projects which I am, I wouldn't choose doing a project if first I didn't think that: I wasn't capable, found it easy, knew nothing about, etc...... The list goes on.....

But for someone to lecture you when they don't ever know you or my working methods and to actually be bothered to say something about my grammer or how to do my work. Its quite insulting in itself. If I needed an opinion on how to do my research I'll ask my tutors. I only asked for the opinions on the subject of skiing I do not plan or planned insulting anyone, when starting this work.

I stand strongly towards my point that your opinion is incredibly valid but make no mistake I want it on-topic for the problems of skiing equipment not my working methods because that is personal.

Re:Ski boot project

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 11:52:10 GMT

Alex, you have come on this forum for help and assistance in your uni work, think your being a bit childish when the feedback your getting its not in the direction you wanted or even area you wanted help in.however its an open forum with a wide range of knowledge and experience and people don't always use there true identity.
For all you know one of your lecturers or professors could be on this and your insulting them.
How many times do you say "its a small world"?
I wish you all the success in your project but would like to add you might invent the best product in the world but without excellent communication skills and respect not many people will buy into your ideas.

Re:Ski boot project

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 16:06:43 GMT

Trimmed and locked.