vacuum cleaners human use analysis ask. observe. experience.
Why vacuum cleaners? I would actually ask, “Why not?”. Market for vacuum cleaners is expected to rise to 33 million pieces in the US by 2021. They serve an important function of cleaning up and form a part of weekly routines for a lot of people. So, like many, I use it weekly and, there has not been even a single time when I didn’t think that it could be better designed. Hence, I decided that it could form an interesting subject for the human use analysis study. And, as I went on exploring the design, I could better appreciate the various design constraints for the product and then think of redesigning.
How does a vacuum cleaner work? Although, the product works on some very basic physical principles, many different components function in conjunction to make it work seamlessly. Intake port Exhaust port Electric motor Fan Dust bag Housing Essentially, the vacuum cleaner is a fan which creates a pressure drop on one side (intake port) by blowing out air at a high pressure on the other (towards the exhaust port). This pressure difference sucks the air and hence, the dust particles along with it due to friction. If not sufficient, some vacuum cleaners employ rotating brushes near the intake port to aid in removing the dust from the surface. This incoming air stream full of dirt passes through the porous bag which prevents traps the dust. The placement of the dust bag usually affects the overall design and configuration of the vacuum cleaner.
Who uses them?

A short answer would be - everyone. They are  found in most settings, from offices to public places to homes to universities. After all, they help us clean up, and hence, we need them everywhere. These users can be categorized on the basis of frequency as follows:

 

  1. Monthly/Biweekly
  2. Weekly
  3. Daily
  4. Wait, what is a vacuum cleaner? I never use it!

The section, "How does a vacuum cleaner work?" has been adapted from an article on howstuffworks.com

 

Want to know what some of these users say? Click here.