• GARAGE DOOR HUMAN USE ANALYSIS
  • INTRODUCTION
  • |
  • USER EXPERIENCE
  • |
  • TEST RUN
  • |
  • REDESIGN

Introduction

Garage door openers proliferated with the dawn of the new millennium. Once the preserve of the well-off, the door openers have spread to all levels of society. All are now spared the agonies of exiting of their car to open and close the garage door in the heat and rain. Despite the maturity of the field, little innovation has taken place since the early 2000’s. Let’s take a look at what people thing of this paradigm shifting product.

How it works

For the unacquainted, the most basic garage door opening system consists of (1) a car based transmitter, and (2) a garage based receiver which instructs (3) a mechanical door opener to raise and lower the door.

Picture: 1. Receiver 2. Send to receiver. 3. Open/close

What a great system, especially compared to opening the garage door in the rain. Lets see how frictionless this process is.


Needs Filled

At the individual level garage door openers are a matter of convenience. They allow individuals to enter and exit their garage more easily and safely. Drivers do not need to expose themselves (or their children) to the cold, heat, or rain to raise and lower the door. Those with disabilities who might not otherwise be able to lift a garage door, can now access their garage with the press of a button.

Another key need filled is access control for apartment buildings. Remotes are issued to tenants who pay for the use of a spot in the building’s parking garage. The remotes typically cost around $30 and an apartment building can have from dozens to hundreds of spaces. The remote acts as a form of validation ensuring only authorized users enter the garage.


Reciever and Mechanical System

The Remote