‘Keep off that bag!’ BBC micro:bit School Bag Alarm Product Analysis

Design Brief Situation During a busy day school bags can often be left unattended. For example, when playing sports at break time. This could result in them being taken by mistake or even stolen. Brief Using the BBC micro:bit, create a working alarm system for a school bag. The system must detect when the bag has been moved and warn the person responsible that this is not their bag.

Product Analysis What is product analysis? Product analysis is a type of research. It involves looking at how existing products work, look and feel. This includes thinking about why they are designed the way that they are. Why do designers analyse existing products? Analysing existing products helps designers to understand what has worked well or not so well in the past. They can learn lessons from mistakes made and make use of existing good design practice. What they have learnt can then be used in their own products.

ACCESS FM Aesthetics Cost Customer Environment Size Safety Function Key word What it means Aesthetics How does the product appeal to the human senses? Cost What is the cost to make and to buy the product? Customer What is the target market/intended user of the product? Environment What impact does the product have on the environment? Size What are the product’s measurements in terms of mm? Safety How safe is the product for the consumer to use? Function How does the product work/what are its main features? Materials What materials and components have been used to make it? ACCESS FM is a tool to use when completing product analysis. The teacher should discuss this slide with students and explain what each of the key words mean. Learners should use these questions above as prompts when completing their own product analysis.

Completing your Product Analysis Your teacher will now provide you with an alarm system to look at. Use ACCESS FM to analyse the product in as much detail as you can. Write down what you have found in your book or folder. ACCESS FM: Aesthetics Cost Customer Environment Safety Size Function Materials This could be done as individual, paired or group work. Suggest groups of no bigger than three.

Extension and Homework Search the internet, books or printed catalogues for more examples of alarm systems. Use ACCESS FM to analyse them in as much detail as you can. Compare and contrast the products that you have found. Which are the best/worst and why? ACCESS FM: Aesthetics Cost Customer Environment Safety Size Function Materials Suggest learners aim to investigate three different products if being used as a homework activity.