I have a shoulder bag (one of the many bags I have, Brock says I have a bit of a fetish for bags, which is probably true), partly because I am always seeking the perfect bag.
I have one that is made from micro fibre, and is designed to slip over one shoulder. One of those ones that reminds me of eighties asymmetrical haircuts...anyway. I love the bag because the black goes with everything and doesn't look so dirty (of course I manage to rub against anything white, how, I'm not so sure) as it probably is (but we can't see). The beautiful and smart thing is that the lining inside is a light grey colour. The emphasis is on light, because this helps me to find things, rather than the typical black hole offered by most bags (again, probably so as not to be able to see how dirty the bag actually is). So, I love light linings for bags.
The problem with this bag is the typical way I use it is to slide the bag to the front when I want to find something in it. As a woman, with long hair and often sun glasses on my head, it is awkward to pull it over my head all the time, so I prefer to slide it under my arm and look for stuff. The problem is that all the pockets inside (and lots of pockets is good for organizing, though mesh would be good so I could see what's where easier) are oriented top to bottom. So if you picture the bag as a isosceles triangle, standing on it's base, the pockets open to the top. This makes sense if the bag is standing on its base, however, if you pull it around like I do, this means the pockets are sideways. I can't see into them, and I need some kind of double joints to reach into the pockets easily.
What I propose is for the pockets to be mesh, and oriented sideways so that you can access them from on your body, which wouldn't cause problems if the bag was right-side-up either. This would be especially helpful as I use one of the pockets for change.
I have to figure out how to put photos in this blog next...
:)
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Better Infant Car Seat Design
This idea is to help with the challenge of carrying an infant car seat (the bucket kind) around. Some manufacturers (Evenflo comes to mind) have recognized the non-ergonomic reality of a human carrying an infant car seat by the handle. The Evenflo design has twisted the handle so you don't have to twist your wrist. On other models like our Graco, you have to twist your wrist perpendicular to your body and hold your arm out far enough to clear your leg. Even when the baby is under 10 pounds, this is not a very sustainable position.
Often, we have to carry the baby farther than just from the car to the house. For example, when you are parked in a large shopping mall, or even if you are doing street shopping and walking a little bit between stores. It is not always convenient to pop the car seat into a stroller (a good idea though to be able to do that).
So, how about a radical new design? Here's a couple of ideas I have:
1. Make the car seat roll like luggage.
Have an extensible handle come out the top and two wheels on the base, so you could roll the seat around like you do luggage. And, I'm always amazed at how that trend is dominant when I am in an airport - how did we manage before anyway? Of course, we'd have to make sure the integrity of the car seat for crash safety was maintained, but I'm sure that could be accomplished.
2. Even more radical - make the car seat a stroller
This idea is similar except, the idea is the handle pulls out from the top again (make it wide enough to push comfortably) and there is some kind of aircraft like folding wheel carriage that goes under the seat. When you lift the car seat out and undo the lock, the wheels fold down and raise the car seat up a bit, and you can push the handle. It would be nice to be able to move the handle to the front and back so that you could push the baby facing you or away. Also nice would be to have some kind of a net basket that drops down, for putting your stuff in...because, hello, we always have stuff to carry, even if it is the ubiquitous diaper bag. And don't forget the cup holder. This should be detachable, I know we need to worry about hot drinks near the baby, but again, there should be a way to do this (maybe the drink holder folds down from behind the seat so that it can't spill on the baby.
3. Make the seat like a laundry basket
This idea builds an indentation on the side of the car seat that would fit nicely on your hip. Then on the other side (and this should work for left or right handedness) is a handle that you can hold onto so that the carrier is on your hip.
Sun Coverage
In all cases, we also need to have good sun coverage, not just of the face but the whole body. So the cover should have an extension that allows us to do that. Aside from getting burned on a longer trip, the sun shining in awake or asleep eyes is not good for the baby. In Australia, they have some extensions that are made with flexible frames and look like a butterfly wing. You can bend and move it around to shield the baby from the sun. A good idea me thinks. In the Graco stroller you can get full coverage, but you have to use the second sun shade that is on the stroller itself. With my ideas above, you need to have the car seat full sun cover independent of the stroller (if the seat pops into a stroller). Ever notice how many strollers go by with a blanket over them? This is why.
Of course the sun coverage should also protect from a light rain. A full plastic rain cover should be an option as well, with a location on the car seat to store the cover.
Often, we have to carry the baby farther than just from the car to the house. For example, when you are parked in a large shopping mall, or even if you are doing street shopping and walking a little bit between stores. It is not always convenient to pop the car seat into a stroller (a good idea though to be able to do that).
So, how about a radical new design? Here's a couple of ideas I have:
1. Make the car seat roll like luggage.
Have an extensible handle come out the top and two wheels on the base, so you could roll the seat around like you do luggage. And, I'm always amazed at how that trend is dominant when I am in an airport - how did we manage before anyway? Of course, we'd have to make sure the integrity of the car seat for crash safety was maintained, but I'm sure that could be accomplished.
2. Even more radical - make the car seat a stroller
This idea is similar except, the idea is the handle pulls out from the top again (make it wide enough to push comfortably) and there is some kind of aircraft like folding wheel carriage that goes under the seat. When you lift the car seat out and undo the lock, the wheels fold down and raise the car seat up a bit, and you can push the handle. It would be nice to be able to move the handle to the front and back so that you could push the baby facing you or away. Also nice would be to have some kind of a net basket that drops down, for putting your stuff in...because, hello, we always have stuff to carry, even if it is the ubiquitous diaper bag. And don't forget the cup holder. This should be detachable, I know we need to worry about hot drinks near the baby, but again, there should be a way to do this (maybe the drink holder folds down from behind the seat so that it can't spill on the baby.
3. Make the seat like a laundry basket
This idea builds an indentation on the side of the car seat that would fit nicely on your hip. Then on the other side (and this should work for left or right handedness) is a handle that you can hold onto so that the carrier is on your hip.
Sun Coverage
In all cases, we also need to have good sun coverage, not just of the face but the whole body. So the cover should have an extension that allows us to do that. Aside from getting burned on a longer trip, the sun shining in awake or asleep eyes is not good for the baby. In Australia, they have some extensions that are made with flexible frames and look like a butterfly wing. You can bend and move it around to shield the baby from the sun. A good idea me thinks. In the Graco stroller you can get full coverage, but you have to use the second sun shade that is on the stroller itself. With my ideas above, you need to have the car seat full sun cover independent of the stroller (if the seat pops into a stroller). Ever notice how many strollers go by with a blanket over them? This is why.
Of course the sun coverage should also protect from a light rain. A full plastic rain cover should be an option as well, with a location on the car seat to store the cover.
Friday, January 26, 2007
the first blog
Enough talk already...time to put the fingers to the keyboard and let some of my rambling thoughts radiate with back lighting of the computer screen. I do feel nervous, 'cause this is different from riffing off ideas while talking, this is more permanent and open to both praise, agreement and criticism too. All healthy though. I've always believed that I learned what I thought with my mouth open...that I was able to figure things out by working at explaining my thoughts to another. So, really, this blog thing is kind of selfish, because it can be a vehicle for me to learn more.
The idea of blogging has been pushing itself up through the layers of my subconscious for months now. Thanks for the inspiration to start this up goes to my love and partner...who knows what kind of blog monster he has created. Oh well, I'll just hold on and see what happens. Like so many things in life, I will probably look back at this post and get a good belly laugh some day. Thanks Brock.
The idea of blogging has been pushing itself up through the layers of my subconscious for months now. Thanks for the inspiration to start this up goes to my love and partner...who knows what kind of blog monster he has created. Oh well, I'll just hold on and see what happens. Like so many things in life, I will probably look back at this post and get a good belly laugh some day. Thanks Brock.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)