“Design thinking is a discipline that uses the designer’s sensibility and methods to match people’s needs with what is technologically feasible,’ said Tim Brown, co-founder, IDEO. Design thinking is about people first then the business second. The opposite is true for most companies.
ASUS has developed the ASUS TransformerBook™ to offer consumers a fully functioning notebook that can transform itself into a tablet. This innovation comes from the understanding of what consumers really need: the benefit of two devices in just one. The ASUS TransformerBook™ is a work of art for the modern world, a master piece of technology. It is both a notebook and a tablet.
Jonney Shih, ASUS Chairman, explains: “We seek to perfect the balance between engineering and humanity, where every intricate detail echoes our needs for both emotion and function. This is the ASUS way of Design Thinking, where every idea starts with people and we turn our imagination into myriad revolutionary innovations.”
The ASUS TransformerBook™ is a transformation of an Ultrabook into a tablet with 13 full High Definition IPS multi-touch display. Running on Windows 8 Operating System, it boasts an Intel Core i7 processor and a powerful unique audio-system, the SonicMaster, blasted through 4 speakers. It comes with two different internal storages (HDD and SSD), a backlit keyboard, smart battery technology, and a quick camera switching.
Other examples of the Design Thinking way of ASUS include the ASUS Taichi™, the ASUS TransformerBook Trio™, and the ASUS Padfone™ Infinity.
The ASUS Taichi™ 21, an incredible fusion of notebook and tablet, is sleek and stylish. It has a unique dual-screen design with two 11.6 inch full High Definition screens and Intel® Core™ processor for outstanding multitasking performance. Lid open, the Taichi™ is a fully featured Ultrabook with keyboard, multi-touch touchpad and SSD storage; lid closed, it’s a sleek multi-touch tablet for intuitive fingertip control with Windows 8 OS. Taichi™ can display the same image on bot screens, different images on each screen and even be shared by two people using different apps for unparalleled mobile flexibility.
The ASUS TransformerBook™ Trio is the world’s first three-in-one mobile device. With an 11.6-inch detachable display and dual operating system, TransformerBook™ Trio transforms mobile flexibility by switching effortlessly between a Windows 8 notebook, Android tablet and Windows 8 desktop PC. Transformer Book Trio switches easily between operating systems to give users access to over 700,000 apps in the Google Play Store and over 50,000 apps in the Windows Store.
The PadFone Infinity transforms a powerful, eye-catching 5 inch full High Definition display smartphone into a 10.1 inch full High Definition tablet when it docks into its companion PadFone Infinity Station. All running apps are instantly reformatted to fit the larger display. It combines durability with fine attention to detail. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 2Gigabytes of RAM, the PadFone Infinity is responsive, even when running the most demanding Android apps.
Users Experience Innovation Process:
Design thinking is supported by a rich set of tools, processes, roles and environment. There are three major perspectives of design thinking: The Desire of the People, Business Availability and Experience Innovation & Technology Feasibility.
Method:
The method adopted in design thinking is the application of the Human Centered Design (HCD), which is interpreted as: H-Hear, C-Create, D- Deliver. Other methods include the abstract opportunities, theme solutions, time stories, concrete prototypes, and observation and implementation plan.
Hear: as a method of design thinking, involves observation, engage and define.
Create: it involves ideas, prototype, and development.
Deliver: it involves testing of model implementation.
Tools:
The tools for design thinking involve: design challenges, interview, share and capture, insight, grouping, storytelling, prototyping, shadowing, synthesis, brainstorming, beginners mind, and mind storytelling need prototyping. There are also mechanical instruments needed in design thinking; these include the use of cameras, camcorders and writing material.
Observation Tools:
The observation tools used in design thinking include reminders (pictures, interview sections). Other tools are wallet mapping tools which include share and capture, storytelling, quote surprise interest tool, needs and insight need activity insight tool, and grouping finding need insight tool.
Design Challenge:
How can we improve material health with mobile technology for low income countries? How can we achieve our goals? The Answer: enabling people to enjoy the browsing experience at the library by shifting from physical to digital in a seamless way.
by Serge Nabyoure
