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Short Survey for a Project - EarthAdept2 - 2010-11-16

For university, I have create a business plan project to sell a product. I'd like you all to answer a really short survey our group made. It'll only take roughly 3 minutes max. I appreciate the help. The product is, of course, hypothetical.

A brief description of product:

It's like a heating pad that is installed on the side of the windshield that is retractable and can be pulled across the windshield to heat up the screen - preventing frost from forming. The power source will be from an outlet or the car battery.

Additional information should you want to read extra:
 Spoiler

  1. Does it snow where you live?
    If no, you can continue if you want. Or else, you can end here actually.

  2. What gender are you? Male / Female

  3. Do you own/use a vehicle?

  4. Should you use this product, how long would you have it on?

  5. Would you consider buying the product described above?

  6. If yes, How much would you be willing to pay (including installation costs) Please post which currency you're using too.

Should there be any questions, I'll try to answer them.

Short Survey for a Project - Fiel - 2010-11-16

1. Yes.
2. Male
3. Yes
4. Not really. The problem is that the place where I'd get frost or snow would be outside, and I don't have outlets outside and don't want to run an extension cord out there. Furthermore, it probably sucks up energy like hell.
5. Maybe $20 - 30.

Short Survey for a Project - Takebacker - 2010-11-16

1) Yes.
2) Male
3) Yes
4) Probably not. Not only is there no easily accessible outlet near where my car sits, it isn't really necessary for me to prevent frost. If i don't have that, i have to scrape it off myself. If i do, i have to set up the pad and put it away every day. It's just exchanging one chore for another.
5) $15 max

Short Survey for a Project - Eos - 2010-11-16

1. Yes.
2. Male
3. Yes
4. Not really. ( I have covered parking at home, the only place I'd need this would be away from home where outlet availability is unrealistic. )
5. Maybe $20 - 30.

I'd be far more interested in a system like the rear defroster that can be applied/removed as easily as a windshield cover and plugged in to the car charger.

Short Survey for a Project - Zelkova - 2010-11-16

For Variety

1. No

Short Survey for a Project - dpeterlin - 2010-11-16

1. Yes
2. Male
3.Yes
4. No, Covered parking/remote starter remove the need for this in any scenario
5. $20

Is this something you would leave on overnight or turn on in the morning similar to warming up the car?

Short Survey for a Project - Takebacker - 2010-11-16

I would imagine in the morning because having a car heat itself up wastes a lot more than just electricity, and you would be using more of it compared to this thing.

Short Survey for a Project - EarthAdept2 - 2010-11-16

I added an extra question to the OP to comply with the "portability" issue.

As like any other electronics, leaving it overnight via car battery will drain it. As for it being a chore, you simply drag the pad to the other side of the windshield to the hook and then plug it in. I'd assume that's considerably less effort than going out to scrape off the ice in the cold.

Short Survey for a Project - Takebacker - 2010-11-16

Other side? Your (imaginary) prototype doesn't cover the entire windshield? Having ice on one side isn't really any better than normal. It's still an obstruction to your vision, and if you have to do 2 sides at once then it's just a pain in the ass.

Short Survey for a Project - Mute - 2010-11-16

EarthAdept2 Wrote:
  1. Does it snow where you live?
    If no, you can continue if you want. Or else, you can end here actually.

  2. What gender are you? Male / Female

  3. Do you own/use a vehicle?

  4. Should you use this product, how long would you have it on?

  5. Would you consider buying the product described above?

  6. If yes, How much would you be willing to pay (including installation costs) Please post which currency you're using too.

It feels as if 4, 5, and 6 are out of order. It doesnt make much sense to ask someone how long they intend to use something before asking them if they'd even consider using it.


1- Yes
2- Male
3- Yes, a car.
5- No.
6- 65~90 USD
4- depends. a low setting i'd use for ~30 minutes prior to starting my car, then turn it off. but to say i'd leave it running overnight would depend on how it would affect and drain my car battery overnight.

Short Survey for a Project - Eos - 2010-11-16

Mute Wrote:It doesnt make much sense to ask someone how long they intend to use something before asking them if they'd even consider using it.

For that matter would anyone have an answer beyond "however long it takes to work"

Short Survey for a Project - Mute - 2010-11-16

Eosian Wrote:For that matter would anyone have an answer beyond "however long it takes to work"

that is the main point: how it works. In all honesty just starting up my car ~20 minutes before i head out the door and turning the front/rear defrost on near-full blast usually takes care of the job, so much like the snuggie this product is altogether useless.

Short Survey for a Project - Eos - 2010-11-16

Mute Wrote:so much like the snuggie this product is altogether useless.

Agreed.

If doesn't actually save time or make it any easier there really isn't much point.
And if it actually takes longer to melt your way through due to warming up, than it would to slough the ice off manually, big whoop.

Short Survey for a Project - EarthAdept2 - 2010-11-16

It's more along the lines of turning it on when you leave the car and it keeps the ice from forming on the windshield. So when you come back to your car, you just turn it off.

Short Survey for a Project - butterfλi - 2010-11-16

EarthAdept2 Wrote:It's more along the lines of turning it on when you leave the car and it keeps the ice from forming on the windshield. So when you come back to your car, you just turn it off.

In that case, I'd consider buying it to prevent vapor from forming in the cold. Especially driving at night where you have to constantly keep your AC and/or wipers on just to see. But I wouldn't pay more than $10-15 for it.

Short Survey for a Project - Sarah - 2010-11-16

Seems like this product would be better if it were battery operated and could be remote started.

Short Survey for a Project - dpeterlin - 2010-11-16

EarthAdept2 Wrote:It's more along the lines of turning it on when you leave the car and it keeps the ice from forming on the windshield. So when you come back to your car, you just turn it off.

Ah, yeah that's kind of what I thought when you said an external power source was needed .

So is this an external or internal attachment.

If external, what keeps it from being stolen? What keeps it in place while driving/parked and if it's removable what keeps it in place while it's parked? You mentioned installation so is a hideous mounting bracket needed?
If internal, how do you attach it to the external powersource without cracking a window?

I'm asking because I'm intrigued, not specifically trying to shoot holes through your product so sorry if it comes off that way.

Short Survey for a Project - EarthAdept2 - 2010-11-16

It's internal. Installation will be via a wire going into the carhood from the dashboard (or maybe a not too noticeable section) (friend says the firewall in the car) and go out like a blockheater wire.

This wire will be detachable, as is the heating unit which is suctioned onto the windshield

Short Survey for a Project - Fiel - 2010-11-16

So wait, we'd have to take off the dashboard to install this product? Sounds expensive or like a high requirements for entry.

Short Survey for a Project - OB3LISK - 2010-11-16

1. Yes.
2. Male
3. Yes.
4. I'd probably warm it up 20 minutes before I go out, or 15 mins.
5. No definitely not.
6. If it was yes I wouldn't pay over $50 for the product itself and then $50 to install. US dollars.

The reason I wouldn't buy the product is because you're not really supposed to heat then cool then heat then cool glass, it becomes easy to break. And I wouldn't be leaving it on for the 3 hours I'm at school.