2010-11-16, 02:59 PM (This post was last modified: 2010-11-16, 11:35 PM by EarthAdept2.)
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
The car battery part was something I just wanted to add to see what kind of responses I get. The original design we have doesn't include that since, as you know, it would probably kill the battery far too fast. Though I am looking into what kind of voltage this product might use.
The intended audience is typically for those that live in the apartments or townhouses that do not include underground/covered garages as well as some people that go to work in the city but don't go into the underground parkades (either due to prices or otherwise).
The installation, I'd assume, would sorta be like a wire coming from somewhere on the dashboard or under (all we need is a hole for the wire to go through so probably anywhere that's easy to go through and the wiring would be done by a mechanic so s/he shouldn't make the inside look like crap) which plugs into unit. The unit itself is portable so you can take it off if you're not using it. It can attach itself to windshield via suction cups. The wire will be going through the "firewall" of the car (again, mechanic) and goes into the blockheater at which, the person can charge their car and use the unit at the same time. If the car doesn't have a blockheater, we can add an extension cord for which you can regularly plug into an outlet.
As for the heating and cooling, the intended time of use is from when you turn off the car to when you turn back on the car. I'd assume that if you're using the car, the windshield should be sufficiently be warm enough to keep frost off the windshield so when you turn off the car and use the unit, there's no real period of hot -> cold -> hot.
Does it snow where you live? If no, you can continue if you want. Or else, you can end here actually.
What gender are you? Male / Female
Do you own/use a vehicle?
Should you use this product, how long would you have it on?
Would you consider buying the product described above?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does it snow where you live? If no, you can continue if you want. Or else, you can end here actually.
What gender are you? Male / Female
Do you own/use a vehicle?
Should you use this product, how long would you have it on?
Would you consider buying the product described above?
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.
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.
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.
It's not having what you want - It's wanting what you've got.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
