Assignment:
Critical Thinking
IKEA's New Product Development through "Open Sourcing."
A few short news items discuss Ikea's, and others, new product development foray into open-sourced furniture. In addition to offering furniture that has a specific purpose and function, IKEA plans to introduce multi-functional (or even omni-functional) furniture, called Delaktig, which consumers can modify/adapt to the suit their needs. This move is an effort to embrace a community of Ikea-hackers who share ideas for how to modify IKEA products. Few other startups, such as Ori Systems and Lovesac, are establishing themselves in this niche of furniture industry.
Shape-shifting "apartment in a box" by MIT and Yves Béhar hits stores next year
https://www.lovesac.com/search/modular-furniture/sectionals
Critically analyze the information contained in news articles. Then write well-thought out answers to questions listed below:
- How would you describe IKEA's product development strategy for open-sourced furniture?
- What are the pros and cons of the concept of open-sourced product development?
- How does the concept of Ikea's open-sourced, omni-functional furniture concept compares with furniture systems concept, such as Ori and Lovesac, which are designed with pre-established multi-functionality in mind?
Discussion
Hospitals printing 3-D hearts to help in surgeries
For your discussion, I am including below links to news item (and videos) detailing how doctors and hospitals are developing models of patients' hearts using 3-D printing technology to help them better prepare for surgical procedures. Using 3-D printing, their goal is to create an online database of 3-D printed heart from patients with congenital heart defects, which will help standardize the process of printing hearts.
3-D printing technology is offering a revolutionary way to develop to pursue new product development in all industrial settings. Back in 2014 when I was doing my clinical research sabbatical fellowship at NIH, 3-D printing application were being explored in prosthetic devices as well. Lately, these 3D-printable prosthetics are changing the face of medicine. Consumer 3D printing is leading to a "DIY" assistive devices revolution.
Provide your opinion on what your learned from these news items. In your discussion, you may include your insights on how else can 3-D printing be used in medical care and on how manufacturers in other industries are now using, or can use, this product development technology.
Hospitals printing 3-D hearts to help in surgeries
3D-Printable Prosthetic Devices
Readings:
IKEA 's open source' sofa invites customization
By Saabira chaudhuri