In preparation for the capstone project
Interviewees #1: Steven and Suzy Taylor
Background: Own kayak rental and guided tours on Ayers Creek; they've done this for about 12 summers, using the kayak carts for 11 of these years
Reason for asking: Local business owners who are friends of my mother
Problem: Kayak carts are heavy; big carts hold 8 kayaks, one kayak = 38 lbs and the cart weighs about 40 lbs (there are a total of 8 carts)
-carts are made of treated lumber and they currently have caster wheels with one inflatable wheel
-hard to pull carts through grass
-they have smaller wagon-style carts but they tip easily and only hold 6 kayaks
-carts are made of treated lumber and they currently have caster wheels with one inflatable wheel
-hard to pull carts through grass
-they have smaller wagon-style carts but they tip easily and only hold 6 kayaks
Possible solutions: gear ratio, motor to assist wheels that is powered by solar panel
Interviewee #2: Gus Glikas
Background: Retired Vietnam Veteran; served in the Air Force from 1966-1970 where he worked on aircraft, later in life worked for Dominion Virginia Power; started as one of the guys who dug holes and climbed poles and towers, eventually became operations supervisor, now he's retired and enjoys working on cars, especially Jaguars
Reason for asking: neighbor who always has ongoing projects
Problem: this latch mechanism for the electronic door latch is not made by Jaguar anymore
-it's made out of plastic so it breaks easily, especially as it gets older
-the whole security of the car is determined by the function of this little latch
-there needs to be a better replacement for this part rather than the need to buy a whole new car
-it's made out of plastic so it breaks easily, especially as it gets older
-the whole security of the car is determined by the function of this little latch
-there needs to be a better replacement for this part rather than the need to buy a whole new car
Interviewee #3: Bob Mitchell
Background: Director of Environmental Programs; oversees drinking water, waste water, and other environmental regulations that are administered in Worcester County
Reason for asking: mom's boss; oversees the entire department
Problem: Worcester County uses a network of monitoring wells from which they take water table readings in order to determine seasonally high water levels so that permitted systems are able to function effectively during all seasons of the year
-graphs of previous years are compared
-all this is in a spreadsheet, but it doesn't "pop" and they need something that can be updated in a live manner
-simply saving the pdf and mailing it out does not help assist consultants in their decisions
-graphs of previous years are compared
-all this is in a spreadsheet, but it doesn't "pop" and they need something that can be updated in a live manner
-simply saving the pdf and mailing it out does not help assist consultants in their decisions