Forming An Opportunity Belief

4A

Beginning Point:

After revisiting my big list, I think an opportunity exists to fix drying machines. Sometimes, when I run the dryer, I forget to clean the lint out of the dryer, which causes my clothes to be somewhat damp after the dryer buzzes. This causes me to rerun the dryer, which raises utility expenses at my apartment. The unmet need for this problem would be for the dryer to indicate whether or not the lint has been cleaned. Everyone with a dryer would most likely have this need. This need has always existed, and always bugged me. The opportunity probably exists for 80% of people who own or even use dryers.

Prototypical customer:

The prototypical customer would be anyone who owns or even uses a drying machine. The target audience ranges anywhere from teens and young adults to adults. 

Interviewee 1 (prototypical customer):

I spoke to a male senior here at the University of Florida while at Library West. 

·      Have you ever used a dryer?

o   Yes.

·      Have you ever had to change the lint?

o   Yes.

·      Do you ever forget to change the lint?

o   All the time.

·      How often do you forget to change the lint? (roughly)

o   Probably like every time I use the dryer.

·      When did you first become aware of this problem?

o   The first time I did my laundry for the first time in college, so like 3 years ago.

·      Are you doing anything to remember to change the lint?

o   Not really, I usually just rerun the dryer.

·      Do you think a little indication of whether the lint has been cleaned would be helpful?

o   Yes, especially if the indication was LED and right next to the on- button of the dryer. 

Interviewee 2:

I was lucky to speak to a busy mom with 3 children while in the line at Publix.

·      Have you ever used a dryer?

o   Yes.

·      Have you ever had to change the lint?

o   Yes.

·      Do you ever forget to change the lint?

o   Yes, with three children you forget a lot of things.

·      How often do you forget to change the lint? (roughly)

o   Not too many times.

·      When did you first become aware of this problem?

o   I had just bought a new drying machine, my old one also had the same problem but I used to have a reminder next to the on-button of the dryer.

·      Are you doing anything to remember to change the lint?

o   Refer to the previous question.

·      Do you think a little indication of whether the lint has been cleaned would be helpful?

o   Yes, as a busy mom sometimes I become absent minded and forget to clean the lint, which causes me to have to rerun the dryer, and sometimes I don’t have time to make those mistakes.

Interviewee 3:

I interviewed my roommate.

·      Have you ever used a dryer?

o   Yes.

·      Have you ever had to change the lint?

o   Yes.

·      Do you ever forget to change the lint?

o   All the time, and it just wastes more time that I don’t have.

·      How often do you forget to change the lint? (roughly)

o   At least one to two times a cycle.

·      When did you first become aware of this problem?

o   When we moved into our apartment.

·      Are you doing anything to remember to change the lint?

o   We have a sticky note by the dryer, and we have a rule to clean the lint after we finish with the dryer.

·      Do you think a little indication of whether the lint has been cleaned would be helpful?

o   Yes, super helpful. 

Reflection:

After conducting all three interviews, I realized that this is a bigger “bug” than I thought it would be. I was really glad that everybody that I interviewed seemed to think the fix for the unmet need would be helpful. I chose to interview the senior at the library because he seemed approachable and I learned that he was actually a football player, so he washes his clothes multiple times a week, especially on game weeks. When I interviewed the busy mom at Publix, I thought she was a good interviewee because with three children you can’t afford to “forget” to clean the lint out of the dryer. Lastly, I interviewed my roommate. I thought she was a good prospect for this fix because she is always busy as a member of three clubs on campus, an employee for the Career Connections Center and a full-time student. 

Summary:

I think there is even more of an opportunity after speaking to the interviewees. Before the interviews, the opportunity probably existed for probably 80% of people who own or even use dryers. Now, I think the probability should increase to 95%. While conducting the interviews, I got some feedback such as that the indication should be a bright LED light if the lint needs to be cleaned from the dryer compartment. I also got a comment that the indication should be next to the on button to run the dryer because as humans we would still forget to make sure the light isn’t on.