2023 Award Winner!
James Alas
My name is, James Alas, an Industrial Design graduate living in Toronto. At a very young age I developed an artistic sense of visualization and drawing but my talents were acknowledged as only a hobby for me. It was only when I found the Industrial Design program at Humber that I've been able to enflame my passion for sketching again and discover the world design in so many different forms. With all that I've learned and will continue to learn, I aspire one day to become a footwear/product designer and won't stop until I become one.
The Four Essential Pillars for Design Excellence
The four essential pillars encompass human-centric design approach and the understanding of full-bodied, three dimensional physical interaction of user, product and environment. The projects generate innovative solutions using research-driven, evidence-based designs which focus on the user experience.
Enhancement of Human Lifestyle
HX-TRAIL uses a holographic display screen that projects onto the pod cover with information given by the drone.
The drone works in conjunction with this display by tracking injured riders via heat sensing and provides directions to the location allowing the ski patrol to make make it to the patient faster.
Human-Interaction & User-Centric Design
HX-TRAIL achieves all aspects of full-bodied human interaction design by creating human touchpoints features on devices like: the stretcher and the stand-on acceleration pad and joysticks.
These aspects of HX-TRAIL allow for enhancing comfortability and safety of both the patient and the patrol officer through various safety features like stretcher straps, emergency stop brake. To steer, the officer pushes to turn left and pulls to turn right while standing on the pad to accelerate.
Ergonomics & Human Factors Design
HX-TRAIL upholds a human-centered design approach by incorporating ergonomics in every device. The stretcher allows for flat laying and upright sitting dependent on the patient's injury.
The stretcher also allows for adjustability from the 1st percentile woman to the 99th percentile man sizing. The cushions are made to hug the areas of common injury and the enclosed pod fits within the parameters of a patient but allows for arms width of space to eliminate claustrophobia.
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
HX-TRAIL makes initiative to reduce overall carbon footprint by providing environmentally-friendly emergency response transportation.
HX-TRAIL is a fully electric vehicle (EV) powered by a 15kWh lithium-ion battery pack that eliminates the burning of fuel and contamination of air. Future charging stations are in hopes of production in a ski mountain setting. HX-TRAIL also uses upcycled plastics for the main body of the vehicle while incorporating biodegradable felt within the interior of the enclosed front pod.
HX-TRAIL - Ski Resort Emergency Response Vehicle
Project Summary
Injuries on ski slopes are one of the leading areas of injury for winter sports in Canada; most commonly during skiing/snowboarding. It is the duty of ski patrol teams to locate these accidents, provide on-site treatment and transport them safely to urgent care. These hero’s frequently face external factors on the job while performing these duties that can further agonize the wounded rider. Current methods of locating, securing and transporting of patients are prone to these factors that can affect the safety, efficiency and comfortability of the ride; with weighing responsibility on the skills of the ski patrol. HX-TRAIL is a Ski Resort Emergency Response Vehicle that aids in the Tracking, Treatment and Transportation of injured skiers/snowboarders.
Thesis Summary Motion Presentation
Enjoy my little cinematic video of my thesis project: HX-TRAIL.
Thesis Visual Presentation
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Thesis Development Process
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