In collaboration with Cal Tech's E/ME 105A, Product Design for the Developing World. This course emphasizes products for the Developing World - for those people at the bottom of the pyramid. The current focus is on India. The class teaches product design methodologies informed by the special circumstances of the customers. Technologies are often indigenous or local and not "high tech". Issues of sustainability in the business sense as well as the engineering sense are included, as are cultural concerns. We articularly emphasize ultra-low cost manufacturing as well as ergonomic design. Prototyping is an important part of the course with the second quarter devoted to building and testing engineering prototypes in India. The class is characterized by mixed international teams in collaboration with St Gits University in Kerala, India. All lectures are teleconferenced between both locations.
To further broaden the experience, students from Art Center College of Design also participate. Some students will go on a pre-trip to India in early September to meet their future teammates and perform research on peoples' needs, choosing potential issues to address when the class commences, though this is not a requirement. Cal Tech Instructor: Pickar.