Did You Hear the News?

Assignment-5A

1.     As Clarence Thomas Arrives to Teach, Some Students Protest

-       https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200127/as-clarence-thomas-arrives-to-teach-some-students-protest

-       This article is about the fact US Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, will be on campus teaching a course at UF’s law school. Due to sexual harassment accusations back in 1991, many students are unhappy about his arrival and have planned small protests during the class.

-       The problem here is that many students are upset that Clarence is even able to come back to campus and is granted the opportunity to teach a small class. Another issue contains the fact that students feel as if nothing is being done for current sexual assault allegations and want to be heard.

-       UF students who are protesting are the ones who have the problem. In addition, people who feel they have been sexually harassed in any way are also the ones who have the problem.

2.     High-Priority Violations: Alachua County Restaurant Inspections

-       https://www.gainesville.com/photogallery/LK/20191231/PHOTOGALLERY/123109988/PH/1

-       This article contains inspection reviews from various Gainesville restaurants. Food safety and sanitation inspections were given and many restaurants and other places like hotels that may serve food did not pass inspection.

-       The problem here is that many restaurants are not up to standard when it comes to food safety. Violations were handed out post inspection and some food joints are on thin ice. Whether it was a dispenser being broken in the bathroom, food being undercooked, or bugs in the kitchen, these places have violations to clear up in order to remain in business.

-       The restaurant owners and workers have a big problem on their hands when referring to their job. Others who have the problem are the customers because they may be consuming food that is not “safe.”

3.     South Florida Students told to stay home after possible exposure to Coronavirus

-       https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-ne-schools-react-to-coronavirus-20200128-squoatmoabd75iuxuqrnccxh54-story.html

-       Thirty students have been forced to stay home from school after attending a weekend event at Yale University where one person in attendance is undergoing tests for coronavirus. The event was a Model United Nations event where people around the world attended. China, the location where the virus has originated, is also the home base of the person in question.

-       The problem is that a deadly virus that is trying to be contained can spread easily to anyone and it could take up to two weeks to realize you have the virus. These students are not allowed to go back to their high school until they have been cleared.

-       The one with the problem is the high schoolers since they are not allowed back at school for the moment. The person in question of having coronavirus is also part of the problem.

4.     A driver hit a pack of bicyclists and killed two. Her penalty? A suspended driver’s license.

-       https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/davie/fl-ne-distracted-driver-courthouse-fine-20200117-6zdkg45r35hzpantq76btpxzxu-story.html

-       Nicole Vanderweit ran into a pack of cyclists about a year ago and the court dates finally passed. After killing two people and causing injuries to five others, her punishment is only a suspended driver’s license, community service, and a driving improvement class. The families of all those involved are not pleased with the rulings.

-       The problem here is the driver was doing 25 mph over the speed limit and killed two bikers and only accounted very minor consequences for her actions. The sentence was seen to be too light and unfair.

-       The ones with the problem are the families of the victims as well as the driver herself. The families have to live with the fact that their loved ones were killed and virtually nothing is being done about it.

5.     UF Sailing Team’s equipment damaged by high winds

-       https://www.alligator.org/news/uf-sailing-team-s-equipment-damaged-by-high-winds/article_dbe2b252-42d6-11ea-ba7b-6741d053fad8.html

-       UF’s Lake Wauburg suffered minor damages to the dock, but the schools sailing team took the biggest hit from a series of strong winds. Eight of the ten boats used by the sailing team were destroyed. New vessels for the team are going to cost around $100,000 to get the team back to where it needs to be to practice and compete for a spot at nationals.

-       The problem is that the sailing teams boats and other equipment are destroyed so they have to travel way outside of Gainesville in order to practice for the upcoming season. The biggest issue will be to raise the funds needed to buy new vessels.

-       It is pretty straightforward to understand that the UF sailing team is dealing with the biggest issue here financially. While the school also must rebuild a part of the dock at Lake Wauburg, it is nowhere near the devastation the sailing team is enduring. 

Concussion Helmet- Changing the Game

ASSIGNMENT – 4A

Beginning Point:

In contact sports there is the constant scare about concussions and concussion symptoms. In leagues like the NFL, UFC, and professional boxing the threat has become a vital part of the game. No matter the level of play, whether it is at a young age or at the professional level, concussions will always be a factor. I think today’s in game concussion protocol tests have too many loopholes. Players and trainers have been known to lie to game officials about head injuries thus being allowed back into the game. I believe that there should be a device maybe a helmet that could be constructed to identify if someone has a concussion or not.

Describing the belief:

Unmet need: Concussion protocols not being taken seriously

Who has the need: Athletes of any age who play contact sports

Where did the need come from: Concussions have always been around but as time goes on, we have found out more and more deadly implications about the severity of concussions.

What are people doing to meet this need now: Updating equipment to make games safer as well as research and concussion protocols

I am 70% the opportunity of a “Concussion check helmet” exists.

Prototypical customer: Athletes of any age that are involved in contact sports.

 Iteration 1: Male 18 years old who plays high school football

How often do you experience the need?

A: I have had only a few concussions but being that I played “center” I dealt with countless blows to the head over the years.

How long have you had the need?

A: Probably since I was about 10 years old when I started playing football. I have tried to tell trainers on the sideline that I was “fine” so they would let me go back in the game.

When did you first become aware of the need?

A: Just by watching football over the years and hearing / seeing players go back out onto the field knowing they were a little concussed.

How are they currently addressing the need?

A: We have paramedics as well as a team doctor on the sideline there to test us and ask us a few questions to try and determine if we have been concussed.

How satisfied are you with this solution and would you implement it into your life?

A: I actually think the idea of a helmet would work and would be more technologically advanced for the year 2020. If I were able to bring it on the sideline during games I would.

Iteration 2: Female, age 50, who is a black belt in mixed martial arts

How often do you experience the need?

A: I have had one concussion from a kick to the head about 8 years ago.

How long have you had the need?

A: Besides the one instance I would say I haven’t really experienced the need.

When did you first become aware of the need?

A: I became aware of concussions through watching sports like fighting and football over the years. Our instructors always give speeches regarding the awareness of it but that’s basically it

How are they currently addressing the need?

A: We wear head gear during minor sparring practice but other than that we don’t deal with a substantial amount of concussions

How satisfied are you with this solution and would you implement it into your life?

A: I think a helmet that can tell you immediately if you have a concussion is a new idea, but I would not look into getting one myself.

Iteration 3: Male, age 35, who runs and manages a football league for kids 8-14 years old

How often do you experience the need?

A: We don’t experience a ton of concussions during our season but usually there is one or two that we do take caution of.

How long have you had the need?

A: Every year that the league has gone on for, which we just finished our 7^th year.

When did you first become aware of the need?

A: Some of the kids in the older age group (12-14) like to play or mimic head to head contact during games which we monitor but obviously don’t have complete control of.

How are they currently addressing the need?

A: There is an ambulance on standby at the park during our games.

How satisfied are you with this solution and would you implement it into your life?

A: I would like to learn more about this before trying it out, but if it works, I don’t see a reason to not have it in all football leagues.

Reflection:

Everyone is aware of the dangers that concussions present in todays world. Some are taking serious note of what they should be doing to prevent themselves, but then again understand that they always want to be out doing their activity. If you don’t experience a ton of concussions, then a helmet that detects you doesn’t probably matter in your life. However, the two individuals I spoke to that either manage or play football both said they would be interested and would revolutionize the games protocol. Working in the athletic department at UF definitely gives me a better opportunity to find out more about people possibly interested in the device.

Summary

I definitely think that the opportunity is still there and that if I don’t come up with it, then some other person would. I definitely think the opportunity is more accurate, but I think I would have to attack leagues instead of individual people. Customer feedback is everything because the reason you first come up with the opportunity is through the customers need. Therefore, diving deeper into what the customer wants/ needs will help you further expand the opportunity.