Phase I
Proposing a New Idea
In the twentieth-fist century, wire technology has winded round the Earth, leaving no space for creative ideas and alternative solutions. However, spatial characteristics are becoming more crucial while planning interior or constructing buildings. Imagine a future in which power transfer is carried out without physical conduct.
Due to the fact that portable devices and mobility gain momentum among contemporary people, particularly among Generation Z, use of household robots, laptops, cell phones that can be charged without being plugged in, can provide people with freedom of operating those devices everywhere (Hadley n. p.). Hence, people do not have to be afraid of leaving the charger at home because their batteries could be recharged by means of power transmittance via radio waves. There is also a possibility of operating such devices even without batteries.
In fact, wireless technology implies transmission of energy from a power source to the object, which needs to be charged. This process is beneficial in case of impossibility to transmit the power via cables. Wireless power transmission differs from wireless communication. As such, the challenges of such technology are also different.
Because wireless technology premises on the principle of radio, the efficiency of transmittance depends on the signal (Hadley n. p.). So, in case the signal is low, the radio waves could fail to reach the destination. In case with wireless power, the focus is made on efficiency because it influences the extent by which the energy is sent to the receivers of the power. At this point, the problem of economic use has become urgent.
Despite the challenges of introducing wireless power technology, this system could still be used with other technological novelties, such as IKEA furniture that encourages innovative and creative ideas. It can solve a number of problems in terms of interior planning and use of small space.
As an example, IKEA introduce new furniture with built-in wireless technology that is controlled by a remote panel. Establishing wireless television boxes is beneficial because it contributes to convenience, mobility, and practicability of the interior space. IKEA UPPLEVA is among the exemplary devices that combine furniture and a new device, as well as embrace many other important functions than watching TV (IKEASWE n. p.). Moreover, the new idea also implies turning on the light without cable connection.
Feasibility Study
While evaluating the feasibility of the proposed technology, the emphasis should be placed to such aspects as electricity, magnetism, magnetic induction, power coupling, resonance, and electromagnetism. At this point, the wireless principle of conveying power embraces the electrical charged received through atmosphere.
However, this type of transmittance could be dangerous. Therefore, the pulp light should be turned on by means of other devices, such as electromagnetism.
Specifically, due to the fact that magnetism is regarded as the main driving force in nature, causing attraction of materials, installing permanent magnets can lead to the creation of the necessary magnet field, which could provide constant charges of specific objects. The phenomenon of energy coupling is another important feature that occurs when magnetic field of an object is able to create an electric current to supply other devices with energy.
To support the feasibility of the proposed idea, it is necessary to present numerical data supporting the benefits of wireless technology. At the poin t the table below demonstrate the efficiency percentage of wireless devices transmitting energy to the objects, including cell phones, laptops, and MP3 players.
To make the technology more efficient, additional costs should be spent on constructing these antennas to make the signal available to all devices on the established area.
Evaluating Competitive Advantage
The above-presented statistics proves that efficiency is higher than average and, therefore, it can compete with other cable technologies. Besides, it has many advantages in terms of convenience and efficiency. To begin with, the high-tech product will be in high demand among customers for whom practical use of space, mobility, and convenience are prioritized.
Further, the products will also be convenient for those who travel much. For instance, it is possible to create a specialized bag with built-in small table that could be used for laptop, in case a person needs to work while being on business trip.
Steps Needed to Patient Such Idea
First of all, it is necessary to provide a description of the idea that should be original, genuine, and unique. Second, the authors of the patent should provide detailed list of applications of this device and explain why it differs from previously established idea. The name of the inventors, the design title, and intended use of the technology should be presented as well.
Phase II
Achieving Operational Excellence of a Product Line
The first phase of achieving operational excellence consists in gaining visibility through automation of data collection. Such a process can provide improvements and centralize the controlling process. Introducing a visualization system is beneficial because it highlights the vendor systems, capability of the industry to produce the technology, as well as pricing strategy.
Additionally, supervisory control is another flexible scheme that should be used to work out baseline metrics that could be a starting point for estimating reductions and providing superior visualization of data acquisition.
Identifying Supply Management Solution
Producing wireless technology implies construction of specialized station and antenna transmitting power to various mobile devices, including laptops, cell phones, and TV sets. Therefore, it is highly necessary to establish relationships with the construction company to ensure sufficient covering and radio wave transmission.
In addition, because electricity is received through solar batter, local solar power stations could also be established to supply the devices with power. At this point, the producers should negotiate with solar stations for the feasibility of this project and define the schedule and condition for the construction. Establishing relations with IKEA is another important step that can contribute to the creation of a commercially beneficial product.
Develop an E-Commerce Strategy
The analysis of the product line is possible through establishing the concept of ubiquitous power that is available to all people. The new wireless technology does not only expand human possibilities, but also allows to plan their time more efficiently. Maximizing the use of space and increasing the functionality and usability of the devices will be the premise of the new commerce strategy.
Because the devices are means of telecommunication, it is possible to carry out mass-mails and send message via cell phone to inform the users about the new function. Creation of website is also obligatory because it can provide detailed information on technology.
Case Study
The idea of cell phones and other appliances charging themselves might seem at first a figment of one’s wild imagination. However, according to the recent case study, IKEA offers an innovation that can possibly make the concept of self-charging appliances a part and parcel of everyday reality.
According to the case study conducted on the IKEA innovative suggestion, the self-charging appliance concept stems from the researches on wireless energy transfer. Based on wireless communication technologies, the new means of charging appliances is a revolutionary innovation that deserves a better look at. Combining the given idea with the IKEA furniture will help market some of the recent IKEA products, as well as trigger more customers to the company.
It is essential to keep in mind that the given case study analysis presupposes answering not one, but two questions. To be more exact, it is necessary to figure out in what ways the promising, yet clearly disruptive new technology can promote the new IKEA products. The second issue that needs to be resolved concerns the means to market certain goods with the help of the new yet disruptive technologies if the company is less famous than IKEA. Once choosing the strategy that will help an even smaller business grow more influential will definitely show that the idea described above is worth implementation.
Even though the idea of wireless self-charging devices is still a concept and requires some time to be tested and approved, there can still be no doubt that the wireless self-charging devices production will break new grounds in the realm of technology, reinventing people’s perception of what technologies have to offer nowadays. Therefore, it can be expected that the given technologies can help promote the new IKEA goods more efficiently.
With such an incredible new brand to back the new IKEA products, the company can rest assured that the given technological advances would help make the IKEA brand popular worldwide once again. Even though the suggested wireless transmission of the information is generally considered not as efficient as other means, mostly because of the problems concerning the background noise in the process of signal transmission, it is still clear that the new technologies will help get people’s attention on the IKEA’s recently developed products.
Though combining the aforementioned technology and the whimsical, yet functional IKEA furniture hardly seems possible, it can still be suggested that the specific functions of the wireless battery charging can be combined with the specifics of a certain furniture type. It is worth mentioning that the IKEA furniture design can be described as extremely functional and at the same time minimalistic and contributing to creation of a specific atmosphere.
Therefore, the emphasis with the use of the new technology can be on the aesthetics and the originality of the interior. For instance, introducing a set of minimalistic furniture, which can create a specific atmosphere by masking the obvious elements of high tech, IKEA might mention that cords and wires, which are often mentioned as the most troublesome elements of any device, are no longer a problem, since there is a wireless power transfer.
With specific elements that allow to locate the devices in such a way as to obtain the maximal signal, the new IKEA furniture sets will be promoted as “the furniture for the house of tomorrow.”
As for the application of the given idea to any other company, it can be assumed that the use of wireless charge technologies will be a highly profitable idea. Still, it is necessary to keep in mind that a specific plan must be developed to create and promote the new product. Speaking of the SCM, one must mention that the raw material can be supplied by a trustworthy company that provides only high-quality non-toxic materials.
To cut the costs, it will be necessary to refuse from having the raw materials delivered. To promote the goods, which will combine convenience and functionality, the advertisement campaign must put the emphasis on the latest technologies offered by the company.
Granted that very few other furniture-producing companies incorporate the elements of information technology in the design of their products, it can be assumed that the IKEA will not have to face high competition rates. Though it will be wrong to consider the IKEA the beholder of monopoly on the given idea, it is still clear that the company will be the pioneer in the given market. Hence, competition does not seem to be the issue in the given case.
Hence, the competitive advantage of the idea is rather high. To patent the given idea, it will be required to receive an application for the patent and check whether the given innovations meet all the requirements that are listed in the paper.
If the idea of using the wireless power charge devices as a feature of their furniture and adopting the latter from the use of the appliances, which can be charged with the help of the given innovation has not been used by anyone else, the IKEA Company will be able to patent the given concept and, thus, make it the company’s current trademark.
Works Cited
Hadley, Franklin. “Goodbye Wires! MIT team experimentally demonstrates wireless power transfer potentially useful for powering laptops, cell phones without cords”. MIT NEWS. 2007. Web. http://news.mit.edu/2007/wireless-0607
IKEASWE. “IKEA UPPLEVA”. Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube. 16 Appl. 2012. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0Nm7-EuctOs