GCSE+Electronics+Coursework+INVESTIGATE

toc = Investigate = At all stages of your electronics coursework project you will need to seek a range of information that will help you develop your ideas and also increase your knowledge about how electronic products are planned and made. In order to collect this information you will need to carry out a variety of research and investigations.

== GCSE Electronics Coursework........ Getting Started! media type="custom" key="4279865"

= Needs = All projects will begin with a design brief. This describes the particular problem you are facing or outlines the need for a new electronic product. The design brief is written to allow you a wide range of responses. They are the initial stimulus for research and ideas. Using key words to identify the the most important aspects of your electronic product will help you to analyse your design brief.
 * [[image:E_DesSitBrief1.jpg]]
 * [[image:E_SitDesBrief2.jpg]]
 * This was additional research and analysis for a specific product. Unless you can justify this sort of research do not include it.
 * [[image:E_DesSit.jpg]]

= Information = To begin with you should only collect information on the topics you have identified during your analysis of the design brief. All of this forms your **//initial research//**. Further research would be carried out when you have chosen a particular product to develop.
 * Choose 4 - 6 different existing products - they may be electronic, or mechanical, or static. E.g. Designing an electronic Tic-Tac-Toe game, originally played using paper and pencil, or with portable magnetic pieces, these are all existing products to be analysed.
 * Summarize each product in your own words, identifying the key features:
 * [[image:E_research2.jpg]]
 * [[image:E_research3.jpg]]


 * An example of "existing circuit analysis" sheet has been added, but it has been created specifically for this web page and is not an exemplary piece of work.
 * Choose 4 - 6 electronic circuits that may produce the functions you you want in your electronic product, analyse the components used and their function within the circuit.
 * Redraw the circuits by hand with simple modifications, e.g. instead of an LED using a Buzzer, analyse the modifications.
 * [[image:Electronics_Analysis.jpg width="800" height="554"]]
 * Questionnaires - involves obtaining information from consumers abaout existing products, and your proposed product. You will need to design a questionnaire that will help you extract specific information from people. It must be clear and easy both to understand and to answer. It should also be easy for you to collect the results from the questrionaire. You should also be able to use the results to generate ideas for your electronic product.
 * [[image:E_Quest3.jpg]][[image:E_Ques2.jpg]]
 * Materials and manufacture research**
 * [[image:E_MatMan2.jpg]]
 * [[image:E_MatMan1.jpg]]

= Specification = All the initial research needs to be analysed to help you to produce design criteria, design ideas and //**specifications**//. It is essential that you thoroughly analyse you **//initial design brief//** and **//situation//** and produce concise and detailed specifications. Specifications are guidelines / rules that you use when designing a product to meet a need. Use the following headings and descriptions to help you plan and set out your work. The following are key factors in any specification. These may not all be appropriate to any one problem.
 * **Function** - What must the product be able to do, what are its performance requirements? E.g. speed of operation, special features, accessories and ergonomic factors and requirements.
 * **Size -** Minimum and maximum size and weight. Must it be a certain size? if so why?
 * **Cost** - What are the financial limitations for this project and why?
 * **Manufacture** - Are there any limits to scale / type of manufacturing processes that can be used for this project? How many units are to be made?size of batches?
 * **Safety** - What safety factors need to be taken into consideration when designing this product? Are there any relevant safety standards? How might the product be misused what can be done to prevent this? What warning instructions and labels need to be provided?
 * **Ergonomics** - The relationship between the design and its users. Any data which identifies specific characteristics of the user, supporting equipment or the surrounding environment must be stated. This includes anthropometry.
 * **Environment** - Any limitations regarding sound, light, and temperature should be considered. Additionally a statement regarding the products impact on the environment, in relation to materials used, manufacturing process (energy consumption), product life and recyclability.
 * **Time** - What are the time limitations for the design and manufacture of the project?
 * **Aesthetics** - Is our perception and understanding of the world through our senses. Appearance, finish, pattern, colour and shape details appropriate to your project need to be highlighted in your specifications.
 * **Materials** - You must consider methods and scale of production, economic considerations, materials availability and the properties of materials for this project.



Specifications should be presented as headings and bullet points and should not be presented without supporting analysis. Using these key headings are essential: media type="custom" key="9745174"
 * Target market
 * Form
 * Function
 * User requirement
 * Budgetary constraints


 * Here's a great resource to help you research your projects particularly when you are looking at existing products []**
 * and some more information about product specifications []**



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