SpaceFriendly Whiteboard/Table

This is a close up on the table without any chairs
This is a side view of the table without any chairs
This is the side view of the whiteboard setup with the extra 16'' height extensions
This is the underside of the table
This is a birds eye view of the table without any chairs
This is another view of the whiteboard setup allowing to see the storage for the chairs inside the boards
This is an underside view of the white board orientation with chairs
This is a birds eye view of the extended table and chairs
This is another view of the underside of the table
This is the full extended setup of the table and chairs
This is the white board setup with the extra 16'' extension legs

Inspiration

Our inspiration for this project was based on our group being primarily composed of student tutors for the Lycoming College's Math Center. With a combined total of 6 years of tutoring in a sometimes jam-packed math center, we always stress the importance of efficiency and ease-of-use for the tools and instruments we have at our disposal.

What it does

This idea brought forth our creation of a 3-in-1 whiteboard, table, and chairs. This extremely compact design offers a variety of opportunities with its portability and versatility, providing so much while taking up so little space. This project includes a wide table, able to fit 6 people with the foldable stools contained within the set, 4 of which can be stored inside the two whiteboards when not in use. The legs of the table can also extend upwards by 16 inches, allowing for better ease in writing while in whiteboard mode. This transition is controlled by a lever that is pinch-friendly, similar to what you would see at a pinball machine at an arcade or a cable machine in the gym. This board is lightweight, making it both easy to transport (along with its wheeled design), and anyone can make the transition between the table and whiteboard.

How we built it

Our work was entirely made in Autodesk Fusion360, with parts of the project divided up among our three members. Initially, we planned the design on paper and then transferred it into CAD. We individually tackled pieces of the design simultaneously and grew the project as these parts were made. This eventually led to everything being thrown together at the very end, leaving us with our finished design.

Challenges we ran into

With the majority of the group not having used CAD software in years, there was a lot of reviewing of the processes, methods, and controls of Fusion360. Furthermore, as we continued to build our design, there were many reiterations with our setup, including concerns about weight, sturdiness, ease of transitioning, and longevity. To alleviate these concerns, we use bamboo wood (considered to be one of the best for strength-to-weight ratio), an acrylic tabletop (useful for both everyday work and can double as a whiteboard, a great alternative to glass and standard whiteboards), and a sturdy aluminum framework (providing both great support and reliability to the product).

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Although we can unanimously agree that we are exhausted, we can also agree that we are extremely proud of what we were able to put together. Our teamwork worked like a well-oiled machine, and all rebuttals occurred politely and respectfully, even when times were getting tense later into the morning as we approached the deadline. Our collaborative efforts, stemming from three different majors, show our shared dedication and passion for our work. And we are really excited that our design came together fully in the end! And now we are proud that we get to have a little bit of sleep before tomorrow!!

What we learned

One thing that seems to have stumped us is that it is significantly harder to create something than one would think! Even in seemingly relatively simple tasks and designs, there is a lot of critical thinking that must occur to really make the product special, unique, and reliable. A lot goes into something that looks elementary, and we have a newfound appreciation for simplicity, or at least, what we may view as such. We also learned how difficult it is to brainstorm something completely new and to attempt to solve a problem or take an opportunity that may exist. It was a fascinating idea, and it was a really fun time being able to make this design.

What's next for SpaceFriendly Whiteboard/Table

Although this SpaceFriendly product is preliminary (it was thrown together in a day after all!), we hope that this inspires other projects like this to address problems in fields or topics that you are passionate about. We hope to continue this journey in making an impact on peers' lives with our tutoring and leadership, and perhaps invent a cool design every so often!