Peripherals/XOctoPlug

8 in one anti-electrocution and tangle-free XO power supply to be used in the classroom to improve safety, convenience and battery life.

Location and Intended Users

For classroom settings, libraries, study halls, media centres and community centres.

Motivation

• The single converters that come with the XOs are potentially dangerous because the user comes close to high voltage. At times, to pull the converter out of the outlet children (and adults) have to introduce their fingers between the outlet and the converter for leverage and better grasp (dangerously close to the metallic pins).
• It can be difficult to find enough mains wall sockets, or mains strips which can accept enough power supplies.
• The gang charger proposal requires the purchase of an additional battery for every XO, and the purchase of the gang charger itself. By using battery power constantly the batteries life expectancy will be reduced considerably.
• Children have to carry the converters back and forth, every day, or don't have it when needed.
• Children lose their chargers.
• Children damage their chargers.
• Fitting enough chargers into power stripes is proving to be a problem. Requests have been made to change the design of the charger. The XOctoPlug could solve these problems.

Advantages

• Children are kept away from high voltages.
• Children won't be plugging and unplugging adapters.
• Children won't fight over outlet connection or charging time.
• Children can work while they charge (not so with the gang-chargers).
• Even if it gets hot, children won't need to touch the XOctoPlug.
• No need to change batteries during the day.
• More organized cabling (They will not be connected to the same high voltage outlet, risking that the XOs fall down or children trip).
• Adapters will not get lost because they can leave the individual ones at home (where adult connects it).

Disadvantages

• Cables running to the XOctoPlug still remains a potential hazard for children, although is considerably better than the current environment.
• The XOctoplug will take up room on the desk.
• If the XOctoplug is used children must sit in clusters, which is not always traditional for classrooms.
• Students might be drawing anywhere from milliwatts (one machine on trickle) to 120W (8 machines at full draw). It might be a challenge making a power converter that is efficient over that large a range.

Suggestions

See the contact charger on Apple's Emate 300 from 1997, a device similar in construction to the XO.

Product Requirements

• Anti-trip mechanism. Cables running from wall to XOctoPlug, then cables running from XOctoPlug to XO must either be design in a way that tripping is impossible, or that if tripping occurs both child and XO remains safe and undamaged. Possible solutions;
  • Magnetic power connectors or quick release mechanism - this should be located between XO and XOctoPlug
  • Ceiling hung power (possibly unattractive)
  • Secure fixings for cables
  • Sand/dirt/grit filliable cable covers
• Should be designed to work in both group environments and lined desk setups.
• Include Surge protection
• Possibly include a meter showing how much power is available and hence how many XOs can be plugged in.
• Why not go with linear power distribution? A single cable with tap in points, or multiple cables daisy chained together.

Alternative Design

CentiPower is a concept which has been proposed to better suit classrooms which have there students sat in lines, rather than in groups. However CentiPower may also be a good solution for group work as well. User research is commencing to determine the best form factor.

Contributors

• Idea and design: Carla Gomez Monroy, 5th September 2007
• Additional Design Ideas: John Watlington, Michael Bove and Joshua Seal