Goals+Statement

=**Part B: User Study**=

**A) Statement of user study goals. What are the major questions you want answered regarding how users use the technology in question? About what they may want to see as an alternative?** The horseshoe is a technological artifact that is generally used to protect the hoof of a horse. The act of “shoeing” the animal is the process of trimming away the excess nail of the hoof, adjusting the horseshoe to the horse’s hoof and hammering hails into the hoof to lock the horseshoe in place. This is the most common process used to place the horseshoe on the hoof; however several problems can occur. The hoof grows naturally by itself, much like that of a human toenail. It grows in length over time and must be trimmed to allow the horseshoe to fit correctly. The trimming of the hoof is a process that must be carried out carefully; however the placement of the horseshoe as well as the horseshoe itself can be changed. Problems can occur during the procedure. Hammering the nail too close to the sensitive area of the hoof can cause immense discomfort for the animal. This can result in intense bleeding and possible infection. Placing the hoof at an incorrect angle can impede the animal’s movement and place immense physical stress on the animal’s limbs. Though this process has been the common practice for two thousand years, it has unresolved flaws that can be avoided with the help of some technological improvements. Clearly the users have an effective process of getting the horseshoe onto the hoof. The standard materials used to create the horseshoe are durable and strong enough to last through immense pressure and physical damage. Steel and aluminum are usually the most common materials used for a standard horseshoe. They require the skilled process of filing the hoof and hammering nails into the hoof to keep the horseshoe in place. However, the questions to be asked here are: //**- Is this current horseshoe design the only efficient way of protecting a horse’s hoof?**// //**- Can there be less potentially painful and tedious ways of fitting horseshoes by using current technological advancements?**// //**- Why has this technological artifact stayed the same for years if it is apparent that there is room for innovation in the design and fitting process? - What are the after effects of mistakes made when shoeing a horse? - What do the farriers think of the horseshoe design and shoeing process and can they be changed productively?**// By asking these questions to the users that require horses on a regular basis (jockeys, farmers, farriers, mounted policemen), the input gathered by these individuals can help conceptualize the new concept model for both the horseshoe along with the improving the process of shoeing. New materials such as carbon fiber, Kevlar and other materials might be used to construct the new horseshoe. Other design elements such as an outsole grip can be utilized in the design to make the horseshoe durable for all types of terrain. Overall, creating a new horseshoe prototype will benefit both the animal’s level of performance and make the difficult process of shoeing simpler.