Limitations
One of the current limitations is that the process of adjusting the fishing line with one hand takes practice and is not very simple, We would like to look into a better method to adjust the fishing line so that the device can be adjusted in an easier way and in a shorter amount of time. Also In order for the device to be used for very hot liquids, we will need to do more research to see if the bobber we are using can be in very hot liquids that people will drink. Currently, we know that the bobber we are using can work in warm liquids, but we do not know if it can safely work in boiling liquids. Additionally, when using the BobbStopper in very hot liquids, the fishing line can get very hot, making it dangerous for Gregory to remove it from the container. Our current solution to this problem is for Gregory to use tongs to remove the BobbStopper from the top of the fishing line so that he does not burn himself. However, we are looking into other ways to make it easier to remove the device from hot liquids. Our product was designed specifically for Gregory’s cups and pots and might not work with containers of different dimensions.
Next Steps
On of our next steps is to test product usability. We are working to improve the design so that it is easier to use with only one hand. After some testing, we determined that a smaller bobber would be more optimal for this design as it would not touch the sides of the container as often when using a smaller container. We also are looking into a more consistent way to remove the device from containers, especially when using hot liquids.