The primary customers were determined to be students with disabilities and those who teach them and supervise their development. The team interviewed ten individuals including teachers, parents, physical therapists, people with disabilities. On-site observations of the current process in operation were also conducted. The interviews and observations provided the insight necessary to determine that the six most important needs were that the device should be safe, reliable, durable, easy to load, keep students interested, and not jam. In order to achieve a design that focuses on the involvement and response of the students, it was necessary to analyze the needs and relate them to student involvement in the process.
Reliability directly relates to the ability of the design to maintain the interest of the students.
Ease of loading is important to allow students with all levels of ability to use the device. Therefore, an entry point for the device that allows a margin of error would be beneficial. Lastly, one of the more important needs determined was that the device crush cans without jamming. The intent of the future design was to reduce, and possibly eliminate, any jamming that might occur. Although the needs addressed above were important, manufacturability and cost issues were imperative to the success of the design.