HP BL460c Gen8 Blade
HP BL460c Gen8 Blade
HP BL460c Gen8 Blade
HP BL460c Gen8 Blade
The HP BL460c Gen8 blade is a modular server that resides within an enterprise infrastructure named, BladeSystem. Internal components are assembled and configured within the server for computing performance.
Generation 8 (Gen8) introduced new server products and the opportunity to improve on customer feedback regarding overall usability. I was tasked with identifying opportunities and improving usability for our customers.
The HP BL460c Gen8 blade is a modular server that resides within an enterprise infrastructure named, BladeSystem. Internal components are assembled and configured within the server for computing performance.
Generation 8 (Gen8) introduced new server products and the opportunity to improve on customer feedback regarding overall usability. I was tasked with identifying opportunities and improving usability for our customers.
The HP BL460c Gen8 blade is a modular server that resides within an enterprise infrastructure named, BladeSystem. Internal components are assembled and configured within the server for computing performance.
Generation 8 (Gen8) introduced new server products and the opportunity to improve on customer feedback regarding overall usability. I was tasked with identifying opportunities and improving usability for our customers.
The HP BL460c Gen8 blade is a modular server that resides within an enterprise infrastructure named, BladeSystem. Internal components are assembled and configured within the server for computing performance.
Generation 8 (Gen8) introduced new server products and the opportunity to improve on customer feedback regarding overall usability. I was tasked with identifying opportunities and improving usability for our customers.
Outcome
Outcome
Outcome
Outcome
The BL460c server blade shipped for a total of 10 years and was HP's number three selling enterprise server product that lead the blade market.
The BL460c server blade shipped for a total of 10 years and was HP's number three selling enterprise server product that lead the blade market.
The BL460c server blade shipped for a total of 10 years and was HP's number three selling enterprise server product that lead the blade market.
The BL460c server blade shipped for a total of 10 years and was HP's number three selling enterprise server product that lead the blade market.
Human factors testing provided positive feedback from participants during development. Marketing and product management reported an increase in customer satisfaction for all Gen8 products.
Human factors testing provided positive feedback from participants during development. Marketing and product management reported an increase in customer satisfaction for all Gen8 products.
Human factors testing provided positive feedback from participants during development. Marketing and product management reported an increase in customer satisfaction for all Gen8 products.
Human factors testing provided positive feedback from participants during development. Marketing and product management reported an increase in customer satisfaction for all Gen8 products.
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
Our HP Experience Design Team completed analyses of previous generations, researching competitive products, competitive tear-down reviews with mechanical engineering, and collecting customer feedback from product marketing teams. Each designer managed their individual products and reviewed findings with the design team.
The following key issues were found:
• Servicing internal components was very complex.
• Internal components lacked touchpoints when compared to competitors.
• Perception of quality was lower than the competition.
• Product Health Status LED was difficult to view at a distance.
Our HP Experience Design Team completed analyses of previous generations, researching competitive products, competitive tear-down reviews with mechanical engineering, and collecting customer feedback from product marketing teams. Each designer managed their individual products and reviewed findings with the design team.
The following key issues were found:
• Servicing internal components was very complex.
• Internal components lacked touchpoints when compared to competitors.
• Perception of quality was lower than the competition.
• Product Health Status LED was difficult to view at a distance.
Our HP Experience Design Team completed analyses of previous generations, researching competitive products, competitive tear-down reviews with mechanical engineering, and collecting customer feedback from product marketing teams. Each designer managed their individual products and reviewed findings with the design team.
The following key issues were found:
• Servicing internal components was very complex.
• Internal components lacked touchpoints when compared to competitors.
• Perception of quality was lower than the competition.
• Product Health Status LED was difficult to view at a distance.
Our HP Experience Design Team completed analyses of previous generations, researching competitive products, competitive tear-down reviews with mechanical engineering, and collecting customer feedback from product marketing teams. Each designer managed their individual products and reviewed findings with the design team.
The following key issues were found:
• Servicing internal components was very complex.
• Internal components lacked touchpoints when compared to competitors.
• Perception of quality was lower than the competition.
• Product Health Status LED was difficult to view at a distance.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
Improvements were implemented to address challenges of configuring or repairing the BL460c server blade. Concepts were tested by our human factors specialist to validate the new updates. Overall usability was improved by the following updates:
• Highlighting key internal touchpoints.
• Improving labels with order of operation numbering and icons.
• Increasing Health Status LED visibility.
Improvements were implemented to address challenges of configuring or repairing the BL460c server blade. Concepts were tested by our human factors specialist to validate the new updates. Overall usability was improved by the following updates:
• Highlighting key internal touchpoints.
• Improving labels with order of operation numbering and icons.
• Increasing Health Status LED visibility.
Improvements were implemented to address challenges of configuring or repairing the BL460c server blade. Concepts were tested by our human factors specialist to validate the new updates. Overall usability was improved by the following updates:
• Highlighting key internal touchpoints.
• Improving labels with order of operation numbering and icons.
• Increasing Health Status LED visibility.
Improvements were implemented to address challenges of configuring or repairing the BL460c server blade. Concepts were tested by our human factors specialist to validate the new updates. Overall usability was improved by the following updates:
• Highlighting key internal touchpoints.
• Improving labels with order of operation numbering and icons.
• Increasing Health Status LED visibility.
Important touchpoints were highlighted through labeling and color to improve usability when configuring or repairing a server blade. Touchpoint Blue directs a customer's eye to locations that must be pushed or pulled for assembly. Caution Yellow was used on screw heads and labels to prevent damage or improper operation. Hand icons graphically communicate the touchpoint with a number for order of operation. Working inside a server can be challenging, but these improvements assisted customers by reducing duration of service events.
Important touchpoints were highlighted through labeling and color to improve usability when configuring or repairing a server blade. Touchpoint Blue directs a customer's eye to locations that must be pushed or pulled for assembly. Caution Yellow was used on screw heads and labels to prevent damage or improper operation. Hand icons graphically communicate the touchpoint with a number for order of operation. Working inside a server can be challenging, but these improvements assisted customers by reducing duration of service events.
Important touchpoints were highlighted through labeling and color to improve usability when configuring or repairing a server blade. Touchpoint Blue directs a customer's eye to locations that must be pushed or pulled for assembly. Caution Yellow was used on screw heads and labels to prevent damage or improper operation. Hand icons graphically communicate the touchpoint with a number for order of operation. Working inside a server can be challenging, but these improvements assisted customers by reducing duration of service events.
Important touchpoints were highlighted through labeling and color to improve usability when configuring or repairing a server blade. Touchpoint Blue directs a customer's eye to locations that must be pushed or pulled for assembly. Caution Yellow was used on screw heads and labels to prevent damage or improper operation. Hand icons graphically communicate the touchpoint with a number for order of operation. Working inside a server can be challenging, but these improvements assisted customers by reducing duration of service events.
A horizontal Heath Status LED was integrated into the front bezel to allow customers to locate a server blade that requires repair. Technicians walk the aisles within a datacenter to visually search for servers that have failed. This salient design feature was human factors tested and received positive feedback during development.
A horizontal Heath Status LED was integrated into the front bezel to allow customers to locate a server blade that requires repair. Technicians walk the aisles within a datacenter to visually search for servers that have failed. This salient design feature was human factors tested and received positive feedback during development.
A horizontal Heath Status LED was integrated into the front bezel to allow customers to locate a server blade that requires repair. Technicians walk the aisles within a datacenter to visually search for servers that have failed. This salient design feature was human factors tested and received positive feedback during development.
A horizontal Heath Status LED was integrated into the front bezel to allow customers to locate a server blade that requires repair. Technicians walk the aisles within a datacenter to visually search for servers that have failed. This salient design feature was human factors tested and received positive feedback during development.
A before (Gen 7) and after (Gen 8) comparison of two fully loaded 42U racks illustrate the improvement in visibility of the Health Status LED.
A before (Gen 7) and after (Gen 8) comparison of two fully loaded 42U racks illustrate the improvement in visibility of the Health Status LED.
A before (Gen 7) and after (Gen 8) comparison of two fully loaded 42U racks illustrate the improvement in visibility of the Health Status LED.
A before (Gen 7) and after (Gen 8) comparison of two fully loaded 42U racks illustrate the improvement in visibility of the Health Status LED.