FlipScan is a redesign of an on-board diagnostic (OBD) scan tool manufactured by Matco. Professionals use such scanning tools to retrieve and analyze faults reported by the vehicle's various subsystems. Once the fault has been retrieved (for example, "Oxygen Sensor: Lean"), the technician gains a better idea of what needs to be fixed or replaced.

I decided to redesign the Matco "Determinator" scan tool following a visit to Wolfsburg Motorwerks in Ballard, Seattle. Jack Morris, the owner of the classic German automotive repair shop, and Ben, one of Jack's assistants, voiced several frustrations regarding the usability and ergonomics of the unit. These frustrations gave me a solid foundation upon which I could improve the scan tool from a professional's perspective.

First, the bulk of the unit left the technician with little choice but to place the scan tool inside the engine bay, which is both an inconvenience and a fire hazard. To solve this problem, I made the body of the FlipScan a clamp, allowing the technician to safely hang the unit from the hood of the vehicle. The screen flips down and rotates 360 degrees, enabling the user to hang the FlipScan from any edge of the hood.

Second, the buttons were overly large and made of thick rubber. They seemed to be designed with thick gloves in mind, which most technicians do not wear while they work. I shrank down the size of the buttons and combined several buttons into just three.

Finally, I slimmed down the unit and redistributed its weight, allowing the user to hold it with one hand while working or hang it from the hood without worrying about it slipping off.