Reader input required: how would you test a ruggedised handset?
By Ben Robinson on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 12:05 PM PST In Research, Reviews, Ruggedized
Following on from my post yesterday, I continue to garner test requirements for the physical examination of mobile communications devices by means of impaction of inaminate object(s) – or in other words, how to batter some ruggedised handsets in to submission!
If you would like to see extreme physical peril come to the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) 5140 (Old skool but cool), the Samsung Solid (new boy, but not a toy), and the JCB Toughphone (The world’s ruffest and tuffest – apparently), then add some comments to this post.
For reference, we already have (highlights):
Tom: Drop it in front of you while running, and step on it
Chad: Drop it down 2 or 3 flights of stairs, let it “fall” out of your car driving on the interstate
Raimo: Cut and tear test – use a breadknife and have fun!
Mathias: Drop it from at least a couple of stories up
Mihai: bury it in cement …leave it there 2 or maybe 3 days and then brake the cement and if it still work`s
All good suggestions, I think you’ll agree – but I also think we can be more inventive 
What I am looking for is 5 tests, to match the 5 (working) days of the week – ranging from “gentle” (if there is such a thing in a ruggedised test!) through to “downright nasty” – once we have our top 5, I will post ‘em up, and we can get to testing!
So get commenting, and let us know what you’d like to see
[Note: keep it sensible folks, any tests that will be either offensive to people, animals, or delicate inanimate objects won’t make it through - the idea is to give these devices a thorough test in the ‘everyday environment’]
1. Place phone immediately in front of rear tire of parked, rear-wheel drive vehicle. Preferably a large, heavy one.
2. Drive vehicle slowly onto phone and park it *on* the phone for 30 seconds.
3. With nobody standing behind the vehicle, nothing breakable behind the vehicle (preferably just a concrete wall ~10 feet away), and nothing in the way of the vehicle, floor the gas to fire the phone at the wall.
4. Post the results.
There’s your “downright nasty” test.
Day 1: Drop from shoulder height onto hard surface.
Day 2: Toss from waist height 5 to 10 meters
Day 3: Key scratch screen (maybe this shoudl be day 1?)
Day 4: Freezer test for 2 hours / Oven test at 200 degrees? (maybe 150 degrees)
Day 5: Drop into bowl of water and quickly retrieve…. or not.
Day 6: Will it blend?
Yea!!
Will it Blend!!!!!
I second the water and cold testing. I actually hucked some BlackBerrys in a snowback to test OtterBoxes awhile back.
nastier?? try this then.
1.go the top of your local skyscraper, and drop it off the top floor.
2.see if it will survive a garbage disposal swirlie.
3.leave it under the hood of running vehicle, make sure it will stay under the hood and not fall out, and drive around for a while.
4.set it on fire.
5.run over it with lawnmower, pick it up and do it again,
6.you could also stick in a dryer for a bit, that would probly fry it due to static but would be fun,
7.you could also microwave it.
I’ll post more if I think of them
I should have specified that the oven tests were in fahrenheit… living in the US has corrupted my brain. Simulate the temperatures experienced by leaving your phone on the dash of your car for a couple hours on a hot summer day.
Drop it from a motorcycle travelling at 30, 50, 70 mph.
Run it through the washing machine.
go ice skating or skate boarding with the phone in your hip pocket and wait for the inevitable spills.
Stick it in you shorts while you play beach volleyball. Shower or swim afterwards to cool off and rinse away the sand.
Go bog snorkelling … http://bogsnorkelling.com/
I’m sure I could dream up more