Happy Halloween

Here is my digital art in the making:

Here is the finalized version:



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



Extra Credit

The Question and set of Answers for the extra credit assignment was:

If you choose an answer to this question at random, what is the chance you will be correct?

A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 60%
D) 25%

My Answer:

If you were to choose an answer to this question at random, then you would have a 1 in 4 chance of being correct, so the answer would be 25%. However, since there are two choices that the answer to the question in 25% probability, then you would have a 2 in 4 chance of being correct, making your choice B. Yet, if you can only choose one answer and that answer has to be correct, then the odds are back down to 25% since there is only a 1 in 4 chance that you will geuss 50% is the correct answer, so then it would be 25%, right? Well, nothing has changed, so the correct answer is 50%, but then the answer is also 25% since there is only a 25% chance that you can pick 50%. So there's the dilemma - trick question (note: C) 60% is completely irrelevant)

Safer Nukes?

This method for converting nuclear energy works like this: a reactor begins filled with a estimated 400,000 pebbles. Cooled helium enters the reactor, and it is heated due to the build-up of energy from the pebbles on the inside of the reactor. The now heated helium leaves the reactor and is used to turn turbines, as depicted in the image on the website. When the pebbles reach the bottom of the reactor, they are cycled back to the top since they have the maximum amount of energy possible so the other pebbles continue to be reused for a longer period of time (efficiency bonus).

The safety portion of this all depends on a couple of factors. By the sound of the article, it seems like this is very automated without any humans looking after it (besides the couple of people who look after the reactors to make sure everything is in working order). But, seeing as it can't meltdown in the same way that other more dangerous reactors can, the human "fixer-uppers" won't be needed. As far as the reactions on the inside of the machine, it still uses nuclear fission (the splitting of atoms to produce more energy) to create more power for other tasks, exactly like other reactors have taken Uranium-235 and split those atoms to create their energy. The system itself has changed, but the method for the getting the energy has not. Therefore, this reactor is definitely safer than most.

Cardboard Canoe

Achievements

"Define the Problem" State the problem you are designing a solution for.

The team must construct a canoe made of cardboard and duct tape only to be able to not only float, but travel all the way across the length of the CHS swimming pool, and meet all the below criteria and constraints.

"Brainstorm Solutions" List at least 20 ideas you have regarding your solution.

1. lightest person in the boat.
2. have a shape that helps it flow easily through the water (not boxed, but like an actual canoes).
3. get other teammates in the pool to push the canoe forward.
4. have a rudder to help steer.
5. the person in the canoe can balance the boat out.
6. make the canoe longer so less rocking can occur.
7. the length of the canoe should only be as long as the person in it.
8. make the inside of the structure more stable for less bending to occur.
9. sides should be only tall enough to avoid taking on water.
10. outside should be completely covered with duct tape.
11. create handles/grips on back so it can be pushed in water.
12. use a long stick to push it through water (like gondola).
13. duct tape should be vertically placed on the canoe.
14. have two layers of cardboard and make the bottom dug out, but resilient to the water.
15. add a roll of duct tape to the inside of the boat - stop leaks from happenning.
16. make the walls of the canoe easy to go over for the paddler.
17. add a bucket or scoop to get water out of the boat.
18. use pieces of cardboard to span the width of the canoe with multiple strips to hold it together and keep the structure solid.
19. add two other sides to keep it stable - trimeran reference.
20. build a floatable substance to keep it afloat with air inside.
21. construct a "rope" out of duct tape to tie off the boat.
22. trimeran - be able to securely fasten the sides on without having to break them off through the door and on the way to the pool.
23. the design should be as lightweight as possible (bouyancy AND trip to pool)
24. make the ends and tips of the canoe higher than the others to keep the walls high.
25. make the bottom open up more and close at the top - like a v.
26. incorporate origami into it so we can fold it permanently into a good shape, and keep the structure in fair condition.
27. make the poles connecting the trimeran hulls to the canoe solid for additional floatation.
28. bring in a lot of extra cardboard for the additional parts and pieces.
29. be conservative about the usage of duct tape - use as little as possible to save for other items.
30. if we were to make a sail, use duct tape to catch the wind and cardboard as the mast.
31. if wind direction becomes an issue, make the sails easily removable.

"Big Brain" The individual student with the most brainstorms listed will earn a bonus achievement.

I could be eligible for this achievement. TBD. 

"Criteria" List the specified Criteria you are designing for. List at least one implied criteria.

There has to be at least one student in the canoe during the competition, and while they are inside, the "boat" must be able to float in and traverse the CHS swimming pool.

"Constraints" List the specified Constraints you are designing around. List at least three implied contsraints.

You can only use duct tape and cardboard on the canoe, and the substances (staples, other tape, stickers, etc.) must be removed from the cardboard before you use it. Trashing the pool will result in the cancelling of future events that may take place there. The cardboard must meet the standard provided by the instructor (any other cardboard may not be used). The canoes must have a (at minimum) 3 in. wall so that we can avoid a surfboard design. Canoes must be completely covered in duct tape, so as to minimize the amount of cardboard disintegration in the pool and be able to come back later this year. Each team will be given only one cardboard piece from the school, so any other cardboard you want to add will come from another source and meet the minimum criteria to avoid disqualification.

"Sketch Ideas" Draw 3 different sketches for possible designs. Label at least 3 key features for each sketch. Describe the feature's functionality so a viewer understands why the called out feature is important.

 "Prototype Ideas" Craft physical prototypes (models) of each of your three sketches. Use a notecard or post it note to call out at least one key feature on each model. Post the images to your blog and describe the key feature that you've pointed out on each.

My origami prototype.

"Build It!" Build your watercraft. Document it with a presentable photo.

Our seat after the race.

The canoe before the experimentation in the pool.

The boat preparation - start of the competition.

The float test.

"The Early Bird Gets the Achievement" Awarded to the team with the fastest build.

We finished first.

"V-Bottom" Earn this by building a non-flat bottom.

We built a V-bottom boat.

"The Longest" Awarded to the team with the watercraft that floats the longest (multiple teams may be awarded this achievement if multiple boats remain afloat at the end of our competition period).

We were able to remain afloat as long as the other teams, despite the fact that we had to improvise at the end after it got waterlogged early on.

"Videographer" Take video of the challenge and post to your blog.

(NOTE: VIDEO YET TO BE CONSTRUCTED - WORKING OUT TECHNICAL ISSUES!)

Competition (Part 01)

Competition (Part 02)

Water-logged (humor value only)

The Deep Dive

1. “From the buildings in which we live and work, to the cars we drive, or the knives and forks with which we eat, everything we use was designed to create some sort of marriage between form and function.”

2. The folks at IDEO state that they are not experts in any given area. But, they do claim to be experts on the iterative design process, which they apply to the innovation of consumer products.

3. After the team of designers is brought together, told the problem, and informed they have five days to “pull it off,” what phase of the design process do they immediately engage in?

The team of designers initiated the researching and brainstorming phase of the iterative design process, where they went out and gathered information regarding their problem and came back with a basic criteria and constraints, along with some things shopping carts are known to do that they should also strive to fix. They additionally, at the end of the day, tossed ideas around to each other and gathered feedback based on their conclusions and hypotheses.

4. Give two examples of what the team members did during this phase.

a. They went to the "four corners of the world and came back with the golden keys," meaning they were able to gather enough information from regular shoppers and get some ideas of problems and downsides of the average shopping cart.

b. The team also was able to brainstorm before the day was over, start building their prototype, and have an entire white board filled up with information about criteria, constraints, problems, solutions, and other basic ideas, skills, and strategies that could be implemented.

5. List five rules-of-thumb that IDEO employees follow when they share ideas during the brainstorming phase:

a. one conversation at a time
b. stay focused
c. encourage wild ideas
d. defer judgement
e. build on the ideas of others

6. Why should wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas be entertained during the brainstorming phase?

Wild ideas should be entertained during the brainstorming phase because there is always a good idea that gets put into designs that are considered, early on, irregular and crazy. Even if they weren't to implement an insane idea, they could modify it in some way to meet the needs of the project anyway, or use the original in the first place. Plus, there is no such thing as a bad idea, and the more there are the greater the design will be. Lastly, crazy ideas are the basis of more innovative solutions to really get a design going. Normal just isn't necessary.

7. After the brainstorming phase was over, the team narrowed down the hundreds of ideas by voting for those ideas that were not only “cool” but also doable in a short period of time. What phase of the design process is this called?

This process is called the feedback process, just in a different way than we do it in class.

8. IDEO believes that the ideas and efforts of a team and enlightened trial and error will always be more successful than the planning of a lone genius.

9. Once the ideas were narrowed down and divided into categories, the group was split into four smaller teams. What phase(s) of the design process was each of these groups responsible for?

As soon as the ideas were narrowed down, the group split to build prototypes of their ideas for the final shopping cart design, and they were all responsible for creating separate (but within the guidelines) shopping carts. These separate prototypes all focused on different categories: safety, shopping, check-out, and finding what you are looking for.

10. The leaders at IDEO believe that playful behavior and a fun environment are two important reasons why their employees are able to think quickly and creatively to produce innovative results.

11. Sometimes, people come up with great solutions that work by trying their ideas first, and asking for permission later.

12. Design is often a process of going too far and having to take a few steps back. What phase of the design process would the critique of the four mock-ups come under?

The phase of the design process with the critique of the four mock-ups would be another feedback process, where you receive information from clients and coworkers about your innovation, and improve it from their likes, dislikes, and ideas about it.

13. Upon critique of the four teams’ models, it was obvious that none of the teams had developed an optimum solution. However, the people at IDEO believe that it is important to fail often in order to be successful sooner.

14. What percentage of the entire week’s time did it take to fabricate the final prototype?

It only took one day from the week's time to fabricate the final prototype.

15. Instead of showering his design team with a tremendous amount of praise, what did the boss require his employees to do with their new design?

The boss required that his design team go out into the field and speak with regular shoppers about their cart design and gather some feedback based on their responses to the cart's performance in their routine.

16. Of all the things that we are surrounded by every day, what has not been placed through the design process?

The only thing that has not been placed by the design process was nature - that can't be refined, and there is feedback, but what can you do? It's out of our hands.

Conclusion

1. What did you find to be the most impressive part of the team’s effort?

The most impressive part of the team's efforts was the fact that they all had a solid attitude about their work, and they were able to meet the deadline with some really good progress.

2. What advantages are there to having a design team with members that have non-engineering backgrounds?

The advantages included a variety of perspectives when it comes to the different ways of going about the solution to a difficult problem, and the many brainstorming solutions came together beautifully in the end with that convenient and amazing shopping cart.

3. There was a point in the process where a self-appointed group of adults stepped up, stopped the ideas, and redirected the group to break up into teams. Why was this done?

The iterative design process is a very messy one, because they could have sat there forever and talked about all the different ways you could go about fixing this until the end of time itself. They had a deadline, and (granted, they would have had a superb shopping cart in an eternity) they needed to meet their time constraints. The flow of ideas is limitless - refining the solutions can be quicker than anticipating them, at times.

4. At the end of the video, Dave Kelly states, “Look around. The only things that are not designed are the things we find in nature.” Can you think of anything that would contradict this statement?

The definition of nature is anything not man-made. EVERYTHING that is man made has gone through the process. So, no.