Many trades are highlighted throughout this documentary. The ones that seemed to be focused on the most were steelworkers, architectural engineers, and concrete workers.
I was most interested in the architectural side of things. I think that I was most interested in that because its the part of the process that uses the most creativity. Most of the construction workers are simply following intstructions, but the architect had to come up with one (or several) designs for the building that were safe, efficient and appealing to the eye.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Energy Sources!
1. Describe one thing that surprised you about the energy source that you researched and presented.
-I was surprised at how small an amount (3%) of the world's oil is owned by the U.S.
2. Describe one thing that surprised you about an energy source that another team presented.
-I was surprised at how expensive it is to install solar panels at your house.
3. Describe and defend what you believe to be the most important technological need regarding energy.
-I think that we need to work hard on producing electric cars, because I think the technology is there, it just needs to be applied. This energy source seems very clean and lasting.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
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 "process to design stuff", 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?
They split up into smaller groups and start to come up with ideas and brainstorm.
4. Give two examples of what the team members did during this phase.
a. They divided themselves up into groups and started to discuss and photograph shopping carts.
b. They interviewed and asked questions of consumers and common users of shopping carts. They also talked to shopping cart manufacturers.
5. List five rules-of-thumb that IDEO employees follow when they share ideas during the brainstorming phase:
a. Stay focused
b. Encourage wild and creative ideas
c. Have only one conversation at a time
d. Encourage the ideas of others
e. Leave judgement behind
6. Why should wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas be entertained during the brainstorming phase?
Becasue even though the idea might be wild, it could lead to the development of another idea that is more succesful. In some cases, the wild idea might even work best.
7. After the brainstorming phase was over, the team narrowed down the hundreds of ideas by using sticky notes for those ideas that were not only “cool” but also "build-able" in a short period of time. What phase of the design process is this called?
This phase is called brainstorming.
8. IDEO believes that the ideas and efforts of a team 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?
They were responsible for modeling and building a prototype.
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 opinions 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?
Refining and communicating results.
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 succeed sooner.
14. What percentage of the entire week’s time did it take to fabricate the final prototype?
It took about 14% of the week's time.
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?
He wanted them to improve it.
16. Of all the things that we are surrounded by every day, what has not been placed through the design process?
Everything has, except for the natural environment.
Conclusion
1. What did you find to be the most impressive part of the team’s effort?
I thought it was cool how they seemed to have so much fun, and were basically playing around, and still got lots og productive work done.
2. What advantages are there to having a design team with members that have non-engineering backgrounds?
This enables the opinions of non-engineers to contribute and improve upon the engineers design.
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?
This was done to increase efficiency.
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?
No
2. The folks at IDEO state that they are not experts in any given area. But, they do claim to be experts on the "process to design stuff", 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?
They split up into smaller groups and start to come up with ideas and brainstorm.
4. Give two examples of what the team members did during this phase.
a. They divided themselves up into groups and started to discuss and photograph shopping carts.
b. They interviewed and asked questions of consumers and common users of shopping carts. They also talked to shopping cart manufacturers.
5. List five rules-of-thumb that IDEO employees follow when they share ideas during the brainstorming phase:
a. Stay focused
b. Encourage wild and creative ideas
c. Have only one conversation at a time
d. Encourage the ideas of others
e. Leave judgement behind
6. Why should wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas be entertained during the brainstorming phase?
Becasue even though the idea might be wild, it could lead to the development of another idea that is more succesful. In some cases, the wild idea might even work best.
7. After the brainstorming phase was over, the team narrowed down the hundreds of ideas by using sticky notes for those ideas that were not only “cool” but also "build-able" in a short period of time. What phase of the design process is this called?
This phase is called brainstorming.
8. IDEO believes that the ideas and efforts of a team 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?
They were responsible for modeling and building a prototype.
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 opinions 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?
Refining and communicating results.
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 succeed sooner.
14. What percentage of the entire week’s time did it take to fabricate the final prototype?
It took about 14% of the week's time.
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?
He wanted them to improve it.
16. Of all the things that we are surrounded by every day, what has not been placed through the design process?
Everything has, except for the natural environment.
Conclusion
1. What did you find to be the most impressive part of the team’s effort?
I thought it was cool how they seemed to have so much fun, and were basically playing around, and still got lots og productive work done.
2. What advantages are there to having a design team with members that have non-engineering backgrounds?
This enables the opinions of non-engineers to contribute and improve upon the engineers design.
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?
This was done to increase efficiency.
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?
No
Friday, October 21, 2011
The 2nd Annual CHS Cardboard Canoe Challenge!
The 2nd Annual Cardboard Canoe Challenge!
WE EARNED 11 ACHIEVEMENTS TOTAL
DESIGN ACHIEVEMENTS Define and Brainstorm the Design:
We need to create a boat made of completely cardboard and duct tape that will float in a body of water.
Brainstormed Ideas: Flat bottom, longer length, high walls, low walls, shorter length, v-shaped bottom, pointed front, angled front, pointed back, flat back, completely covered in duct tape, duct tape only covering cardboard exposed to water, wide bottom, narrow bottom, oars, pull with a rope, push with swimmers, paddle by yourself, one person in boat, two people in boat, lay down flat, sit up on butt, kneel in boat, stand in boat
Big Brain: I think I had the most brainstorm ideas WRITTEN DOWN; however, our whole team contributed to the entire brainstorm list
Criteria:
- You may only use Cardboard and Duct Tape for this event.
- All Staples or other foreign material must be removed from your cardboard. If we trash the pool, we will not be invited back for other activities during the year (yes, we have other activities in mind for 2nd semester).
- Cardboard must meet our quality standard and be approved by the instructor (more info to follow)
- Each boat must have a minimum of a 3" tall "sidewall" (no completely flat designs).
- All exposed cardboard must be covered in duct tape (this will reduce cardboard disintigration in the pool).
- Each team will be provided one "versa table" cardboard box piece and two 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.
- Implied: The boat must fit out of the doorway
- Implied: The boat must be able to be transported from the classroom to the pool
- Implied: The boat can not pose any threat to the students in or around the boat while it is in the water
SKETCH:
First Idea:
- Flat Bottom
We need to create a boat made of completely cardboard and duct tape that will float in a body of water.
Brainstormed Ideas: Flat bottom, longer length, high walls, low walls, shorter length, v-shaped bottom, pointed front, angled front, pointed back, flat back, completely covered in duct tape, duct tape only covering cardboard exposed to water, wide bottom, narrow bottom, oars, pull with a rope, push with swimmers, paddle by yourself, one person in boat, two people in boat, lay down flat, sit up on butt, kneel in boat, stand in boat
Big Brain: I think I had the most brainstorm ideas WRITTEN DOWN; however, our whole team contributed to the entire brainstorm list
Criteria:
- Build a watercraft that allows you to traverse the CHS swimming pool.
- Your "boat" must float at least one student through the course of the competition.
- Implied: Keep your workspace clean
Constraints:- You may only use Cardboard and Duct Tape for this event.
- All Staples or other foreign material must be removed from your cardboard. If we trash the pool, we will not be invited back for other activities during the year (yes, we have other activities in mind for 2nd semester).
- Cardboard must meet our quality standard and be approved by the instructor (more info to follow)
- Each boat must have a minimum of a 3" tall "sidewall" (no completely flat designs).
- All exposed cardboard must be covered in duct tape (this will reduce cardboard disintigration in the pool).
- Each team will be provided one "versa table" cardboard box piece and two 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.
- Implied: The boat must fit out of the doorway
- Implied: The boat must be able to be transported from the classroom to the pool
- Implied: The boat can not pose any threat to the students in or around the boat while it is in the water
SKETCH:
First Idea:
Second Idea:
Third (Final) Idea:
PROTOTYPES:
First Prototype:
- Flat Bottom
- Curved, pointed bow
- High Walls
Second Prototype:
- V-Shaped Bottom
- High Walls
- Short Length
Third (Final) Prototype:
- Flat Bottom- Not so high of walls (easier paddling?)
- Rectangle with a pointed front (stable)
DESIGN SELECTION:
First Idea:
+ - flat bottom for stability
Change - High walls
? - What is the optimal boat length?
! - Shorten the walls and make it longer
Second Idea:
+ - V bottom for straightness
Change - High Walls
? - Should a flat bottom or v shaped bottom be used?
! - Use a flat bottom and shorten the walls and make it longer
Final Idea:
+ - Flat bottom and optimal length
Change - Final Idea- no need for a change
? - How should we propel the boat? (pulling or paddling)
! - Pulling could be faster and easier for the pilot to keep the boat stable
MATRIX:
First: short, high walls, flat bottom, one point in front, curved bow
Second: short, high walls, curved bottom, two points, looks a lot like a regular canoe
Third: longer (optimal lengthe between speed and handling), shorter walls, flat bottom, one point in front, point is slightly curved
We will use the third and final prototype for our cardboard boat.
BUILD ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. Build it!:
Finished Cardboard Boat
Cardboard Boat in the Water
TEST ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. The Fastest: We won the speed challenge
2. The Farthest: We won the distance challenge
3. The Longest: We won the time challenge
4. Videographer: Carboard Boat in Action
- Rectangle with a pointed front (stable)
DESIGN SELECTION:
First Idea:
+ - flat bottom for stability
Change - High walls
? - What is the optimal boat length?
! - Shorten the walls and make it longer
Second Idea:
+ - V bottom for straightness
Change - High Walls
? - Should a flat bottom or v shaped bottom be used?
! - Use a flat bottom and shorten the walls and make it longer
Final Idea:
+ - Flat bottom and optimal length
Change - Final Idea- no need for a change
? - How should we propel the boat? (pulling or paddling)
! - Pulling could be faster and easier for the pilot to keep the boat stable
MATRIX:
First: short, high walls, flat bottom, one point in front, curved bow
Second: short, high walls, curved bottom, two points, looks a lot like a regular canoe
Third: longer (optimal lengthe between speed and handling), shorter walls, flat bottom, one point in front, point is slightly curved
We will use the third and final prototype for our cardboard boat.
BUILD ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. Build it!:
Finished Cardboard Boat
TEST ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. The Fastest: We won the speed challenge
2. The Farthest: We won the distance challenge
3. The Longest: We won the time challenge
4. Videographer: Carboard Boat in Action
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