The Design Technology Blog

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  • Processing

    CPUs or central processing units play a large role in the speed at which computers deal with information and give meaningful output. Today, the fastest running processor on the market is the Intel Core I7 Extreme Edition at 3.47 GHz. Giga Hertz (GHz) are used to measure the performance of a computer in terms of cycles per second. By comparison with past processors such the 486DX/2 66, the fastest desktop processor on the market in the late 1980s which ran at 33 MHz, and the fastest super computer of the late 1980s the Cray Y-MP C90, a modern day low end laptop out performs both at only a fraction of the price. Innovation allows the processing speed of computers to continue increasing while at the same time making faster processors cheaper. Every few years, a new high end processor hits the market that has a higher cycle rate than previous models.

    An interesting development in processors is the rate at which improvements are made. Computers are becoming faster at an increasing rate. The time between each improvement in computer speed is becoming increasingly less. Following data patterns from the 1980s, the difference in processing speed of a top quality desktop to a top quality super computer was about 1:30. Although now the difference is greater, using those trends it is  possible to predict that in 20 years desktop computers will also perform better than today’s fastest supercomputers made by IBM.

    Fastest Processor 2011 on the Market

    Fastest Super COmputer of the late 1980s

    Source:

    http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/classic-tech/the-80s-supercomputer-thats-sitting-in-your-lap/189

    “central processing unit (CPU).” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 30 May. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/102611/central-processing-unit>.

    http://www.inetdaemon.com/tutorials/computers/hardware/cpu/

    http://www.howstuffworks.com/microprocessor.htm

  • Bitless Bridle

    Bitless Bridle

    The bitless bridle is a new form of bridle that has been around for a couple of years. It has been proven safer for the horse, and for the rider, and it provides good control of the horse and at the same time protects the horse from the entire problems associated with the bronze bit.

    The idea of the biltess bridle is that there is not bronze metal piece in the horse’s mouth in order to control it. This ensures that no pain or harm is done to the horse during the ride. This in turn makes the horse free to feel, and it make it listen more, and be willing to comply with what you need it to do. The biltess bride not only does it create a better moving horse, but it establishes a close relationship between the horse and rider, creating a relationship of trust, and love which is essential in the horse- rider relationship. The bridle also makes your horse less spooky, and willing to take

    A basic design of the bitless bridle with all the control parts

    more risks because nothing is bothering it in its mouth.

    The bitless bride ensures a pain free rein aid. The concept in controlling the horse under the bitless bridle is new and innovative, and it will ensure that he horse will comply with your demands.

    Steering: To steer your horse with the bitless bridle you simply open your hands towards the direction you would like the horse to move to. This will move the horse from the outside, and will ensure that it is not feeling any discomfort during the steering process

    Slowing and stopping: this is one of the best points of the bitless bridle, unlike the bit which causes a lot of pain to the horse especially when trying to stop it, with the bitless you simply pull slightly on both reins. This will create some pressure around the horse’s head, and it will automatically trigger the stopping and slowing action that is required from the horse.

    A prototype of the bitless bridle

    Problems solved by the bitless bridle:

    There is now a new and comforting relationship between the horse and rider

    No longer can the horse fit the bit under his tongue and ignore the rider’s actions.

    The horse will be willing to comply with the rider’s requests rather than have to abide by it.

    The rider will feel a better moving horse

    The rider will be able to take more risks and will have a much better advantage with a cooperating horse.

    Sources:

    http://www.bitlessbridle.com/cat/View+ProductsOrder.html

    http://www.bitlessbridle.com/

    http://www.nurturalhorse.com/

  • Magnetic Stirrups

    Magnetic Stirrup Blog Entry

    This form of stirrups was made for everyone from young amateur riders, to Olympic riders. The problem that this innovation came to solve was that many riders had a fear of losing their stirrups while riding especially during the competition, and this in turn can affect the rider’s performance.  The Magnetic stirrup provided an insurance that such incidents will not happen. Not only so but it helps balance the rider on his horse and this creates rhythm and makes the rider have a better feel and always be with his horse. And it give the riders confidence because the rider knows that his stirrups will not be lost, and this can give him a greater insurance and feel of safety while riding, as well as give him a better and bigger chance to take risks while in the show.

    How the stirrups work:

    The magnetic stirrups system is not sold alone. The stirrups are sold with their matching pairs of boots. Together the stirrups and the boots work and both are magnetized to provide the safety and insurance needed by the rider. The magnet is located on the stirrup in the area where the boot sits. A corresponding metal is placed on the sole of the boot so that it is automatically attracted when the rider inserts his legs into the stirrup. With precise engineering, the magnets and the metals are strong enough to ensure that your leg does not slip while riding, yet at the same time make it easy to release when it is time for you to go off your horse or in times of an accident or emergency.

    Benefits of the Magnetic stirrup:

    To provide the safety needed and comfort of fitting your foot into the stirrups while riding, but at the same time make it easy to release in case of a fall or emergency.

    Providing better control while riding and this is done by ensuring that your foot is placed properly into the stirrups, and this improves both body and leg positions, therefore enhancing the rider, and the horse’s performance.

    Provide the best contact between the horse and rider by ensuring correct leg position. This gives you the confidence needed for a good ride.

    Improving the quality of the ride for all riding ages and levels of expertise, and this is because now the rider does not have to think about his leg position, and can focus on other matters.

    Providing Stability and security for the rider while on the horse, and this is by ensuring that when the leg is properly place in the stirrups, it will not be released.

    Customization:

    The Magnetic stirrup is available for 2 different types of riding. Show jumping, and Eventing and they both have the different stirrups. And they also come in different sizes.

    There are a variety of boot sizes, and shapes that fit the Eventing and Show Jumping rider.

    There is also a magnetic piece that can be stuck on any boot so that you do not have to buy new boots when purchasing the stirrups. You can simply just add the magnetic piece. This also makes the Boot/Stirrup combinations easy to maintain because they can be easily changed later on.

    Acceptance:

    The Magnetic Stirrups has been approved by many of the national equestrian federations, including the FEI (Federation Equestrian International) and the International Olympic Committee and this is to make sure that all riders of any level can use the boots and stirrups.

    Advertising and testing

    One of the most important ways of promoting the new type of stirrups was that world famous riders personally tested them during daily training, and at shows. This method was expert appraisal because it ensured that the ideas of the expert riders were taken into account when the product was being developed.

    Most of the riders that tested the stirrups, also promoted using it, and today the National Equestrian Team of the USA uses and promotes the Magnetic Stirrup.

    Sources:

    http://www.ontyte.com/

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21FJFAueUXY

    http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_X1-07084

  • Ole Scheeran’s Mahanakhon Bangkok Tower

    The Architectural Design

    “Mahanakhon will be the most ambitious complex of contemporary architecture and design in Thailand and the tallest building in Bangkok.” – Ole Scheeran

    This  great modern architectural building, which began construction in the Fall of 2009, is said to be one of the best designs in the world. The Mahanakhon Bangkok Tower designed by German architect Ole Scheeren is planned to be the tallest construction in Bangkok, Thailand. Ole Scheeren  has unveiled plans for The Tower of Mahanakhon, a 77-story skyscraper. The building is due to be completed by 2012.
    The Architectural Design
    The complex will be 150,000 square meters (approximately 1,6 million square feet) and is a series of components that comprise the new Mahanakhon square, which will be a landscaped outdoor public plaza.  With distinctive sculptural appearance, Mahanakhon has been carefully carved to introduce a three dimensional ribbon of architectural ‘pixels’ that circle the tower’s full height, as if excavating portions of the elegant glass curtain wall to reveal the inner life of the building. The design has been created with purpose of revealing life inside the tower. On the other hand, the building has been following and taking security protocol into great consideration in order to ensure the successful construction of the project.  The building will include luxury retail and dining areas. Its glittering stacked surfaces, terraces and protrusions will simultaneously create the impression of digital pixilation and echo the irregularity of ancient mountain topography. This architectural geography is conceived to convey the energy, intensity and inclusiveness of Thai society and celebrate Bangkok’s emergence as a true global capital, fitting the Thai meaning of the name Mahanakhon, translated as ‘great metropolis’. The building plans to also feature an adjacent freestanding 7-storey building known as The Cube, which will offer multi-level indoor and outdoor terraces. This provides a network of social spaces with an extensive and carefully selected mix of dining and leisure facilities.

    A close up of the tower

    Inside Manakhanon

    The new project is intended as a novel public destination within the city. Manakhanon will include luxury retail space with lush gardens and terraces, a major transportation hub, and a five-star hotel designed by Ian Schrager. It will have multiple levels of restaurants, cafes and a 24 hour marketplace. It also plans on including  Ritz-Carlton residences. Each residence is offering the atmosphere of a sky box penthouse. The project is working in collaboration with Marriott International and renowned hotelier Ian Schrager.

    More about the Project

    “MahaNakhon will be the city’s tallest building, but more significantly it will

    accurately represent the audacity of Bangkok today – the optimism and strength ofThai culture and the value of that culture to Asia and the rest of the world.” –Sorapoj Techakraisri, CEO of PACE Development.

    Homes available at Mahanakhon will range in size from 125 square meters (1,350 square feet) to 830 square meters (8,930 square feet) with ceilings up to 3.5 meters high (approximately 11.5 feet).

    Prices for the residences range from $840,000 USD.

    The Mahanakhon Tower at Night

    Sources Listed:

    http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/7054/omaole-scheeren-mahanakhon-bangkok.html

    http://www.archdaily.com/30025/mahanakhon-ole-scheeren-oma/mahanakhon_copyright_oma_ole_scheeren_v_22/

    http://www.archicentral.com/ole-scheeren-omas-design-for-mahanakhon-unveiled-22616/

  • Water Bobble

    Australian designer, Karim Rashid, has created a revolutionary product that is not only environmentally friendly but extremely convenient.

    “We all love bottled water.In fact, we are obsessed by the convenience of it, but unfortunately, this doesn’t lead to a sustainable future.”

    He has successfully reinvented the water bottle developing the bobble, which takes tap water and filters it into clean water as you drink.

    Research shows, Australians alone spend $544 Million every year on disposable and portable water bottles. Each year, nearly 300,000 barrels of oil are used to make plastic water bottles, most of which are thrown away. Littering our pavements and ending up in landfills.

    Rashid set out to satisfy his desire for fresh, clean, portable water while minimising the considerable costs bottled water imposes on our environment and ourselves. He then invented a recyclable and resilient water bottle which holds low cost and is aesthetically pleasing. The bottle is not only sustainable but also made from recycled plastic, ensuring every aspect of its creation and existence is environmentally friendly.

    Disadvanage: Filter has to be replaced every 2 months or 150 litres.

    http://www.waterbobble.com.au/our-story.html

  • Steve Jobs

    Steve Jobs, born in San Fransisco on 1955, is well know for his original and innovative products. After attending the Cupertino Junior High School, Jobs joined Reed College, but dropped out after only one semester. He continued auditing certain classes, of which one is calligraphy. This calligraphy class soon changed his life dramatically.

    After meeting Steve Wozniak while working for HP in a summer job, Jobs  joined Atari, a manufacturer of popular video games. After acquiring some experience there, Steve Jobs, together with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne founded Apple in 1976. Having been friends with Steve Wozniak for several years now, Steve Jobs was able to convince Steve Wozniak to assemble and sell computers.

    Steve Jobs release the Macintosh in 1984, it was the first commercially successful computer with a graphic user interface (GUI). Not long after, however, an internal power struggle caused the recently hired CEO John Sculley to relieve Steve Jobs of his duties as the head of the Macintosh division.

    Around the same time, Steve Jobs founded another company, NeXT Computer. The company’s focus was to develop high-end computers, and those who could afford it developed a  strong following due to its technical strengths. Just two years later, Steve Jobs bough The Graphics Group, which is a company that is now known as Pixar.

    Several years later, in 1998, Apple bought then NeXT Computer company, bringing Steve Jobs back to the company. He soon became CEO after the board of directors lost confidence in the CEO of that time. Steve Jobs straight away terminated several projects

    such as the Newton project. He also assigned new project leaders and fired several employees. During this time employees developed a fear of encountering Steve

    Jobs while riding in the elevator “afraid that they might not have a job when the doors opened”.

    Since the return of Steve Jobs, Apple has entered several new markets, under which the portable music player market with the iPod in 2001, the phone market with the iPhone in

    2007, and recently the tablet market, with the iPad. Ever since, Steve Jobs has been considered one of the greatest innovators in modern history.

    Fun Fact: Steve Jobs officially earns one dollar a year.

    Sources:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs

    http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/06/03/24/apples_jobs_pays_295m_in_taxes_on_10m_vested_shares.html

  • Environmentally Friendly Toilets

    A Swedish company is selling dry toilets to help countries where water or sewerage systems are a concern. These toilets work by keeping the urine and the solid waste separate and using the second to create manure for farms. So far, the company has sold about 2,000 dry toilets, but the demand is growing worldwide.

    These toilets work by keeping the urine and the solid waste separate and using the second to create manure for farms. So far, the company has sold about 2,000 dry toilets, but the demand is growing worldwide. Read more…

    Here are some short excerpts from the India News article.

    ‘Don’t mix, don’t flush, don’t waste’ is the slogan of a Swedish entrepreneur selling dry toilets – a revolutionary concept that not only saves water but also converts human waste into manure.

    Sven Ingvar-Nilsson, 77, has been successfully using the dry toilet design for the last 11 years at his massive farm on the outskirts of this small Swedish town. He says that the concept not only uses human waste but also saves a lot of water that is wasted every time you flush.

    The urine section is rinsed using approximately 0.1 litres of water each use. The urine is led to a tank where it is collected for further transport, preferable for spreading as fertilizer in garden or agriculture. Solids fall into a bin housed in an insulated container in which negative pressure is created by a fan and vent.

    The solid waste dries and thus bacteria and viruses are eliminated by a simple and reliable method. After a drying period of six months the solids can be composed, burned or dug down in the soil where it is quickly broken down. A standard bin (holding 80 litres) will need to be emptied every three months for normal family use.

  • Green Building

    Green Building

    Sustainable building design

    The process:

    Green building is an environmentally responsible process that efficiently uses resources and lean production in order to minimize carbon emissions and damage towards the environment. This is a socially responsible practice that takes the effects of building into consideration. The common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by; efficiently using energy, water, and other resources, protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity and reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. Green building does not specifically address the issue of the retrofitting existing homes.

    Building’s life-cycle:

    The building life-cycle ranges from design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, to demolition. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

    Natural building:

    This is a similar concept which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally. Green architecture and sustainable design are other related topics. Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

    Green Building at CAC:

    The new elementary building at the Cairo American College (CAC) in Egypt was designed while meeting the standards of triple bottom line sustainability, “An expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational success: economic, environmental and social.” The school also uses appropriate technology and focuses on sustainable development. This is shown through sustainable building.

    Objectives for sustainable buildings:

    • resource efficiency
    • energy efficiency
    • pollution prevention (including indoor air quality and noise abatement)
    • harmonization with the environment (including environmental assessment)
    • Integrated and systemic approaches (including environmental management systems).

    Video on sustainable buildings:

    watch?v=nAMrtHC2Ev0&feature=player_embedded

    Sources:

    http://www.getloans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/sustainable-building-design.jpg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAMrtHC2Ev0&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.ruthtrumpold.id.au/designtech/pmwiki.php

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building

  • Concentrated Solar Power

    Solar power has been around for a good amount of time now.  Solar panels are effective green sources of energy, but they don’t harness much power and they are very expensive.  The average house uses around 3.85 kw a day (http://www.solarpoweristhefuture.com/how-many-solar-panels-does-it-take-to-make-one-kilowatt.shtml) and you need around 5 panels to generate this power which cost around 280 dollars each according to (http://www.dmsolar.com/solar-module-1.html).  This may not seem too expensive, but if you consider powering thousands of houses through one solar plant then the space needed and the amount of panels needed increases.  With the increased panels comes an increased cost and it just isn’t practical considering the amount of power that comes from other sources of power.  However, concentrated sun power does require space, but cuts costs because it uses mirriors instead of a vast amount of panels to direct beams of sunlight to a central sun tower.  This slashes costs and utilizes the power of the sun more efficiently.

    CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) creates power from a steam turbine usually.  The directed sunlight is converted to heat energy which allows a heat engine to spin a steam turbine.  According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentrated_solar_power) a typical concentrated solar plant can produce power at about $2.50-$4.00 per watt.  Therefore a typical plant producing around 250 megawatts costs around $600 million to $1 billion dollars to manufacture.  This for of power is a competitor for the transition from fossil fuel for multiple reasons.  One is that the power from the sun is free and unlimited if the plant is placed in strategic areas.  Another comparison that wikipedia mentions is that CSP plants can produce “12 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour” which can be compared to a nuclear plant in Arizona which produce “1.65 cents per kilowatt-hour.”  The nuclear plant still more efficiently produces power, but the solar plant can be judged as a competitor in the green power category.  With continued advancement in CSP it could be possible to make them even more efficient and less expensive, but they are still much more valuable than the typical solar plant that doesn’t concentrate the sun’s power.

    Concentrated Solar power can be the wave of the future in the power industry.  All that need to be done is that it must become cheaper and more cost effect.  CSP is starting to pave the way to this much needed improvement to allow for the complete harnessing of the suns power and true renewable energy.

    Sources:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentrated_solar_power

    http://www.dmsolar.com/solar-module-1.html

    http://www.solarpoweristhefuture.com/how-many-solar-panels-does-it-take-to-make-one-kilowatt.shtml

    Image soure: http://blog.hasslberger.com/img/concentrated-solar-power.jpg

  • Wake-up Light

    Wake up light

    Philips brought out the wake up light around 2008. This light is a new form of alarm clock.

    The light will simulate a sunrise and give the person a pleasant way of waking up, this is because of a natural reaction the user will have towards the sun rise. Nature’s alarm clock is the sun rise and in the past (before technology) people would rely solely on the sun, they go to bed once the sun sets and wake up when it rises. This lamp uses this natural reaction to wake you up very pleasantly.

    The theory behind it is that when the sun rises your body slowly prepares you to wake up by creating fewer hormones which make you sleep (adenosine and melatonin) and will be breaking down the melatonin and adenosine to wake you up again.

    The product was tested in different parts of the world especially where it is dark such as Norway during the winter. After about 6 weeks 98% of the citizens who tested the product wanted to continue. Links 4 and 5 show the results of 60 days as well as after two, four and six weeks.

    The price can range from 109€ to 129€ this is a lot of money but I believe it will make a large difference when used. There are also models where there is an iPod/ iPhone charger dock attached to the light to play your music while using the light.

    1 http://sleep.health.am/sleep/more/what-makes-you-sleep/

    2 http://blog.onlineclock.net/wake-yourself-up-with-light/

    3 http://www.wakeup.philips.com/#/gb_en/the-town/aurora_borealis

    4 http://www.wakeup.philips.com/#/gb_en/the-results

    5 http://www.wakeup.philips.com/#/gb_en/the-people