ME 313

2008-11-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

After analyzing our human factors work, we decided to focus on an interaction with the amount of energy used in homes on a daily basis. So we brainstormed and decided to build a few prototypes that allowed the user to "feel" the energy that is running through there house.

We are planing to change electricity from an invisible mystery to something the user can feel and interact with. This will put the customer back in control of there energy consumption through direct feed back.

Just put your hand down to feel the "pulse" of your home.

Here is the MDS 9000, it is an interface that allows the user to feel and control the energy consumption of the home. you can feel the"pulse" in the switch and change your consumption level by moving the lever up or down.

2008-11-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Need finding for DP-4

Andrew and I went to San Francisco and talked to a friend that owns and operates a snowboard manufacturing shop called Glisade snowboards.

He let us have a look at his solar array and talked to use about his set up.

He told use that it will take seven years for the investment to pay off, but that his power bill was 2/3 rds lower.

His favorite thing to see is the meter "running backwards"!

The company has many large machines that eat a lot of power but the Bender Brothers have made the commitment to get as much of there power from clean source as possible.

2008-11-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Dirt Stop!

Drop off your kids to play in the garden and get your shopping done in one go.

I had a great time working on this project with David and Stephanie, we all became more confident in our interviewing random strangers skill set that is for sure.

I was very impressed with the ideas the rest of the class came up with, it is fantastic to be part of such a smart, creative and hard working group!

I am looking forward to the new assignment!

2008-10-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

Coming up on DP-2 and we are hard at work.

Trying to get the ideas out of our heads and into a usable format.

This project has been a huge undertaking in the problem solving process, really putting our budding design skills to the test.

From conducting interviews of complete strangers on the street to trying to figure how to pull out the useful data from that footage this process is a real brain burner!

Here is another example of a mind burner! hehe..

2008-10-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

Working hard on the Humana project, it seems like we (Stephanie, David, John) are on a good path for something interesting. I cant wait to see what everyone has been up to!

2008-10-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a short movie showing how the structures would be delivered and packed, also a walk around of the structure in it's open form.

Start of week 4

2008-10-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here is the prototype ready for the presentation.

The folds allow the roof to be stowed while the structure is flat packed and channel rain water to a catch basin.

Final touches on the walls and roof.

Getting the prototype welded and ready for the outer skin.

2008-10-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

So we did a fast estimate and this is the height that our structure would be full size.

Working on a hing,

Hing prototype,

Layout for the 5th scale modle,

2008-10-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

The beginning of another week and more fun and excitement. Terence and I made good progress this weekend on the latest project, working through a few prototypes for the frame and surface of our structure. I have a few more photos that I will post as soon as I get back to the loft where my camera and down load cable are waiting....

I am looking forward to seeing every ones progress tomorrow!!

2008-10-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

A few photos from the class on Wednesday, Terence and I made good progress and decided on a form from our sketching.

We took the drawings and made a few prototypes from cardboard to learn the initial pitfalls of our design and get a good physical perspective.

This is an example of the covering we are thinking about, we hope to modify it slightly so rain water can be collected and used for drinking.

More to come soon and I am looking forward to finishing up the prototype and starting work on a scale model!

Week 1

2008-09-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

The first week has been very inspiring - getting to know all of my talented classmates and professors.

Learning the mind map has proved to be very useful - I used it to come up with my digital memories human interface that I called the Mood Chamber.

The first sketching class was really helpful because I learned some valuable techniques that I've already used with my prototyping this first week - for example, sketching out initial designs for my flat pack disaster relief shelter.

Here is an early prototype of my on going flat pack disaster relief shelter.

The other students' presentations on designers really opened my eyes to different types of innovation that I was not familiar with - this will broaden and develop my own creativity.

Looking forward to the coming week!!

DP-0

This is my project for DP-0.

This prototype shows an image projected in the same orientation as it was taken. The images that I showed in class were from a trip up El Capitan in Yosemite National park, I chose these images because of there intense relief.

I would love to incorporate stereo images into this idea.

The Mood Chamber

The blue glow really gets you in the mood, and standing up makes you feel like you are looking over the edge of a cliff 3800 feet to the ground.

I did not get any photos of the ElCapitan images, but this isan image of a sting ray from the Great Barrier Reef.