X2 Awareness of new and future developments
Initial skills rating *
I would be able to do little more than define the meaning of the word 'new' and the word 'future'. I have no idea where to even start looking for developments in Design and Technology.
Design Museum London
February 2012
The Design museum London has an annual exhibition showcasing the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world. Awards are given to the best designs later in the years.The seven categories are: Architecture, Digital, fashion, furniture, graphics, product and transport. The exhibition runs from February to early July.
I got quite excited about seeing this ambulance in the physical form. About three days ago my daughter had shown me this YouTube clip. It does look like a rather stunning design and with her enthusiasm for a career that she is hoping to enter she was able to point out all the pros of the new design.
The Design museum London has an annual exhibition showcasing the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world. Awards are given to the best designs later in the years.The seven categories are: Architecture, Digital, fashion, furniture, graphics, product and transport. The exhibition runs from February to early July.
I got quite excited about seeing this ambulance in the physical form. About three days ago my daughter had shown me this YouTube clip. It does look like a rather stunning design and with her enthusiasm for a career that she is hoping to enter she was able to point out all the pros of the new design.
This design offers access to both sides of the patient. The surfaces are more easily cleaned offering a more sterile environment and less chance of cross infection. All the storage is clearly labelled making everything easy to find.
NSPES (Not so expanded polystyrene)
The other favourite of mine was this table made from NSEPS. The polystyrene granules are fed into hand sewn tubes like sausage skins. I am not totally sure how the process works but it does involve steaming and curing the partially expanded partially expanded polystyrene particles.
Having taken a look online I see that steaming these stuffed sausage shapes causes the granules to expand, melt and fuse together. Not constrained by a hard mould the granules make a more organic form. I was interested to see that the table top is made from plank. The layers are built up using different colours around an initial stem very much like the rings of a tree. It is then cut into planks and worked in the same way as wood using planing and jointing methods. The design seemed very effective and quirky.
I have taken these little diagrams from the silo studio website explaining the making process.
Having taken a look online I see that steaming these stuffed sausage shapes causes the granules to expand, melt and fuse together. Not constrained by a hard mould the granules make a more organic form. I was interested to see that the table top is made from plank. The layers are built up using different colours around an initial stem very much like the rings of a tree. It is then cut into planks and worked in the same way as wood using planing and jointing methods. The design seemed very effective and quirky.
I have taken these little diagrams from the silo studio website explaining the making process.
http://silostudio.net/projects_NSEPS_process.html
9th July 2012
Skills rating ***** Dare I go a whole five stars? I think I should.
Skills rating ***** Dare I go a whole five stars? I think I should.
ED505
Having dedicated all of module ED505 to research into new and future developments in design and technology I now feel far more confident about where to find information and how to stay informed in the future.
Design and Technology covers such a broad spectrum of materials and processes which are being developed by so many bodies at such a fast rate it would be impossible to know about every development. For this reason whilst researching into new and future developments I turned my concentration onto where and how to research. Although I have found a great many places to find information in many different formats I am sure I will continue to find new sources of information in the future.
Unfortunately I recorded my research on a paper format so I am unable to provide a link here. What I would like to do is record some of the cool products I found. Some I will place here and some will be best served under specific headings of my audit. I would also like to provide links to my favourite websites that will be useful to me in the future.
Design and Technology covers such a broad spectrum of materials and processes which are being developed by so many bodies at such a fast rate it would be impossible to know about every development. For this reason whilst researching into new and future developments I turned my concentration onto where and how to research. Although I have found a great many places to find information in many different formats I am sure I will continue to find new sources of information in the future.
Unfortunately I recorded my research on a paper format so I am unable to provide a link here. What I would like to do is record some of the cool products I found. Some I will place here and some will be best served under specific headings of my audit. I would also like to provide links to my favourite websites that will be useful to me in the future.
Scientists develop cotton fabric cleaned by sunlight
The cloth is covered in a special titanium dioxide coating which breaks down dirt and kills microbes when exposed to sunlight. Apparently self cleaning cotton is nothing new but previously it required pure UV which only makes up a small part of sunlight and was slow to bring about results. Chinese Scientists, Mingce Long and Deyong Wu have added iodine, silver and nitrogen to the titanium oxide and have found that it triggers a rapid response to ordinary sunlight.
As laundering is responsible for the biggest environmental impact in the life of cotton, this technique would create a more eco friendly textile.
Now all we need is the sunlight!
Ah maybe there is something about being a parent with piles and piles of washing that makes the development of a fabric that self cleans in the sunlight so appealing. unfortunately with the amount of rain we have been having maybe it is not the fabric that is the problem but the lack of sunlight.
Self-adjustable 'Emergensee' glasses
I came across this clever design for emergency glasses in New Design magazine issue ninety four.
These glasses are being developed for the developing world where it is estimated that 150 million people in need of vision correction. They may also be included in emergency preparedness kits for distribution following humanitarian catastrophes.
The glasses are able to correct both short and long sightedness at the twist of a knob. The glasses are based on the 'Alvarez' lens technology that involves two textured lens laid over each other. by moving the lenses over each other the desired optical correction is achieved. Perhaps one of the biggest advantages I can see with this product is not just the ability to be used by more then one person (not inconceivable) but will allow the user to adjust the prescription over time. Oh I have just read you are not meant to leave the adjustment mechanism in place for aesthetic reasons. Shame I like the idea of them remaining adjustable.
These glasses are being developed for the developing world where it is estimated that 150 million people in need of vision correction. They may also be included in emergency preparedness kits for distribution following humanitarian catastrophes.
The glasses are able to correct both short and long sightedness at the twist of a knob. The glasses are based on the 'Alvarez' lens technology that involves two textured lens laid over each other. by moving the lenses over each other the desired optical correction is achieved. Perhaps one of the biggest advantages I can see with this product is not just the ability to be used by more then one person (not inconceivable) but will allow the user to adjust the prescription over time. Oh I have just read you are not meant to leave the adjustment mechanism in place for aesthetic reasons. Shame I like the idea of them remaining adjustable.
http://goo.gl/03wgR
Whilst searching for an image to accompany the above text I came across more self adjusting glasses again developed for the poor in the developing world. These are already in circulation. Once set they are not designed to be adjusted again.They use two lenses and the cavity between is filled with liquid. Maybe not the most fetching but certainly a good product.
Oh what ever will they think of next?
I have got to include this find because to me it was the most bizarre invention I found.
Captive media have developed a video game using motion sensors. Men control the video games using the direction of their urine. Oh please that is so bad it is funny. Games include a skiing challenge to mow down penguins and a multiple choice pub quiz.
The 12- inch screen is completely separate from the urinal bowl and an infra-red device translates motion into motion on the screen. So if you are male and want to have ago somewhere in South London there is a bar where you can go and join in the fun.
Captive media have developed a video game using motion sensors. Men control the video games using the direction of their urine. Oh please that is so bad it is funny. Games include a skiing challenge to mow down penguins and a multiple choice pub quiz.
The 12- inch screen is completely separate from the urinal bowl and an infra-red device translates motion into motion on the screen. So if you are male and want to have ago somewhere in South London there is a bar where you can go and join in the fun.
Dorknob.com
Dorknob.com has got to be my favourite find for new and future developments. I just loved everything I looked at on this website. There was nothing that did not fascinate, intrigue or interest me. The images are stunning and the designs are innovative. From architecture to everything you would find in a home. The gallery is updated every month but you can access the previous seven months as well.
From folding concrete bricks to Alcantara wall paper. ( Alcantara will hold small products made from the same material using friction.) From net zero properties to bespoke goldfish bowls. All the products were new although sometimes they needed further development to be truly useful. Definitely a good website to act as a jumping point for inspiration into areas for further research. For example my knowledge of net zero properties was non existent before seeing the Canon Beach House. This led me to investigate just what was meant by 'net zero' and go in search of more information and details about the technologies that would be included.
From folding concrete bricks to Alcantara wall paper. ( Alcantara will hold small products made from the same material using friction.) From net zero properties to bespoke goldfish bowls. All the products were new although sometimes they needed further development to be truly useful. Definitely a good website to act as a jumping point for inspiration into areas for further research. For example my knowledge of net zero properties was non existent before seeing the Canon Beach House. This led me to investigate just what was meant by 'net zero' and go in search of more information and details about the technologies that would be included.
International design excellence awards
Sadly I do not know how to put a hyper link onto Weebly or even if that is possible but if I could I would add in idsa.com. This is yet another source for finding new and future developments. Not one I considered during my research for ED505. With awards given in twenty two categories this website is a wonderful source for new designs from well know companies like Wacom trough to industrial design students.
What next?
I would of course love to know about more and more really cool products. I think they are what makes Design and Technology such a fantastic subject to be involved with. I will continue to follow Deans posts on Twitter of course, search the internet and research journals. Most importantly I have learned to open my eyes and ears a little more to everything that is going on around me. No longer will I shut my ears to the latest digital product but instead will be keenly awaiting the next development. I may not be drawn into buying the latest trends but I will at least know what all buzz is about.
New Design magazine
July 2012
I finally did it! I actually managed to take out a subscription to New Design magazine published bimonthly. It would appear that it is still in publication and today the website actually worked and my subscription was processed. I really do seem to have an unfair share of mishaps with technology. I admit a lot of it is down to my inexperience but quite a lot goes unexplained. None the less I can now sit back and wait for my first copy of New Design Magazine to arrive. I know the internet is great but there is nothing quite like paper.
I will now have up to date information on coming exhibitions and shows as well as links to current developments and designers. I am really looking forward to receiving my first copy.
I will now have up to date information on coming exhibitions and shows as well as links to current developments and designers. I am really looking forward to receiving my first copy.