Reflection - Prototype

1. What are the difficulties that you have encountered during the process?

I found that there were some things that I did not consider, like how the cup holder needed a space for the handle if it was too tall. This was something i had never thought of. I am glad that i had to build a prototype, if not i would never have encountered this problem, and would never have tried to solve it.

2. How do you overcome the difficulties encountered?

I cut a slit in the cup holder, so that the handle will have space.

3. What are the 2 key takeaways for this lesson?

I learnt that effective ways to test out my prototype/model.

I learnt the difference between quantitative and qualitative.

Ergonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)

(i) The product comes in several colours – red, blue and white. It has two holes to allow the user to place two of their fingers in it, so that it is easier to hold. The holes are quite big, so people with bigger fingers can also use it. It has grooves, so that it can perform its function, that is to remove the scales of the fish.

(ii) The design consideration for this product is that it has to be:

- easy to use

- convenient and simple

Also, the designer needs to know who uses this product.

(iii) The elderly would probably not have difficulty using the product, except for the fact that it is small and the elderly may not be able to find it. Other than that, the product itself is quite easy to use, and is not as dangerous as using a knife to remove the fish scales. It is made out of plastic, so is naturally more durable, and will not break easily, if the elderly drops it.

(iv) Ways to improve the product:

- It could have a hook so that it can hang onto the wall, so that it can be in plain sight and the user would not need to waste time finding it.

Ergonomics 2

Ergonomics is the study of work environment

the 5 aspects are : safety, comfort, productivity, ease of use, aesthetics.

safety: tiles that are not too slippery for the bathroom, those that are more rough, so that it is hard to slip and fall

comfort: a cushion built into a chair, so that the elderly do not have to sit on hard chairs. this gives them more comfort.

productivity: cupboards could be at a medium height, not too high or too low, so the elderly do not need to struggle so much trying to get things

ease of use: dustbins should not have too complicated a design, as the elderly may not be used to it.

aesthetics: larger prints on lift buttons so that it can be seen easily.

Ergonomics

What is ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the study or work.

1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.

Workplace 1 is the one that is slightly messier and the man working in that workplace has difficulty in doing his work. Workplace 2 is the one that is more comfortable, and the man has no problem doing his work. The desk there is also very neat.

• Comfort and simplicity

The man in workplace 1 is uncomfortable in the chair, and adjusts the height of the chair.

The man in workplace 2 is quite comfortable, and the chair allows movement and the man sitting in it can lean back, so that there is enough comfort for him to do his work effectively.

• Incorrect height and depth

The man in workplace 1 is squinting, and having trouble seeing what the monitor screen is displaying. He wears glasses, as well as uses a magnifying glass. The monitor is too far away.

The man in workplace 2 has a very good monitor arm, which brings the monitor towards him, and so it is not too far away and he can see the screen properly without any visual aid.

• Task lighting

The man in workplace 1 is struggling with the light, and he finds the light in his workplace very glaring, and he cannot do his work properly as the light is too bright and it is probably distracting as well.

The man in workplace 2 has a soft glow for light, which can be moved around so that he does not need to take a lot of time to adjust it. It is not too glaring, so he does not need to resort to using sunglasses or goggles like the man in workplace 1.

• Freedom of movement

The man in workplace 1 has difficulty moving around in his chair, as well as that the armrest is too high, and it breaks easily.

The man in workplace 2 movable armrests, so that it can be lowered. Same as before, he is able to have comfort because of the part of the chair which allows him to lean back and feel like he is lying down.

• Prolonged laptop use

The man in workplace 1 is wasting a lot of time shifting his laptop around, from the table to his lap, and he even places his legs on the desk. The long periods of time he uses his laptop is making him more uncomfortable than usual.

The man in workplace 2, however, has a laptop holder, which makes the laptop seem like an ordinary monitor screen. It is also adjustable. He is not as uncomfortable as the man in workplace 1.

• Usable desk space

The man in workplace 1 has a very messy desk, and has a hard time finding his things. Also, by retrieving what he wants, he messes up the table more. He had also spilled his coffee, as there was no space to place his mug, and when he moved his arm, he accidentally knocked the mug over.

The man in workplace 2, however, is much much more organised and neat, with all the retractable machines, for the monitor screen, and light. He has only very few pens, and his desk is close to empty. He is able to do his work without disturbance or trouble.

2. Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.

The second workplace is preferred. There are a lot of advanced technology, to make sure that maximum comfort is available. It also allows you to work more efficiently, as you are not distracted easily with all that clutter around on the desk.

3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?

The considerations that should be taken into account is the comfort or ease of use of the workspace and things provided, such as the things mentioned in Part 1. There should have ease of access to all the different parts of the desk, so that the person working in the workplace need not feel too uncomfortable or would not need to get up and move around, just to get something at the other end of the table.

4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?

It is important as this way, the design would be better than if you do it without ergonomics. Also, it would help the people to realise what kind of problems occur. This is because even though the design looks fine and alright, the truth is that the design is not a good design, and makes the user uncomfortable or does not fulfil its use properly, or well.

elderly observation 4

another problem of the elderly is that they have eyesight problems, and cannot see that well.

there are some eyesight problems that occur due to time. this is why mostly the elderly get them, as they have lived for a long time.

there are usually cures for these types of problems, like vision aids, such as spectacles, or surgeries. it is also possible to get vision therapy. however, the surgeries and therapy may be expensive, and some people may not be willing to go for surgeries. some of these eyesight problems occur and are not treated, so the elderly's eyesight becomes worse and can even result in blindness. i think that the government should subsidise the treatments, so that at least it is not too expensive to go for. this way, there is one less problem to overcome. perhaps the companies in charge of this can try to make it cheaper as well.

as for the other problem, perhaps the family can help by persuading the elderly. other more preferable methods for treating more minor eyesight problems are spectacles or contact lenses. it think it would be better for the elderly to have spectacles instead of contact lenses, as if the contact lens drop on the floor, it may be troublesome to find it, especially if the elderly's eyesight is not good. it is also possible that the contact lens may break if stepped on by someone.

elderly observation 3

another problem the elderly face is that they have a loss of memory.

sometimes, family members get very frustrated, as the elderly in the family keep asking the same questions, as they do not remember asking, or they do not remember the answer to the question. i think that the family members should understand that the elderly have this problem, and not make them upset. the family should be patient with the elderly, and help them to remember by reminding them, perhaps about appointments or friend meetings.

in my grandmother's house, there is a whiteboard which is very visible, and she writes her appointments or anything she might forget onto the whiteboard, so that she can remember. i think this is a good way to solve the problem as well.

i think we should not hurt the elderly's feelings by looking upset or frustrated at them when they forget certain things. they may feel bad about making you upset when they ask you the question over and over again. my grandfather sometimes forgets things, but my mother is very patient and reminds him about things.

elderly observation 2

another problem the elderly have is that they may feel lonely, as some families do not have time to take care of the elderly at home, as they have to work. the elderly may then feel lonely and bored, as they have to be at home all the time. i observe some elderly always around the void deck of some HDB flats, and they sit there all day.

perhaps a way to solve the problem is to have someone around in the house, or maybe have a friendly mahjong game with their friends, like my grandmother usually does. there are usually senior citizens' corner, and that helps as well. my grandmother does handicraft, and her works are usually very beautiful. i think that elderly should have hobbies too, so that they can pass time. i think their families should also try to communicate with the elderly at home, so that the elderly know that their families care about them.

families can celebrate occasions like birthdays and new year with the elderly and give them money to spend, like what my father does. We celebrated my grandmother's birthday last year, and had a long chat, as well as a good laugh.

elderly observation 1

there are many problems the elderly face, and are easy to take note of. however, many people do not do anything about it, as they do not think it concerns them.

i noticed that the elderly have difficulty walking, but i did not interview them on it. some elderly, like my grandmother, use walking sticks. i talked to my grandmother once about it, and she said that it was because her knee joints were not strong, so she has to use a walking stick. it is adapted to have a comfortable grip, and a torchlight, as well, if she is walking where it is not well lit, so that she can see where she is walking and there is lesser chance of falling. there is a wide variety of walking sticks, to help the elderly with their different needs.

sometimes i see some elderly having a maid to push their wheelchairs. i think that it is a good point, as the family actually cares about them and even if they are at work, they still hire a maid to take care of the elderly. the elderly have weak muscle joints, and have difficulty in walking, so there should be someone around the house, perhaps a maid, to allow the elderly to rest. sometimes the elderly cook their meals, and have to stand for long periods of time. if there is a maid around the house, she can cook the meals while the elderly rests.

Holiday work - Part 1: Understanding the ‘The Elderly Challenge’

four key recommendations

- housing for seniors

there should be different houses for the elderly, specially made so that they can live more comfortably as their needs are met.

- accessibility for seniors

the environment and transport systems should be elder-friendly, so that they can lead better lives

- caring for seniors

healthcare services should be affordable for the elderly, who do not have jobs, and they should also cater to elderly with special needs, so that they can have a good standard of living.

- opportunities for seniors

the seniors should have opportunities, just like everyone else. this can ensure that they have a active lifestyle, and have friends to chat to when they have nothing to do.

ONE way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly:

a bar to support the elderly in the bathroom, so they do not fall down.

State TWO ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable:

- the children of the elderly can stay with them, or at least give them some money to spend.

- there can also be some assistance from the government

After reading the CAI report, what do you are the THREE things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges?

- Some of the elderly i see around the place seem quite lonely. maybe we can sit down with them and have a chat.

- can come up with a group, and raise some funds for the elderly

- i can just be kind to the elderly, not making them feel bad or useless

Personal Reflection NEWater visit

3 takeaways are:

• what are the 4 national taps
• NEWater is made by going through 3 stages
• learn how to conserve water

2 concepts:

• I learnt about things like ultrafiltration, reverse-osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection
• i learnt how dirty water is treated to become NEWater

1 interesting thing:

• going to NEWater plant is free

4)What are the things that you can do to help with water conservation in Singapore?

• We could reuse water, like using the water to wash rice to water the plants
• We could reduce the usage of water like taking a shower instead of using the bathtub, or not leaving the tap on while brushing your teeth

reflection

i think that the environment is important to us and we are important to it as well. everyone plays a part in sustaining the environment, and so we should try out best to protect it.

Designs must not be confusing and/or contradicting. it must also be able to attract people to buy it.

i learnt that even though we have come out with an idea, it may be difficult to implement and we must consider all the facts. It also has to be practical.

photography (people)

boy taking pictures

students taking pictures, excited

girl posing in front of the camera, having fun

Photography

1) Different types of photography

1. Advertising Photography
2. Aerial Photography
3. Architectural Photography
4. Astronomical Photography
5. Digital Photography
6. Black and White photography
7. Infrared Photography
8. Macro Photography
9. Underwater Photography
10. Portrait Photography source:http://www.shotaddict.com/wordpress/2006/10/18/1382.html

2) Equipments

• Cameras
• Tripods
• Lenses
• Props & Backgrounds
• Camera Bags
• Lighting Props

Source: http://photography.about.com/od/photographyequipment/a/basicequipment.htm

3) Aperture

• Aperture is the lens diaphragm opening inside a photographic lens. This regulates the amount of light that passes through onto the film inside the camera the moment when the shutter curtain in camera opens during an exposure process. There are little numbers engraved on the lens barrel like f22 (f/22),16 (f/16), f/11, f/8.0, f/5.6, f/4.0, f/2.8, f/2.0, f/1.8 etc. Each of this value represents one time the amount of light either more or less in quantity. source:http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/apershutter/aperture.htm

4) Focus

• It is important to capture the eyes of the subject, or the centre of an image. There are many ways to focus your camera.

5) Shutter Speed

• Shutter Speed is almost the same as aperture. Shutter speed controls the amount of time that your film, or digital sensor, is exposed to light. The shutter determines what image is captured. The shutter speed determines how long the shutter remains open. source: http://photography.about.com/od/camerabasics/ss/ShutterSpeed.htm

6) ISO speed

• ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. ISO is a standard for measuring light sensitivity. The higher the ISO speed, the more sensitive the sensor is to light. source: http://www.homephotog.com/tutorials/ISO-speed.shtml

7) Metering

• Metering is how the camera decides how much light is let in to use. There are three types of metering modes-spot, centre-weighted and multi-patterned.

source: www.ephotozine.com/article/What-is-metering-12427

8) White Balance

• White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic colour casts, so that objects which appear white will appear white in your photo. Also, as certain places have different light conditions, we have to adjust the white balance to get accurate colours. Source: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm

9) Composition Rules

• Pattern --- There are patterns all around us if we only learn to see them. Emphasizing and highlighting these patterns can lead to striking shots – as can high lighting when patterns are broken.
• Symmetry --- Depending upon the scene – symmetry can be something to go for – or to avoid completely. A symmetrical shot can lead to a striking image – but without a strong point of interest it can be a little predictable.
• Texture --- Texture comes into play when light hits objects at interesting angles. two dimensional drawings can come alive and become almost three dimensional.
  
• Depth of Field --- The depth of field drastically impacts the composition of an image. It can isolate a subject from its background and foreground or it can put the same subject in context by revealing it’s surrounds with a larger depth of field.
• Lines --- Lines can be powerful elements in an image. They have the power to draw the eye to key points in a shot and it impacts an image greatly.

source: http://digital-photography-school.com/5-elements-of-composition-in-photography

10) Techniques

• Have good lighting
• When you use the camera in 'no-flash mode' put in on a tripod to avoid the camera moving when you take a shot which may result in blurring of the photo you took.
• Find the perfect balance of light which you can do by experimenting with different angles.

Difference between Perspective, Isometric, Oblique and Orthographic Drawing

perspective drawing is to project world like in real life, for example, if you are standing closer to a house, it is bigger, but if you stand far away, it will seem smaller and the things closer to you will seem bigger.

isometric drawing is to draw something that is 3-Dimensional such as cubes of blocks. It is not the same as perspective as for perspective it will seem smaller the further away it is unlike the isometrical drawings which is a bit mathematical.

Oblique drawing can produce 2-Dimensional images of 3-Dimensional objects. It projects an image by intersecting parallel rays, for a tunnel.

Orthographic drawing is a drawing which has a view of only one side of an object, either top, side, front or back.

sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblique_projection

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

http://www.artic.edu/aic/education/sciarttech/2d1.html

Definition of theme- Environment

Environment is the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions or influences -from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/environment

this means that our surrounding is our environment as well as the people around us which influences us. and the conditions of the surrounding which is like the temperature.

Environment is the circumstances or conditions that surround one-

from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/environment

the circumstances around us is like what is happening around us, for example the sound and movements of the surrounding areas around us

Environment is the what affects us, what is happening around us, the people around us and the conditions of the surrounding.

ADMT Lesson 1: Personal Reflection

ADMT, art, design, media and technology. i feel that art is to make it have a good appearance so that it can attract customers, as we would not buy products that don't look good. Design is to make sure it works as if it looks very nice, but there isn't any on switch, we wouldn't be able to operate it. media helps with communication and can advertise the product. Technology brings everything together.

i think that an ADMT student should be innovative, observant and attentive.

my aspiration is to think up ideas that are reasonable and have a good function like helping elderly people move about more easily.

to achieve my aspiration, i must try my best and understand what it feels like in the user's shoes.

i sketched my picture as i think there shouldnt be any life at all, as without design we can't really make anything and we would not survive. so there is just nature.