minphf's design site

Steve Jobs 1955-2011 – belated eulogy on life design

2012-01-04T02:09:00.000-08:00

He was more than able to design his products and services. We all know his power to transform the world in the way we live and the way we interact with one another in life. But he failed to design his own life. This video, which I got it via Majid on facebook, was to me a reminder of how we should live our lives.

The world is what and how you view and make it. Steve Jobs is a solid lesson for us. At the same time, his life told us to stay put and spare time for our loved ones because it doesn't pay to put 110% in your career all the time. To me, he paid his life like 1100% on his career that was ultimately took his life away. He is a legend. We admire for his dedication for the Mac, iPads, iPhones, iPods and his staunch determination to be the forefront of technology. But he could have spared some bit more time for his wife, his kids and simply for himself.

To me, that's tragedy, though it didn't come in as any kind of surprise for the way he worked was going to shorten his life.

When I read the news on twitter last October, I was shocked though I was somewhat expecting his death due to the way he devoted his life at work. It was a very sad moment for a genius had gone. Surely his sense for words for his rivals are very different from his tone for the masses. I guess that is the way to survive in the real world, for that I don't exactly seem to fully understand why we should be at loggerheads so many times.

Then again, this wasn't the ordinary person by any means. He is a lengendary innovator, someone who had put his soul into his work and had risen from a disadvantaged class to the top. My first encounter with Apple was not a pleasant
one. As a Singaporean, I would have first defend a local product before a foreign one. But he made me stand up straight before his products that shine through nothing short of exemplary.

My first purchase was a 3rd Generation iPod touch. I had bought it because I found my PDA was not working properly and I wanted something that had a touch screen. I lost it after about 2 years' of use. At that point of time, I realised how much my iPod touch has twinned into my life. The schedules and notes I've made and the little ditty stuff that I put into my iPod. It was literary my life twinned into it. I was upset. I do not agree that much with the battery life as being a green technology as it is way too short-lived especially for the iPhone. But I do agree with the material use and all. The software architecture is brilliant and so is the concept of apps in his definition. I think what really hit me hard was that I see him as a hard fighter. I do not think that being born to an unwed couple and then raised by adopted parents was a pleasant process. The growing pains and struggle must have been there at some point. To start an enterprise and to have left it due to business politics is another. Certainly with his tough determination, he returned and knocked all the walls down to build what Apple is today. I have also noted the kind of people he hires, of whom many have modest upbringing but are outstanding in their own merit. Innovativeness can only come from minds that are big and receptive, and tougher than all the obstacles in the universe that is out there; with the keen eye for detail and an industrious mind that works for as long as your breath takes you.

Steve Jobs has done it to his last breath. That is the kind of character that I admire. I think perhaps in the business world, you've got to be aggressive because you've got an array of different people out there to handle and get things done. However, as far as innovation goes, this guy has huge lessons we all need taking in: 'You need to learn how to fight and to suffer. Together with your wits, humour and determintation; and a creative gift of wonder before you can shine'. I salute Steve Jobs for all that ---- A legendary Innovator, A Voice for Change.

May he rest in peace and that his legend continues. --- Karen Fu

Happy Elephant.

2011-12-21T23:58:00.000-08:00

Done this during lunch for fun. It was so fun I wasn't exactly having my lunch that much. Probably the idea of Order Within Chaos has been sitting in my mind where societal change has gone into different aspects of chaos in human relationships with nature and other living beings. There is no immediate solution to all those because people and surroundings are getting more complicated that we need to seek order within chaos. Sustainable answers need to be found in the process of the mess that has been piled overtime. I add in vibrant colours for hope and vitality for promise. I don't think we have to be pessimistic about the future if we choose to. I have seen the elephants standing along Orchard and thought I would like to have a go. Then someone said there is still one template I could use. I did see the Facebook Fan page but didn't think I had any time. When I finally did just today, I'd thought I had fun anyway. I see if I can do another few when I get my chores done. Merry Christmas and have a tidy plan and ride off the chaos! Best. Karen Fu.

Eco-Brolly

2011-05-04T01:01:00.001-07:00

[original picture source: shiuyukyuen.com ]

I like the compactness of the umbrella and the cleverness of its structure. It would be great for an umbrella with an option for different choices of canopies but not one that is without one. I don't think anyone would have a ready piece of plastic or a newspaper. And if they had one, they wouldn't need a structure to hold it anyway!
Cool product nonetheless!

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Video: Self-Healing Polymer Fixes Itself Under Ultraviolet Light | Popular Science

2011-04-21T10:23:00.001-07:00

By Clay Dillow Posted 04.20.2011 at 1:07 pm

Self-Healing Materials Materials like self-healing paint and self-healing polymers could soon make a range of goods more resilient, and in some cases safer. Jeffrey Simms Photography via Flickr

Self-healing materials are a thing of the future, but certainly not a distant future. For instance, NASA plans to wrap airliners in a self-healing skin within the next 20 years, and things like flexible, self-healing concrete have already been demonstrated, albeit only in the lab. Now researchers at Case Western Reserve University, along with partners in the U.S. and Switzerland, have demonstrated self-healing polymers that rejuvenate themselves after just a minute under UV light.

The key was finding polymers that are really small that can be coaxed into pretending like they’re really big through molecular interactions. Assembled under a mechanism known as supramolecular assembly, these self-healing polymers are composed of small molecules assembled into long, polymer-like chains using metal ions as a kind of “molecular glue” (normal polymers consist of very long chain-like molecules composed of thousands of atoms held together by stronger molecular bonds).

Tags
Science, Clay Dillow, materials science, modern materials, polymer chains, polymers, self-healing, Video
Held together by the metal ion glue, the new polymers--dubbed "metallo-supramolecular polymers”--behave in many ways just like normal polymers. But under intense ultraviolet light that molecular glue comes undone, allowing the material to flow like a liquid and fill in a scratch or tear. Remove the UV source, and the polymer glue sets again, re-chaining the polymer and creating a solid coating once again.
Initial tests showed that the researchers could scratch a polymer coated surface in the same place again and again, and it would repeatedly “heal” in the presence of UV light, leaving behind no evidence of the damage. See for yourself below.

[Eurekalert]

via popsci.com

Wish my scrapped knee skin could heal that fast.Such technologies could be used in building contruction too. The applications are many and it encourages green living, though am not too sure if commercial auto industries would actually like the idea. For now, I certainly hope medical science could come up with a similar cream that heals scrapped skin due to sports...

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Eco Business Park, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City, China

2011-04-20T10:50:00.001-07:00

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Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co., Ltd (SSTEC) will be developing the first eco-business park of its kind in China, in Tianjin Eco-City’s Start-Up Area.

The Tianjin Eco-City is a landmark bilateral project between China and Singapore, located in the Binhai New Area, the focal point for the acceleration of growth in the Bohai Rim, China’s powerhouse for business, science, technology and culture in the 21st century.

With its strategic location, the Tianjin Eco-City is poised to realize its vision to be a centre of excellence for eco-activities and businesses that will involve companies that provide services in green financing, energy efficiency consultancy and eco-solutions.

Tianjin Eco-City, will also be an oasis of quality eco-homes and a prestigious address for high-value added services such as education, healthcare and urban solutions.

The Eco-Business Park, will occupy approximately 30 hectares of land and is expected to be the base for global eco-businesses in Tianjin and serve Northern China’s growing need for clean technologies and sustainable urban solutions.

SSTEC expects the business park to create over 15,000 white collar jobs which will attracts new residents and generate more economic spin-offs.

via s-archetype.blogspot.com

TianJin Eco city marks a new era in the way which people will live. Am looking forward to more interesting concepts while I get the feeling that most of it are based on an mainly 'expansive' ideas. Regardless, what I really like is that they utilise solar and wind energies and pay emphasis on harmonious living. Will have to see the final output when the entire project is totally completed by 2020. The first phase will be completed in 2 years time occupying 3 sq km. The whole project occupies 30 sq km and will house some 350 000 inhabitants.

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Samsung's Smart TV - changing the face of social media

2011-04-20T10:47:00.001-07:00

When I saw this in person, the immediate reaction was that social media is empowering individuals to support their own broadcasts into the living rooms of the masses. This is a very powerful leverage. With virtual platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and the likes entering the living rooms of households, the power of broadcasting channels will not be strictly confined to just professional broadcasters. Cottage industries may sprung up as a result. The face of media broadcasting will change to a more diversified environment. While this promotes better transparency in the news media, there is a real risk that such technology may be abused.

Regardless, the Samsung SmartTV will definitely blur the boundary between traditionalTV broadcasting & home-made programmes.Social media will get into homes big. The changed user interface allows multi-way communication and sharing of data, ideas and thoughts will promote active participation on a far larger scale. It widens coverage and greatly lowers various costs across the board.

However there are two main downpoints:

1.Due to the lack of memory, no downloading of content from browser is allowed.So your computer is still useful at this point.

2.One cannot chat while using the social TV feature, but you are allowed to use GoogleChat for talking. while watching the TV.

Fortunately, the dual view mode that allows one to watch channels while doing social media. It's social TV allows the user to communicate wth friends and family without having to look for their computers.This is especially convenient as many people have developed the habit of watching TV while multitasking on their mobiles. Great tool to multitask especially during commercial breaks. The 3D function will also bring ideas and conversations alive. Price point at this juncture is still high. But rest assured that it will be lowered in the near future like most electronics do.

Great product!

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Singapore budget - Design pamplet form.

2011-04-14T12:41:00.001-07:00

Find this year's Singapore Budget bears a unique presentation.There seems to be an overall design emphasis. Am wondering who did the infographics. But I'll let the pictures do the talking.

[A] Front Page

Grow and share. A nice front page from the Ministty of Finance.

[B] the map of the budget

Opening up the pamplet, the bright infographics clearly illustrates the various benefits that different income groups would receive. The poorer ones get to paid out more. But I feel that this is only a temporary solution. What could be far more permanent is the supply of good jobs.

[C[ Other benefits

The back of the folded pamplet highlights the other benefits -- ranging from providing for the elderly to needy and onwards to enhancing skills and professional upgrading. Mostly targetting towards the lower income group which is most effected by the global economic downturn.

[D] Lower income group

Find this a little hard to swallow when you know how much a typical 3 room flat costs these days: anywhere around US$ 250,000 and up. With a monthly family income of only about US$1500, the government aims at slashing thier tax contribution and adding in training subsidies.

[E] The middle class...

A tyical middle class family is illustrated as having a US$4500 per month income, with financial assistence for education.Wondering where is the upper class but I doubt they need any help at all

[Enlarge details of the budget map]

enjoy the singapore budget 2011...looks like change has come.. Combating global inflation isn't going to stop here. I expect bubble burst in the property sector, with a new round of economic woes unless we make some proper leeway. Cheers for now. - Karen Fu

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Dreaming Design Thinking via Bruce Nussbaum's 'Design Thinking Is A Failed Experiment' (Part 1)

2011-04-10T11:38:00.001-07:00

Was following Bruce Nussbaum's Design Thinking Is A Failed Experiment.
And the first thing that came to my mind was that it is jingle. A lot appears to be in the grey. His book is going to be out next year and I have the feeling he wants to get some feedback.
Personally a great many questions come to my mind:
Can we actually learn to be creative by following certain behaviours? Yes. But can we imitate them? NO. Why? Because I think creativity involves originality. If you imitate behaviours, you may get a display of 'ideas' but you'll miss the essence.
Design thinking is linked to creativity. As in any good thought processes, creativity is part of the quotient. We may try to measure them but in reality part of it is intrinsic and abstract. We cannot measure a person's creativity as in the form of a formula. In my opinion, it doesn't work. A creative person is so because it is his/her habit to observe in a curious, inspired, positive and inquisitive way -- in a way that is intelligent, astute, wise and even playful. Always acquiring knowledge in an apt and diversified, non dogmatic and open mind. So is design thinking a failed experiment? I doubt it. It can be if only it is used in a silly way which any form of thinking would end up to be anyway.
Nussbaum appears to try to audit creativity. But measuring it makes it resembles that of another form of test. And tests do not exactly measure one's ability due to a set form of criterias. It may serve as a guide but the guide can never be really wise to use as an absolute measure. It sounds like an subjective ranking system which I feel could be demeaning.
Design thinking is often seen as a failure perhaps of the quality of the research. Design methods do not solve big problems because of the nature of knowledge used. People in hard core sciences often see design methodologies and solutions in an inferior way as it solves 'soft problems'. Problems that seem to look 'less intelligent' and even 'cheap'. Its a brand image that the design profession needs to smartly change.All problems could be big or small. There is nothing wrong or less intelligent to solve 'small problems', but I often feel the image of the design profession is always short of being 'intellectual' somewhat.
Personally, I see true creativity when someone is able to structure their thoughts and mould it according to different scenarios of problems very aptly and efficiently. They invent systems. The most creative is able to make do with what is given and set forth. Such a person can not only solve aesthetic issues in the arts form, but can also solve a large variety of other problems in other fields like economics, social, and even life problems. I never see creativity in solely in its art or arts form. Its not a complete perspective of what creative means. It cheapens it. Design is about everything under the sky and beyond. If we need to tackle a problem, we need to know in an all rounded way. If we need to become effective problem solvers, and earn credibility; we must show our intelligence in holding substance in able to answer problems in many areas.
Can't type anymore. Unknowingly its already 2:27am !! Will stop here for now. - Karen Fu

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Design Thinking Is A Failed Experiment. So What's Next? | Co.Design

2011-04-10T10:26:00.001-07:00

Bruce Nussbaum, one of Design Thinking's biggest advocates, is moving on to something new. Here, he begins defining "Creative Quotient."

The decade of Design Thinking is ending and I, for one, am moving on to another conceptual framework: Creative Intelligence, or CQ. I am writing a book about Creative Intelligence, due out from HarperCollins in fall 2012, and I hope to have a conversation with the Fast Company audience on this blog about how we should teach, measure, and use CQ.

Why am I, who at Business Week was one of Design Thinking’s major advocates, moving on to a new conceptual framework? Simple. Design Thinking has given the design profession and society at large all the benefits it has to offer and is beginning to ossify and actually do harm. Helen Walters, my wonderful colleague at Business Week, lays out many of the pros and cons of Design Thinking in her post on her blog.

Design consultancies hoped that a process trick would produce change.

I would add that the construction and framing of Design Thinking itself has become a key issue. Design Thinking originally offered the world of big business--which is defined by a culture of process efficiency--a whole new process that promised to deliver creativity. By packaging creativity within a process format, designers were able to expand their engagement, impact, and sales inside the corporate world. Companies were comfortable and welcoming to Design Thinking because it was packaged as a process.

There were many successes, but far too many more failures in this endeavor. Why? Companies absorbed the process of Design Thinking all to well, turning it into a linear, gated, by-the-book methodology that delivered, at best, incremental change and innovation. Call it N+1 innovation.

CEOs in particular, took to the process side of Design Thinking, implementing it like Six Sigma and other efficiency-based processes. I had a conversation with IDEO’s Tim Brown at Parsons recently and his analysis is spot on:

Design consultancies that promoted Design Thinking were, in effect, hoping that a process trick would produce significant cultural and organizational change. From the beginning, the process of Design Thinking was a scaffolding for the real deliverable: creativity. But in order to appeal to the business culture of process, it was denuded of the mess, the conflict, failure, emotions, and looping circularity that is part and parcel of the creative process. In a few companies, CEOs and managers accepted that mess along with the process and real innovation took place. In most others, it did not. As practitioners of design thinking in consultancies now acknowledge, the success rate for the process was low, very low.

The success rate for design thinking processes was very low.

Yet, the contributions of Design Thinking to the field of design and to society at large are immense. By formalizing the tacit values and behaviors of design, Design Thinking was able to move designers and the power of design from a focus on artifact and aesthetics within a narrow consumerist marketplace to the much wider social space of systems and society. We face huge forces of disruption, the rise and fall of generations, the spread of social media technologies, the urbanization of the planet, the rise and fall of nations, global warming, and overpopulation. Together these forces are eroding our economic, social, and political systems in a once-in-a-century kind of way. Design Thinking made design system-conscious at a key moment in time.

I don’t think the rise of Humanistic Design would have been possible without Design Thinking. And for all my concerns about it, Humanistic Design is a huge advance in the field and the great work done by the Acumen Fund, Project H, Parsons' students at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Stanford's K-12 initiative, Ideo at the Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente would not have occurred without the advent of Design Thinking. The new programs in Social Innovation at Parsons, School of Visual Arts, Stanford, Columbia, and elsewhere would never have been developed.

But it was creativity that Design Thinking was originally supposed to deliver and it is to creativity that I now turn directly and purposefully. Creativity is an old concept, far older than “design.” But it is an inclusive concept. In my experience, when you say the word “design” to people across a table, they tend to smile politely and think “fashion." Say “design thinking,” and they stop smiling and tend to lean away from you. But say “creativity” and people light up and lean in toward you.

Everyone likes creativity because everyone believes they are, or were, or can be creative. And they are right. The truth is that the best scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, soldiers, CEOs, sports coaches, hockey players, and World of Warcraft players are all creative. That scaffolding of Design Thinking, that collection of behaviors is the heart and sole of creativity. It includes being attuned to the people and culture you are immersed in and having the experience, wisdom, and knowledge to frame the real problem and--most important of all perhaps--the ability to create and enact solutions.

Design Thinking broke design out of its specialized, narrow, and limited base and connected it to more important issues and a wider universe of profit and non-profit organizations. I believe the concept of Creative Intelligence expands that social engagement even further.

Everyone believes they are, or can be, creative. And they are right.

So what is Creative Intelligence, or CQ? Let me start by saying it is a concept in formation and I hope our conversation over the next months will give it a true, deep meaning. Above all, CQ is about abilities. I can call them literacies or fluencies. If you walk into one of Katie Salen's Quest to Learn classes or a business strategy class at the Rotman School of Management, you can see people being taught behaviors that raise their CQ. You can see it in the military, corporations, and sports teams. It is about more than thinking, it is about learning by doing and learning how to do the new in an uncertain, ambiguous, complex space--our lives today.

At this point, I am defining Creative Intelligence as the ability to frame problems in new ways and to make original solutions. You can have a low or high ability to frame and solve problems, but these two capacities are key and they can be learned. I place CQ within the intellectual space of gaming, scenario planning, systems thinking and, of course, design thinking. It is a sociological approach in which creativity emerges from group activity, not a psychological approach of development stages and individual genius.

Let me end by telling you my dream: It’s 2020 and my godchild Zoe is applying to Stanford, Cambridge, and Tsinghua universities. The admissions offices in each of these top schools asks for proof of literacies in math, literature, and creativity. They check her SAT scores, her essays, her IQ, and her CQ.

Now, please join me in a conversation about Creative Intelligence. Where should we go with it? How should we shape and measure it? What kind of stories do you have to illustrate its power? What K-12, college and grad schools are trying to teach it? Where do we go with it? I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments.

[Top image by Kevin Dooley]

Bruce Nussbaum

Bruce Nussbaum blogs, tweets and writes on innovation, design thinking and creativity. The former assistant managing editor for Business Week is a Professor of Innovation and ... Read more

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View the discussion thread.

via fastcodesign.com

Got this from @rebang's tweets. Followed the comments by commentors too. What say you? I think its a spin. Will come back to this at another time.

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My Frustration with Design Research

2011-03-31T12:13:00.001-07:00

I have been reading design research posts to the point I am getting bogged down. I do not oppose research, else I wouldn't be on the list and join the Design Research Society. I am a staunch believer of methodology, simply because without a sound and effective method of thinking, I cannot get my answers to existing problems.

People have several definitions to research. Design to many people means different things. Design to me is a specific term to a profession that looks into planning of given factors to form a solution. You could jolly call that Strategy, Plan, Architecture,Engineering etc. It basically means the same thing --- systems orgainising and execution to form an finalised solution. It could be a policy, it could be a 2 dimensional product or it could be solid 3D form. It's just that the dimension of the components are different. Different people are playing given factors to a problem differently. Hence the various sayings and arguements. At least that's how I see it.

I usually do not take on to one theory that seriously. But I do view them as opinions mainly because different cultures sort problems differently. And I value and respect that seriously. They need to do so because that's their way of living, seeing things in their own individual perspectives. People love to mention Rittel. Then they would also skew in Tim Brown, then John Chris Jones...or someone who can be recently become controversial as Don Norman ; and before you know it, people will start to debate about who failed to understand what and where it went wrong. Honestly, I don't see that as important as to go down to earth and see the nature of the changing climate. What is crucial and neck cutting is to understand the different sets of problems. An effective design research is one that fully understands the nature of the problem. Once you've understood it, it applies to all different kinds of problems. That makes you a whole rounded poblem solver. Hence, to me, someone who cannot sort out social problems cannot be a true problem solver for a product which is going to be used by people. Products, in my eyes, are to be used by a living being. If we fail to understand the living interaction between a living being and the product, there is no point of desigining, and nevermind the innovation. People may dispute this, but I personally find it a good tool to coming up with ideas to solve problems quickly. We can fly to the edges of the universe, but we must always come back to the concept that we must solve problems permanently and not skirting around it in different fashions.

I often wonder when we can get out of the tangle. Perhaps taking the words out and place in pictures could solve part of the problem. Dan Roam and many others offer some cues to visual thinking. Or at some point, take away all the books and make people really brainstorm for a new way of seeing solutions. Then you will understand why I don't appear to read too much into those books anymore. Not that I don't respect them, but I won't drool over them to the point of hanging there for ages. It sometimes gets you addicted, which is not that healthy for design research. To be able to do research, you must be free spirtited, sharp and quick to act on the materials given. Time is important and hence the aptness of mind to sort problems out outweighs stepping over the same areas again.-- Karen Fu

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Design for the New Climate

2011-03-29T11:24:00.001-07:00

Recently, I saw The Ideas Economy's website and posted 2 ideas that I thought it would be useful. One was to design modular mobile smart housing that acts as a self sustainable unit; and the other a kind of 'lead net' that covers the entire nuclear plant in several layers before it actually explodes.

It just came to me after reading and following up the number of natural and man-made disasters that seems to erupt in a short span of 3 years. Regardless if the Mayans had been right about 2012, we have to prepare for a definite real climate that is today and the near future.Highly populated areas, usually in cities, do not have much open space for escape. As such, I am thinking of the many possibilities of designing the units and the 'safety net'.

Climate change does not confine to the natural environment, about melting ice caps and the rise of sea levels. We are now facing another impending problem that is more instaneous and dire: terrorism. While we can add in rows of CCTVs, sending police and guard dogs to patrol at stations, airports, and sub stations; we must first eliminate any possible attack inland. For that reason alone, nuclear plants, oil rigs in danger points should be seriously considered for a permanent removal.The energy that we should use must be some form that we can contain in a much higher possibility. With the recent Fukushima Nuclear accident, signs are begining to show that the spread of radioactive pollution is going world wide. I think that is itself an expensive lesson to take and we have yet to see the full impact of the disaster.

I particularly liked the idea of solar energy. Many may not for the actual costs of producing them as compared to nuclear energy. But recently I have accidentally stumbled upon a paper by the late John O Blackburn, who wrote 'The Historic Crossover:Solar Energy is Now the Better Buy'.(see reference below)

I really wouldn't want to try nuclear in the long term given the change of climates now where there appears to be a rise in the number of earthquakes.Naturally people may doubt about statistics. Despite the nature of hard core research stats, we live under the sky to know what is really happening. Sometimes, a better trust is within us. Within me, myself, I do not believe that nuclear is the solution. It has never been. With the Fukushima Nuclear incident, I am more than adament to vote against nuclear energy. You know how the Japanese work. They are very merticulous and responsible people. If this could happen, I think its serious enough to make a resolution. -- Karen Fu, adapted from my own post to PhD forum.

Reference:
(A) The late John O. Blackburn, Duke University’s Professor Emeritus of
Economics and former Chancellor,
Solar and Nuclear Costs—The Historic Crossover: Solar Energy is Now
the Better Buy’ http://www.azocleantech.com/details.asp?newsID=11407
Obituary of Dr John Blackburn, which reflects his personality:
http://news.duke.edu/2011/01/blackburn.html
Prof Blackburn's paper:
http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NCW-SolarReport_final1.pdf
(B) Nuclear waste recycling problems:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=rethinking-nuclear-fuel-recycling
http://www.nuclearwasterecycling.com/
(C) Nuclear reactors in quake zones: http://tinyurl.com/4kxux8u

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Status of "design" re Japanese nuclear crisis. Are we playing with fire?

2011-03-22T12:36:00.001-07:00

Just posted my reply to Fil Salustri on PhD-Design forum list with regards to Nuclear energy.This is related to my ealier blog posts here. Sharing this on my blog and open for comments:

> Forest fires are nature's way. Fires happen all the time, not started
> by humans. Sometimes, humans start bad fires, but nature recovers.
> Read up on the nature, frequency, and response of nature to forest
> fires.
> And yes, nuclear energy is containable. This is evident from the
> history of nuclear energy.
>

I just knew before I shut my eyes to sleep that someone would say this because
I didn't specify 'Fire'. My apolgies for missing the explaination.

Forest fires are natural occurance. But what I was trying to say was that
fire is something we cannot control effectively despite our advancement
in technologies. Fires can be started by humans as they could be started by
nature. With climate change and weather conditions getting drier in places
in California and Australia, prepare for more fires.

And many fires are initiated by humans.
And often it is very hard to recover. Often at the risks of firefighters.
One typical example is the forest fire in California in the US about 2
years back.
It was outrageous. (see reference links below my sig.)
And notably the fire caused in LA was human induced too.

> Nuclear energy is not spontaneous at all. The nuclear fuel is HIGHLY
> manufactured material. Naturally occurring uranium is virtually
> harmless. I have samples of pitchblende in my rock collection. Have
> had since I was a boy. I'm fine.

Naturally occurring uranium is harmless, but after human intervention, this can
become harmful. The same could be said about gun powder. Some cultures use
it for fire crackers, celebration; while some used it to blast their
enemies' heads off.

The hard truth is there are people who have uncanny ways of doing things.
They are all innovative. But the cause for concern is the potential and the
extent of danger that each element poses. It I hold uranium. or even harmless
amount of untouched hydrogen, I am fine. But if I hold just hydrogen
alone and played
with it in huge amounts under pressure, I get a hydrogen bomb. Human ingenuity
can come up with ideas. Just that it has to be on the right track.
Hydrogen is abundant.
Wrong use, and its a terrifying abundant gas used for massive destruction.

> We are imperfect beings. Your demand for "100 percent" containment is
> not rational. It can't be done. Nature can't do it. Humans can't do
> it.

True we are imperfect beings. And also due to our imperfection, we cannot also
be confident and sure that humans can design the best containment to fuels
that are potentially highly combustible. Both nature and humans cannot
ensure 100 percent
containment on any materials that we have to be totally safe. We need
precautions.
If we can prevent a disaster like Fukushima, and we are able to do now; I feel
we should take the precaution now like some of the EU countires are doing now.

> Forget about coal being depleted. What about the health risks and
> GHGs from using coal as an energy source?

Should have added to say that I don't even want coal / fossil fuels and anything
that exhaust fumes. Anyway I've just stated my stand on coal now at
late bedtime.

>
> As far as cost goes, I would like to know where you got your
> information on cost. I expect that given the extremely tight control
> on nuclear plants, that the costs would be higher. But are the costs
> that much higher - proportionally - than other high-tech / dangerous
> technology? I ask out of ignorance. Until I have numbers, I will not
> endorse one side or another of the argument.
>

I am trying to hunt for the stats. It comes with a large world map
showing where the
nuclear plants are. US has lots concentrated in the eastern part of
their country.
Then they show the costs of setting up a plant that is initially high
and covers itself
over a period of time. If memory doesn't fail me, in aroun 5-8 years
time, and its covered.
I should have recorded the link when I read it last week.
I will try to find it.

>
>>
>> In all, why should it be all fission?
>>
>
> Cuz that is, for now, the only game in town.

if thats the only game in town, then we are being utterly uncreative.
How can we be confined by that one source of energy alone when there
are clearly others at hand?

Its like talking about using only force to answer problems in the world.
There are many ways of doing it. Gandhi used peace for India to obtain
freedom for
his people. Singapore used to believe that merging with Malaysia as
the only way to
survive. People used to think that a country that has lots of natural
resources are the ones
which will prosper. It is via human creativity that makes our
prosperity and it is
humanity that keeps our society sustainable.
All these policies/inventions.ideas are man-made. We can change. For
that to change,
we must have guts to go into the unknown and venture. And fortunately for us,
we have other sources of energy that we can source. It may not be quick and cost
effective like nuclear, but we can design it with our expertise of new
forms of energy tio
answer problems. Policies to encourage smart use of energies. My blog
is about that.
If anyone's interested, its below my sig too.

The reality is do we need to really use
that much energy? Of course we don't. Thats another topic.

Its already 3:20 am here. I need to get some sleep. I only login an
hour ago. Shouldn't have.
But I did. So I might as well complete at least this email. I have
books to cover and notes to take
tomorrow.

>
>>
>> I'm fully awake...
>> Karen Fu
>>
>
> I hope you get a good night's rest.
> Try a shot of whiskey. That always helps me. :-)
>

Thanks for the advise. But I don't drink.
I only use wines for culinary purposes.
And I don't take caffeine to wake me up.
I use excercise. It works. : )

I'll look for the infographic and the stats and post later.

Karen Fu
elfin blog: http://daringtochange.wordpress.com
Other blogs can be traced from here. Your adventure may vary.

My sleepy links are for your reference. I shall endeavour to look for more.
But for now, let me have my slumber.... (thanks)

1. California Forest Fire, New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/us/30wildfires.html
2.What causes forest fires:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-causes-forest-fires.html
3. Human caused wildfires increases in Calif
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wildfires/2009-05-14-human-caused-wildfires-increasing_N.htm
4. Eyeing Japan, Countries reassess Nuclear Plans:
http://www.greatenergychallengeblog.com/blog/2011/03/15/eyeing-japan-countries-reassess-nuclear-plans/

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An Energy Question to ask -- aftermath of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

2011-03-21T12:58:00.001-07:00

Just threw the question to the list, and I thought I might as well put it here as I am looking for answers.

'Happen to miss some important emails and now I ended up a living Owl.
I just answered Fil offlist and I thought it would be nice to ask the
list a few questions:

1. are we playing fire when we suggest that nuclear energy is containable ?
We can't even effectively control fire, something that is an ancient
fuel that we have been using
for millions of years. Forrest fires in the States and in Australia
are clear recent examples. They burned for
days with huge social costs.

2. Knowingly that nuclear energy is the most cost efficient and
therefore the attractiveness of making lots
of money is one strong advantage, at least from the commercial point
of view. And that natural resources like coal is depleting, offers
another point for Nuclear, how about the cost of playing nuclear
energy which is tonnes more spontaneous than fire.
Can we be afford it? What is the safest nuclear plant design that
would contain possible accidents?
Reading the accidents and news daily, can we trust people to play god?
Or at least the master of something
that we cannot 100 percent contain?

3. What is the real benefit of having a nuclear plant? Why is it that
we cannot make other forms of energy cheap? Why has it got to be
nuclear? Sun is abundant source of energy in many parts of the world.
Why not tap and transfer this energy?

In all, why should it be all fission?

Hope this is taken in good candor.

I'm fully awake...
Karen Fu'

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The Status of Design. Re Fukushima Incident - Quick thought

2011-03-21T12:28:00.001-07:00

Just posted a reply and I thought I should put it here. The debate about what we should do following the aftermath of the Fukushima Nuclear accident prompted me to write about leadership in design. Whatever design fields they are: hardcore engineering design to the strategy planning etc, I often feel that the neglection of listening plays a killing role. The poster asked about the extent of delegation from the people.I thought the people should play the main role. Surely many are not professionals but they are certainly important voices to listen to; simply because they will be experiencing the products/services first hand. Here's what I wrote:

"I think this problem sounds very much like in comparison to what kind of leaders we pick to govern policies that will effect the general public. Politics can affect decisions and surely we cannot blame the actions of certain people especially if they are merely taking orders. Delegation can be a problem. I wonder if I am right to say that picking the right leaders at every level of the system be the most fundamental aspect? I never see the system itself having a flaw and sometimes I see certain fact told analysis of what is right / wrong is a fallacy, merely to overthrow a certain 'rule'.

People demomstrate against GM foods, nuclear etc for the basic reason that they have seen and experienced the impact of these new designs in food and products. I see them as 'designers' of products and services in their own cultural right. They are clearly different from most of us, in terms of thinking and methodologies, but they have their belief systems. So I suppose the importance here is to decide who should we believe in and what we do?

I often feel that many leaders fail to listen. Few leaders genuinely hear the voices of the people.The greatest harmony comes from a balance. That balance comes from the people and the leaders. Problems arises because of the failure to communicate with understanding; which renders insustainability.

The staus of design would be one that leads via the voices of the people. The very people who will be experience the impacts of 'designed' goods and services. They used to say that hardcore designs like engineering plays the leading role. I'd say all forms of designs should first obey the laws of nature and the voices of the people.

Way past bedtime. I have been posting to forums around bedtime for last decade. Perhaps its the solitude in the middle of the night that I enjoy reading debates, and perhaps post something that sometimes not palatable on some people's plate. But at the bare minimum, I mean well.

Night all!

Karen Fu"

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Fukushima problem, a German Solution - a realisation of a Design thinking trap.

2011-03-18T10:45:00.001-07:00

Following the news that Germany will scrap all their nuclear plants by the year 2021, I must say I applaud the Germans hands down.I was reading and following the lists post about the incident and how design thinking should be changed to fit in problems like Fukushima. People were talking about systems that are compex and more than complicated. I was busy reading and let all my 10 fingers raced after my eyes could run. It was mad.
Then I deleted the entire post earlier after reading the string of posts while typing my views. It just came to me that certain problems need not go through a complex process. For 20 minutes, I fell into that trap too. If u see a complex framework that could blast our planet, what would you do?
For a Fukushima lesson, the answer is to flee and do whatever it takes to chop the entire system out. Not morphing it. The Tsunami is in us, our own thinking trap. What components within the trap is another topic. I applaud the Germans who are daring enough & have the foresight and wisdom to scrap all the nuclear plants by 2021. On many levels, all we need is just a conscience and facing the hard truth what is truly important. Then we just do it. Not hard all if one choses not to be so.
Design thinking in check. My personal gain too.
Cheers!
Karen Fu
PS: Personally I wouldn't want any kind of nuclear activity in my country, Singapore. With terrorism treat around the corner, & a more than crazy climate in the process of change; having just one nuclear reactor could be made into a bloody bomb.
One blast and Singapore could be history. And I don't want that.

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Status of "design" re: Japanese nuclear crisis?

2011-03-17T10:56:00.001-07:00

Thought I paste my reply to a forum post which I think is important. I've found Clive Dilnot
Professor of Design Studies from the School of Art Design History and Theory Parsons School of Design, New School University; more than thoughtful. This is only my answer to the initail part of his email post to PhD forum. I have suggested an initail idea of a multilayer lead net to contain radioactivity. But I believe the more important issue is to change the minds on consumption and the way we live. The psychology behind is to focus both in policies and products.

here's the copy of my reply, open for crit:

Can't help it but to want to post thoughts on Clive's email after seeing how the Japanese community here felt and how I come to shock of the latest events in Japan. All these, despite natural disaster, has a strong link to human error in design.

In regards to the unfolding double tragedies in Japan, Donald Norman’s
“leap-to” diatribe in defense of engineers completely misses the
point. In fact, it is part of the problem (in that, as the subsequent
replies showed, it diverts the real question in all the wrong
directions—no Virginia, building a 100-metre sea wall is not the
answer).

Totally agree on this aspect. But unortunately many scientists, engineers etc
do not think this way. Despite the prowess of what advance science and technology can do,
the ultimatum is still human factors. I see this tragic event the result of systemic loopholes.
The other thought that came to my mind is that we over emphasis about nuclear energy and being awfully over confident about our abilities to contain such technology. Our human complacency can often misquide us to think that advanced know-how is the solution to all, which unfortunately isn't.Its often like a problem left to the open thinking that you could swat them with a large net, forgetting that the problem may be larger and more powerful in strength. When all these add up, it mutates into a snowballed problem that could have been sorted at base point.Nuclear energy is by far, I think, the most dangerous form of energy to use. It may be economical from a commercial standpoint, but the opportunity cost is often devastating. Apparently Fukushima had mechanical problems way back in the 70s. But strangely, they have not been totally cleared off. It makes me wonder how could engineering problems such as pressure and cooling systems were solved. I would have thought policies or products to encourage alternative fuel sources with possible policies to cut down unneccessary consumption would greatly reduce the need for electrical energy. On many levels, psychology may well be the most fundamental aspect in solving energy problems.The immediate thought was to design a kind of 'lead net' that covers the entire nuclear plant in several layers before it actually explodes. Damn thick wall, but I suppose it is better than nothing or leaving 50 brave Japanese rescuers choosing to risk their lives to look for survivors. I think its utterly unfair to these people. The persons who design the reactors and those who allowed the faulty systems to be in place for so long should be the ones to take on most of the responsibilities.

My original post asked two questions. The first was open—what does the
word “design” mean when it is used in connection with the design of (or
what I would call the configuration) of the Japanese nuclear plants?
What is “design” here? What is that in the nuclear plant or as a quality
of the plant, that causes commentators to talk of its ‘design”?

Design here would simply mean to be responsible; be wise & honest to know the risks; be
intelligent to fit all the demands with a solution that has a backup for possible accidents despite the magnitude.No design is considered even passable, when any kind of problem is overlooked.
The age of the reactors may be a problem. But I think the system in place is a greater problem.
The thinking of those people who design the policies and the physical product are the most
important factor. Everything grows old with age. But why is it that some products/buildings could last while some don't? Simply because the strict attention to every design detail in compliance to
different kinds of human environments & our common natural environment keeps it good.

Only have this bit of bedtime for the long torso and tail bit of Clive's detailed thought on the mega accident.It's actually a wake up call not only for Japan but to everyone of us on this globe. We have not yet figure out the pending danger it poses to the environment. Looking at the line of eathquakes that have happend,will there be a string of other similar earthquakes waiting to errupt? Pretty frighteining stuff if you pile all these up with what Dr Stephen Hawkings had mentioned that our future is in space. But instead of lining up to fly to Mars or wherever into the unknown, we need to solve the problem that is inherent within us. I see it as a root problem. For if it is not solved by the root, your evergreen tree cannot grow, and nevermind if it would last.
That's how I see it.
Night night all,
Karen Fu

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Airspresso

2011-03-14T21:36:00.001-07:00

Pictures of Airspresso via My Cuppa

There are many expresso machines in the market but what stands out from this one is its brewing techniques. You could just have a cuppa at about any place using hot water and air pressure off from any bicycle pump. Only 250 gams in weight, yet robustly constructed of anodised aerospace aluminum, engineering plastic and brass; the Airspresso should be seriously seen as a green product.The idea appears to come from the traditional Italian coffee maker-- the Moka, making use of current materials and technology to remould into another clever product.It may not go well at luxurious gala dinner parties but it serves as a smart product to own for eco-conscious coffee lovers.

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Learning Via Play: Creative Announces PlayChinese Pedagogy System

2011-03-12T08:37:00.001-08:00

Creative Announces PlayChinese Pedagogy System

Creative Announces Innovative PlayChinese Pedagogy System with the New ZiiO Shenbi Tablet and Content Applications that Make Mastering the Chinese Language Fun and Easy

Creative today announced the PlayChinese Pedagogy System, featuring the new ZiiO Shenbi tablet and content applications that make mastering the Chinese language a fun and easy experience. The Chief Architect of the PlayChinese Pedagogy System is Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative. He leads the way in pioneering a new pedagogy that will revolutionise the way people approach the Chinese language, helping to eliminate fear of the language and enabling people to master Chinese through fun and play.

The PlayChinese Pedagogy System is the direct result of Creative’s cutting-edge digital technologies combined with its vast knowledge in the field of Chinese language education. Sim, who was English-educated, discovered long ago that the greatest obstacle to mastering Chinese is the fear of the language. The PlayChinese Pedagogy System is designed to help eliminate this fear and unlock the ability to master Chinese through these four key pillars:

ZiiO Shenbi tablet - all-new handwriting enabled Android-based tablet pre-installed with Sim’s revolutionary PlayChinese software and a whole host of Magicware applications, together with fanciful colour MagicPens

iFlashbook online learning portal

WaWaYaYa children’s educational content

ZiiBoook - the online library with access to over 1 million books, plus 3D flipping software and unique collaborative sharing technologies

HansVision, a Chinese productivity software, is the super-pillar that enables anyone to enhance their proficiency level in Chinese with minimal effort. Other features of the PlayChinese Pedagogy System include the PlayChinese 14-book series in hardcopies, the PlayChinese Magic Cards and other Magicware.

The PlayChinese Pedagogy System promises a “no tests, no stress” approach to mastering the language. Anyone, regardless of proficiency level, can master the Chinese language through this fun and easy system. A PlayChinese Marathon Contest will be launched at the inaugural Creative PlayChinese Expo where Sim will offer up to S$2 million in cash out of his own pocket as prize money, and participants can win up to a total of S$3 million in cash and prizes. Contest terms and conditions apply.

The PlayChinese Pedagogy System will be on showcase at the Creative PlayChinese Expo during the period of 11 – 20 March 2011, from 12noon – 9pm, at Creative Resource in International Business Park. The Creative PlayChinese Expo is a 10-day long festival of innovative technologies, dynamic content and exciting showcases that are the culmination of years of research in innovative technologies.

via hardwarezone.com.sg

When I read this in today's Saturday's papers in the Straits Times, I was reading it intentively.So I went online to look for more information on the tablet. I have not tried it myself, but if I have the opportunity to do so, I will. We are facing dire situation where many students here either hate the language or fear it. Most do not favour the traditional way of rote learning that is fraught with plenty of memorization of idions, phrases, proverbs and poetry. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had also mentioned the boredom of 'Ting Xie' (Listen and Write -- aka Spelling); and Mo Xie (Memorize and Write -- aka dictation) which dull the entire learning process further.Hence I do think that play learning has a unique place in teaching . What I do realise in the current teaching style that we appear to have at present in schools tend to keep to the old Chinese style, though there are some teachers who do try to design better lesson plans where games are inftroduced.We are seeing a declining number of local trrained Chinese teachers teaching the Chinese language, as the general local population itself has a heavier tendency to turn to the English language at work and even at home. Hence many Chinese teachers here actually come from PR China, ROC Taiwan and Malaysia. This actually poses another problem where students do not find comfort when listening to lessons that carry an accent that they are unused to.

To be really critical about the entire Chinese language standard, I earnestly feel it is way too low. Even the current Higer Chinese level doesn't seem to live up to the old Chinese level at First langauge levels back in the 70s and 80s. (which is already below par from what the older generation had learnt). Play learning can certainly help improve the dislike for the Chinese langauge, but I think another really strong way to push it forward is to pay a far more serious attention to the quality of Chinese language by bringing back some of the learning literature that is lost for the last 40 years or so. We may be overseas Chinese whose success lies in the fact that we learnt English as a first language since independence, but culturally speaking Chinese is still the mother tongue of ethnic Chinese here. Whenever I talk to the Mainlanders and the Taiwanese, they often point out the low quality of the Chinese language here. It is almost pathetic.

Hopefully a change in policy and a change of teaching style will rectify this looming problem. -- Karen Fu

reference:

1. MM Lee wants learning to be fun on AsiaOne Education

2. PlayChinese Pedagogy System

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Singapore Budget 2011 Lego Style, My Read in Free Swing

2011-02-26T09:00:00.001-08:00

Budget 2011 from ST Pix on Vimeo.

Life should be as easy & smart like Lego
where complex matters are expressed in cheerful style;
where war of words could be saved
and time spared for better play.

Life should be as free.

Wee in the colours
be as smart as Lego;
for its bricks are atoms
and its molecules are wonders.

Via play and fun,
it creates its own universe
that defines a unique legacy
redefines innovation
recreates a united world.

Life should be creative
where different people meet
without self inflicted paranoia or prejudice
that makes the world a divided place.

Lego, I admire your wicked brilliance
for you dominate the world without a winch.
in both happy & dire times.

For you, like me;
play is fun
and fun is cute.
Life's a peach with roses bedded in your yard
'cos you've fully understood the quotient of the
human mind!
-- Karen Fu

PS: Generally I like the budget and I wish I have a play in it too. Adios for now!! For change has come.

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Amicable thought on Design Sensitivity

2011-02-23T08:42:00.001-08:00

My visit to the ArtScience Museum was worth more than I thought. The issues on the display design could have been hard to answer. I haven't read the hard copy of the Straits Times yet on comments by other visitors, but I have the feeling they may have been thinking some similar issues. But my primary issue would be the level of sensitivity of the design displays at the museum as well the type of exibits at the museum. No doubt that our museum is a small one and that we do not have any monumental treasures of big countries, I had thought the number of artefacts would have been at least more than what I was thinking. The museum does not match the quality of the Asians Civilisations Museum which has, I think, the best collection of artefacts in the country in terms of both quantity and quality. In comparison a mere check with the American Museum of Natural history online would instantly tell you that our exhibits aren't anything close to what others have. Despite so, the price of the tickets here are comparable to the top museums in the world. The interactive displays are no doubt world class. And so are the interiors and the exterior of the museum. I had very high hopes when I stepped into the museum just 2 days ago. When I was looking at the display, I cannot help but to wonder who did it and how the people have done so. The arrangement of the 2 apples and 1 banana in the Turfan area in the Silk Road Exhibition made me think how that display could have been allowed? The make of the camel was another. The quiver of arrows shooting into the Mongolian soldier was another that left me dumbfounded. It wasn't so much of the arrows that got stuck into the soldier, it was something comical about the whole display that made me wanted to both cry and laugh at the same time as I was wondering if arrows could actually go through both the human skull and the helmet in that manner <??>
Acknowledgingly, mongolian arrows were the most powerful at that time, reaching the average span of around 200 to 340 yards per shot. But I was wondering if that speed could actually pierce through the the head that much. I decided to make a quick investigation and came to a conclusion that the likelihood of an arrow going through the head of the soldier with the helmet on was very unlikely. (see picture below)

Notice the soldier beside the gigantic war machine.

Closeup of the 'arrowed' soldier. Typically the arrow that puched him diagonally right through the helmet, his skull and come out to the other end of his head. Understandably arrows do pierce in shots. But to have them display in the manner above looks somewhat illogical and even comical.

I feel the level of sensitivity in design has to be taken seriously, typically in the case of doing up a museum exhibit. The point of accuracy to historical details as well as other physical details must be respected. When we invent, innovate, design or do anything for that matter, certain funcational law of nature and culture need to be taken care of. And of course my ticket was itself somewhat puzzling. But then again, that was far too miniscue little issue. I just hope the next time I visit the museum again, it will be a far better experience. - Karen Fu

Reference:
1. ArtScience Museum now opens, Straits Times, 19 Feb 2011 post.
2. Warriors of the Chinggis Khan(Genghis Khan)

3. A brief history of the Mongols.
4. Ancient Mongolian Weaponry.
5. The Mongolian Bow

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My Curosity about the Artscience museum

2011-02-22T11:50:00.001-08:00

I am a merry person and am definitely a very curious person by nature. Museums are always on my itinery wherever I go. Just this past faithful Monday I decided to pop into the museum's 3rd day of opening right in the hot afternoon. It was a great cheery day and I definitely wanted to view the latest exhibits at the newest museum down Marina Bay.

All was well in general and I had a great time learning about the history of various events-- from Genghis Khan, Silk Road and the Tang treasures; apart from the design of displays and interactive media. It was all fun and in fact there was a couple of things I thought it was 'too fun'. Let me try to explain:

I am very impressed by the displays. There are truly world-class visuals with impressive interactive media designs. I especially enjoy the interactive table at the Silk Road exhibition that shows items on a highly illuminated map; and some of the in wall panel displays that allow us to test our mental agilities. What I found a little amusing were the camels. I have seen camels before but I have never seen any spieces like the ones on display at the entrance. Especially the stream of very curly hair running from the top of the camels' heads along the back of the animals' bodies. Its too artificial and almost too fashionable looking. It somewhat reminds me of the African hair-style and more likely they reminded me of star wars----the 4 legged creature Eopie; or the 2-legged creature whose name I've forgotten at this point of time. I think they look a little too futuristic to be like the arabian camel or other different hybrids of camels around at the moment. Then again, I was trying to figure out if I have missed any camel species that look like that. Art-wise, they are fantastic as they are highly imaginative and the skills for making them are genuinely top of the class. However, historically-wise they look a little odd. The camels uncanningly have a human look. (see figure below)

notice the hair-do and the face.

notice the hair growth on the camel.

After the camel ride into the wonder of hybrids, I romped to the display of fruits and veggies along the silk road in the other show area. I took a general picture of the display (see picture below)

and spotted something on the right of the picture. Then I took a closer look. (see picture below).

Out of sheer curosity, I ultimately took a third pic of the object of speculation in different perspectives. (see picture below).

[your thought may be as good as mine...]

finally I came to a conclusion that it resembles visually,metaphorically mimicking the physical form of something not too nice. I wanted to get a second opinion so I amicably reported this to their on-duty museum helpers and they shared the same view.I told them I saw something not too pleasant and it was all about '2 apples and 1 banana'. They were amused by it and went to see it for themselves. One of them took a pic and claimed she was going to report it up. I think they should have reported up to their boss by now. The alignment of those 3 innocent fruits appear to be the work of the display artist.
I love the architecture. And I really like the lotus pond. Moshe Safdie's sketches are cool with imaginative wonders of neat funcational solutions. The interior architecture of the building has a lovely concept of the lotus flower intertwined with the idea of a lovely welcoming hand. The centre of the building is designed to collect rain water that goes to a recycling system that supplies water to the rest rooms. What I later learnt was that the surface of the building was treated with glass fiber reinforced polymer, which is unusual. I was very happy to be enclosed by this mega structure that has a cool human feel to it.

I was actually expecting more as I have been to other museums around the world too. I was hoping to see more on the top floor about science and the arts. To me, I think it was a little too little. Those info could have been easily learnt online at different websites. If anyone takes the time and the money to visit a museum, one expects to see physical artefacts that we cannot see at most places anywhere in the world. I also find a few of the artefacts in the Genghis Khan puzzling. I had not have the time to scrutinise the details but I have the memory that I was wondering if the description of the artefact was off or the tablet was off. How did the 12-13th century tablet be using seemingly modern script for that time era was beyond me. I am not a historian so I cannot pinpoint in precise detail where it is off. But on first general look, especially from the script, I was surprised it was dated in the 12-13th century. Maybe someone could enlighten me.

In any case, I had a great time. I spent a few good hours to learn about display design, interactive design, history, strategy, innovation, science and humanity. The various exhibits gave me insights of the human mind that has been both ingenious, kind, mean as well as sheer cruelty.The changes we need in different times show that wrong changes can kill a dynasty. It also teaches us that the right kind of thought will save our spieces and our human race. The future is in our decision making and we should never let history repeat the treachery that we had before.
Hope the museum would take this in good candour.

After the entire museum visit, I came out seeing a brilliant lotus flower floating on a tranquil man made pond. It is serene, pure and upright. And I hope the welcoming hand of Singapore will bring in just that --- pure, upright spirit with integrity.

As the Chinese saying goes, '莲花淤泥不染' -- the lotus flower, though grows in mud, never gets stained. -- Karen Fu

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Quick thoughts about 'Abandon Earth—Or Face Extinction' by Stephen Hawking

2011-02-17T21:29:00.001-08:00

video via bigthink.com

Can't help but feel compelled to make this draft into the a formal post straight away. Might not be doing much impact but I thought I might as well write it anyway.

I feel Dr Hawkings has over emphasized in the logic of hard core Sciences for survival. For if there is lack of humanity in various ethical thoughts, that our human race would perish despite technological advances.

There are certain uncanny ways about how life and the universe works which perhaps is incomprehensivable even by science. Despite the rules that human mind research could delve into in their individual ways and feelings about how things work. I think we have not developed till that stage where the entire universe can be fully comprehend, else we will not have developed new problems that need new solutions to solve. If we have genuinely understood the root concept of problem solving, we will not problems sprouting out from existing ones. We could have simply sort the problem spot on.

Many of these problems simply morph in form. Not loosing an ounce in essence, the solutions usually require a far more complex way of solving.

If we need to sustain our race beyond the next 100 years or so, we need to find the root problem as to why we have come to this dire point. The thinking process doesn't require a mere escape in the physical space we live.

I have no doubt that one day our race will eventually be left with no choice but to emmigrate to space. That is if we cannot change what what we have been doing in time. The future living space may well be mars; it may well be a human made platform or synthetic space ground for our future generations to live on. Under a totally new environment, a brand new set of problems will sufface if we cannot face out our own humanisitc problems in thought which controls our decisions that shape our living space on earth.

There is no doubt that the brilliance of the human mind could also solve some of the toughest scientific problems around. However, I have the feeling that we may be dwelling in linear thought or rather we are moving into a history old, seemingly genetically formulated code in our genes into digging more deeper holes and simply swapping spaces for our root problem ---- the pertinent issue that we refuse to face the daunting thought that we have been bending rules of nature which is the result for our current dire situation.

We have not changed much in the area of survival. Human greed has not been changed much for centuries and let history be told, whether in total truth or with partial biasness, that our forebearers have merely altered their way of being selfish and that technological knowhow has been used to further exploit in the most uncanny of ways.

There is no doubt that we would eventually be living in space if our existing problems cannot be eradicated in time. It may well be we cannot sort them at all. Climate and land changes have proved in reality of the impending outcome of extiction if we still live on this planet. We have almost depleted our natural resources and also at the expense of other living species in any form for the sole selfishness of just one specie, and that is us.

We need to be truthfully honest about what we and our forebearers have done and how our past and existing thinking had maketh us our own assassinators for our own sustainable survival.

Our knowledge in humanities, science & technology should continue advancing in depth and in width. But we need a source of change that directs us to genuine sustainablity. And that is to make a real conscience about who we are and what we need to do. Not with the impurity of new so-called colours that smudge; but with the eventual outcome of being totally pure as light that will shine us into ever lasting exisitence.

And that one of the several human components may well be a far simpler thought: and that is ethics of sharing, loving and to be far less menacing & hypocritical in today's fast advancing, pragmatic life of selfish materialism. We are all in a way guilty. Perhaps via the way of doing bit of good everyday and have a far more daring gut toadmit fault & make every modest good step forward; we may perhaps create a miracle that science and religion will be most happy to jot down in our human history.

It's really a collaborative effort.

Got to run off now. It's a very quick one-off draft. I want to write more. But I have to go off for now. ---- Karen Fu

Posted via email from Daring to Posterous-ly Change

Curious Snoop on the 'Crane Dance' - its design impact & details.

2011-02-14T11:06:00.001-08:00

via tinyisland.wordpress.com

Valentines or not, love takes flight & romance at the Waterfront on Sentosa Island. I think what I saw yesterday night was somewhat different because there was a power trip. But I have been curious over the past 24 hours about the details of its design. Fell sick with a bad strep throat, I took my mouse for a snoop around the internet. Power shut down had cut short of the love birds' story. Now I know it was supposed to be a ~ magical~ love story between a pair of mechanical cranes and how their splendid love for each other turned them into real birds and flew off gracefully happily ever after.
In any avian's case, I've found the entire show very creative: from the story plot to the beautiful choreography of the cranes' movements to how the cranes were set into the waterfront area. All these had produced a simply delightful performance. The weight of these birds were hidden not only by the dark night skies as a backdrop, but also its visual and audio technologies appeared to lighten these heavily mechanical birds felt & looked far less robotic & clumsy than it actually was. The water effects, especially those spraying out of the birds as wings made them appear to propel with elegance and speed. The accelerated feelings of this avian couple were illustrated in brightness and movement as they progressed in their courtship. The entire multimedia drama had its dramatic impact that spread across the entire waterfront area, making its sheer presence felt. I couldn't see what were the actual materials of these lovey doveys but it did somewhat offered a sense of commedy because of its comical physical form. It looked almost cartoon-like. its initial brash mechanical sense finally transformed both into to full blown natural, blood and flesh warmth real cranes.Stunning.
I especially enjoyed the beautiful play of water & multimedia presentation on its 'chest-panels'. I like such innovative ideas that brings up imagination when it comes to the arts. The whole Crane Dance structure weighs 500 tonnes: each crane weighs 80 tonnes. The whole plan could have been excellent if it were not for the power failure. I wonder if the heavy downpour in the past weeks had an impact but I think there may have been other reasons for the breakdown.
Other technical details: (extract from Resorts World Sentosa)
*designer:
Jeremy Railton
*control systems to prevent collision – similar to those used by Japanese bullet trains.
*The cranes are powered entirely on four giant hydraulic power units, totally 5,000 horsepower – each HPU is good enough to fly a small aircraft.
*36,720 litres of sea water is used in each show to form wings' – the same volume of fresh water can sustain ahe WaterFront.
Where could you see this:
Singapore's Sentosa Island.
Starts at 9pm daily.
Duration: 10 minutes
Location: WaterFront
Fee: Free Admission
Doesn't take up much time, but it sure packs one up to think about its entire wonder & how the whole design works. VERY interesting!- Karen Fu
Reference:
1.Tiny Island
2. Resorts World Sentosa
3. Further Technical & Concept details Live design Online

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Dancing Cranes from Sentosa Singapore 2011

2011-02-13T12:45:00.001-08:00

via youtube.com

I was at Sentosa with only one aim of seeing the Flower show but ended up pleasantly surprised with other attractions on the island resort. Gigantic crane dance was one. Water fountain show with quick fireworks was the other. Took quite a number of pics on these attractions but I only took 1 video which is this one, that was taken with a digital camera's video function.
This multimedia presentation cum mechanical robotic cranes dancing in the waters of Sentosa Singapore. It was majestic eye opener until the power tripped. But I plan to see the whole performance again. The concept is very refreshingly artistic, mysterious & grand. Futuristic. Unfortunately there was a technical error that curtailed the show. Else it could have been a great sight..
Enjoy!

Posted via email from Daring to Posterous-ly Change

Postgrad or not? - the value of education to answer real problems.

2011-01-04T10:48:00.001-08:00

I have just received an email invite to attend a talk for postgraduate studies by an American professor. Honestly I had thought the college would not call me up anymore because I get the sneaky feeling they may not really like the way I think. On the other hand, I don't have the time to attend as I happen to work at that time slot and the time is really pretty much fixed. I don't know if I want to study any more. I have been catching up with some of the best professionals and many ironically do not hold a postgraduate degree. It seems to me that my motivation for postgrad appears to wane over the years after talking to too many people. I seem to have an impression that education does not breed the ideal graduate who could genuinely contribute to society in a sustainable and healthy way. Maybe its due to the people whom I talked to but I didn't really think they were exactly nice people.

I was particularly 'pissed' by a few academics who seem to think that postgraduate education provides the ultimate skill. Not that I disregard the fact that advanced skills contribute to a far higher quality of solutions; but more of the fact that it was delivered in arrogance. I don't like pompous, matter of fact answers. I often find humility in the most intelligent people and that group of smart people aren't exactly all from postgraduates.

Some time back, I was talking to an academic who claim to say that better buildings are made through more years in the university. I know Tadao Ando, a famous Japanese architect, didn't attend any professional architectural school at a university. He was entirely self-taught. By self-taught through travelling and working, he formulated his own ideas which invariably meant that he was creating fresh ideas/methods away from the convention. Le Corbusier was another famous architect who did a similar way. Perhaps some people may argue that these great innovators were such because knowledge then wasn't as diversfied and in depth, which makes self teaching possible. But somewhat I feel that postgraduate training is unlike undergraduate. The latter offers a base. If you have a good base, you could extend and multiply off your knowledge later. If you had a lousy base, you can't do postgraduate anyway 'cos it wouldn't be effective. A good foundation is one that allows one to form ideas and method to learn, apart from skills.

I also question about the true value of a college education for we have problems that are not exactly being solved. Its more morphed than being answered permanently. Looking around at the changes in science and tecbnology; language and humanities; can anyone truly claim that the worlds problems or rather on a microscopic level, a society's problem be sorted sustainably? We may be living longer but we may not be necessarily be living healthier. We seem to sort problems partially, and leaving another part of the problem to mutate into another new set of problems.

I wonder if we have really learnt our lessons inside out. Over the course of history of seveal thousands of years, human deceit has never been really eradicated. It appears that people of lesser formal education appear to learn more at times when disasters come. The only downpoint of these people are that they lack impeccable verbal skills. Language skills appear to dominate in the area of intelligence. It really shouldn't be this way. I have learnt a great deal everywhere from everyone. I wouldn't have the guts to claim I know it all. Neither would I have the might to say I am perfectly educated. I often feel that many around me have taught me a lot. Hence I am now questioning the true value of education. We should humbly take cues everywhere from everyone. The direction we are heading may well be wrong.

Simply because we have an impending global disaster --- both physical and metaphysical climate. --- Karen Fu

Posted via email from Daring to Posterous-ly Change

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