KP_2017

What I’ve Got – Blue Light Filter Coating on my EyeglassesRecent research has shown that blue light (emitted by computer/smartphone displays) can lead to dry eyes and contribute to macular degeneration. Blue light has a short wavelength compared to other colors of visible light, meaning that it’s higher in energy, which contributes to greater damage to the retina. In order to stave off some of this damage, some glasses lens manufacturers have begun using coatings that reflect blue light, putting these coatings on lenses like mine. There are multiple ways of creating such a coating – these include applying anti-reflective coatings (which are made of various metal oxides that are applied to the lens) or applying yellow colored coatings (blue and yellow are complimentary colors, so a yellow lens will absorb blue light).

Wearable Story: Pleather SkirtPleather or plastic leather, is an interesting example of advances in chemistry contributing to the fashion industry. Pleather was first created by DuPont in the 1960s, and is produced by layering plastics like PVC or polyurethane on a fabric, like polyester. This creates a more durable, often cheaper alternative to leather. In the 60s, DuPont’s first iteration of the product was called Corfam, which the company marketed as a replacement for shoe leather. The product performed poorly, mostly because it failed to breathe like natural leather, making for fairly uncomfortable shoes. At around the same time, a form of pleather called Naugahyde, made from PVC, was marketed as a replacement for leather upholstery. The marketing campaign for the product stated that the material was the hide of a fictitious animal called the Nauga, which shed its skin in order to produce the leather. The animal became popular, and Nauga stuffed animals were sold through the late 60s and early 70s. Advancements through the 60s and 70s involved mixing polyurethane, PVC, and acrylic, and layering the materials onto polyester, creating a more breathable material that mimicked leather more closely. Pleather offers many benefits – it can be created in a variety of colors and textures, allowing for a wider variety of designs at lower prices. It can also be produced without killing animals, leading some to call it vegan leather. 

SnapShot – Personalized Pictorial News [repost because of technical difficulties]

For Challenge Half, I designed a personalized, pictorial news site called Snapshot that can be accessed via computer or mobile device. Snapshot creates a personalized feed for each user based on their

Post 156874791040

What I’ve Got – Nalgene Water Bottle My Nalgene water bottle is the best bottle I’ve ever owned. It’s durable enough to withstand any backpacking trip, holds one liter of water, and never seems to lea

Challenge 1 – Into the Wild

The ProblemAs is apparent in our current political climate, polarization pulls people apart, keeping them from seeing eye to eye in anything, not just the points where they disagree. The provision of

What I’ve Got – Glow in the Dark StarsI had glow in the dark start on my walls as a kid, and recently put some up in my room, and I’m really enjoying them. They add just a little bit of flair to my walls, and are pretty unobtrusive in the daytime. They can essentially be adhered to any surface, and don’t leave residue on the walls, making them pretty functional. Glow in the dark stars glow because they contain phosphors, or photoluminescent compounds, which slowly release electromagnetic energy absorbed at a previous time. Photoluminescence has been observed in natural contexts (like the glow of fireflies) for thousands of years, but phosphorus was isolated in 1669 by Hennig Brand. Since then, many other phosphorescent compounds have been discovered, and the stars on my walls likely contain zinc sulfide or strontium aluminate. These compounds can absorb visible light and then release it slowly over a long time span, which means that these stars are slowly losing their glow, and eventually will cease to do so. Source:http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/glow_stick.htm

Challenge 2aFor this challenge, I created a set of icons, a logo, and a wireframe for a program called Exercise for Persons with Disability, at Spaulding Rehab Hospital in Cambridge. I am working with this program in another one of my engineering classes, and wanted to design a logo for them and create a mockup of their website, as well as create icons that I could use for my final presentation. I created three icons that explain a key part of the service the program provides, exercise via functional electrical stimulation. This technology allows paraplegic individuals to perform exercises like cycling and rowing, and I wanted to explain the process visually, which I did via the icons in the top right panel. For the logo, I wanted to prominently feature a person in a wheelchair, but wanted them to be in an active stance. The logo I came up with includes a person in a wheelchair, and uses that figure to represent one of the letters in the logo. The wireframe I created was a simple design that includes pages with information that patients and clinicians may need about the program. 

What I’ve Got: Collapsible DishwareI bought a collapsible bowl for backpacking, and it was one of the best purchases I’ve made. It folds flat into my pack for easy storage, and also can be flattened into a cutting board for cooking. The plastic is easy to clean and durable, and doesn’t tear, making it a great bowl for the outdoors. It handles hot foods and boiling water well, which also makes it very useful. 

Savings for Farmers – Challenge 3Problem Statement + Target UsersAfter the recession of 2008, corn and soybean futures declined significantly, with farm profits falling by 38% in 2009, which has led farm debt to increase to its current value of $372 billion [1]. Although some farmers saw increases in profits, such as sugar farmers, farmers with cash crops like corn and soybeans who reside in what’s known as America’s farm belt did not. Demand for crops such as corn and soybeans increased significantly in the years leading up to the recession largely in part due to pressures placed by the ethanol industry [1]. In 2009, U.S. corn farmers produced a record of well over 13 billion bushels of corn in anticipation of this increase in demand [1]. In the aftermath of the recession, corn and soybean prices dropped drastically and the market was flooded. Consequently, farmland values also dropped [1].Farmers were left with no profits and often deficits, decreases in land value, and an increased need to provide for their families. The number of US farmers dropped by 4.3% from 2007 to 2012 [2]. Although this percentage seems small, it represents a significant statistical change [2]. Although farmers make up merely 2% of the American population [2], agriculture and agricultural related industries comprise nearly 6% of the GDP [3]. In order to continue operating, farmers are opting to borrow from banks in order to buy essentials like seeds and fertilizer [4]. However, if markets do not improve, increased borrowing can send farmers into more debt, creating a vicious cycle. Research by Robinson, Barry, and Burghardt has shown that farmers will continue taking on more debt in a “go for broke” manner in order to avoid liquidating fixed assets, like equipment [5]. Thus, it is imperative that farmers are given tools to encourage them to save, in order to ensure they have a safety net that will keep them from engaging in high-risk borrowing behaviors. Despite increased pressure placed on American farmers due to debt, few institutions are in place to protect farmers from sinking deeper into debt. Agriculture is a difficult industry: crop yields can be determined due to weather catastrophes and prices are largely impacted by global markets [4]. Although we can’t protect farmers from external factors such as the market or environmental factors such as droughts, we can establish institutions to help farmers save their profits during good years for a cushion for bad years that might come. We’re targeting farmers who suffered losses after the Great Recession or natural disasters in income and farmland value – particularly corn and soybean farmers. In particular, we are targeting farmers 35 and younger, since their debt levels have increased more than those of older farmers [6]. This group is an ideal target due to their comfort with technology and their receipt of income in lump sums. As younger people, they are more likely to be comfortable with technology, particularly mobile banking using computers or phones [7], presenting an opportunity to use mobile tools to help them save. Like most farmers, they receive income in lump sum payments after each harvest instead of in hourly wages, meaning that an intervention that targets them when they receive significant sums of money could have real impact on their savings. SolutionSince there are no specific savings programs that target young, Midwestern corn and soybean farmers in their thirties, we aim to create such a program. This program will be offered by local and national banks that offer loans and financial services in farming communities in the Midwest. Banks will recruit farmers within the target age range through online advertising and targeted outreach to farmers within the target demographic. The target behavior for our users is to save. In order to create a target behavior, an individual must have the motivation to perform an action, the ability to do so, and a trigger [8]. When a farmer enrolls in the program, they will be prompted to set a savings goal and a date they would like to save that amount by. To increase a farmer’s ability to to save, our program operates via direct deposit. Whenever a farmer receives a deposit, a percentage of that amount will be placed into the savings account. If a farmer receives a particularly large sum of money, the farmer will be prompted via push notification, email, or letter to save an additional percentage of it at the click of a button (or via mailing back a letter in an stamped envelope) that serves as a trigger. The motivation portion of the algorithm will be included in two ways. First, when the farmer is prompted to save, the farmer will see a graph of his or her current savings and goal amount, giving the individual a visual representation of their progress. The motivation will include spotlights or testimonials from local farmers who saved a certain percentage of their income and were able to get out or debt or make an improvement to their business. Thus, the plan motivates farmers through extrinsic motivation (reaching a goal) and also reinforces behavior by using peer influence. Our program also profits banks – the savings program increases bank funds thereby allowing the bank to make more money off of loans.Citations[1]http://search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/docview/399137013?rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo [2]https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Highlights/Farm_Demographics/ [3]https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/ag-and-food-sectors-and-the-economy.aspx[4] http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/03/468887506/with-economy-stuck-in-the-mud-farmers-sink-deeper-into-debt[5] http://www.jstor.org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/stable/pdf/1242712.pdf [6] https://www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/mse/mse_0610.pdf[7] https://www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/consumers-and-mobile-financial-services-report-201603.pdf[8]https://www.dropbox.com/s/q9we1r3xu4sm5ti/behavioral%20change%20model%20Fogg.pdf?dl=0 [9]http://ageconomists.com/2015/07/07/digging-into-farm-debt/

What I’ve Got – Gore Tex Rain JacketI have a Gore Tex rain jacket from REI that I really like. It keeps the rain out, it durable, but also allows sweat to evaporate, which makes it comfortable. Gore Tex fabric was invented in the late 60s, and is interesting because it keeps liquid water out, but allows water vapor to pass through the membrane. It’s made of fluoropolymer and has an extra waterproof layer on top, thereby reinforcing the waterproof nature of the fabric. Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-history-of-rain-jacket-tech-from-intestines-to-gor-1684027896

Crash CodeCrash Code is a platform that enables the average person to gain coding skills for success in the workforce.  It is becoming more and more obvious that throughout the 21st century many people will lose their jobs due to automation [1]. The people who will first be impacted are blue collar workers, who lack a college education and typically have worked in manufacturing jobs. Users of our platform will not only have the opportunity to learn how to code, but we will also directly connect them with employers who are looking to hire people with their abilities. Our content will come from Code Academy’s API and then in turn users will have to build projects with their new skills, which reinforces what they learn and motivates them by seeing the practical application of it. Our goal is for every single coder to make it through our program and be gainfully employed by the end. With enough effort, our users will have the technical know-how for entry level coding positions after just 6 months. While learning a new skill will prove to be challenging to most people, our program divides the workload into manageable pieces so that anyone can learn how to code. We also will provide support, so that if users get confused they can immediately turn to us rather than turning away from the problem.The Crash Code platform hosts a six month intensive coding course that uses content from Code Academy, Khan Academy, and W3 Schools to teach coding concepts. The advertising for the program provides motivation by showing users potential career opportunities and salaries on the homepage of the website, and gives users ability by allowing them to learn a wide variety of CS skills through the platform. Finally, triggers are built into the program (email reminders and weekly check ins with teaching staff) in order to sustain user engagement [2]. Users choose one of three tracks (Javascript + Html, Ruby + Python, PHP + SQL) based on their interests and information about potential careers in these areas. They watch lesson videos and complete assignments on weekly or biweekly schedules. In the first trimester (Month Zero and Month One) assignments are fairly basic and some involve Scratch, and users can get help via a chat bot. Throughout the course, users receive daily emails updating them on their progress and encouraging them to move forward, and will have weekly one-on-one meetings with a member of the teaching staff to hold users accountable to their work and provide support. In Months Two and Three, assignments will become more challenging, and users will receive help through online office hours held by teaching staff and can use a forum in the site that draws from sites like Stack Exchange and Quora. In Months Four and Five, users will do assignments created by companies that use the platform to recruit new talent. These assignments let users understand what work as a programmer would actually be like, and can also serve as a diagnostic tool for companies, helping them evaluate who to hire. At the end of the program, companies that use the platform can choose to interview users and hire them. Users can continue to use the platform to learn new skills and network with employers. [1] https://www.wired.com/2017/02/programming-is-the-new-blue-collar-job/[2] BJ Fogg article

LINKS to HIGHER RES: infographic, homepage

What I’ve Got – Outside Your Bubble Comments FeatureBuzzfeed just piloted a feature called “outside your bubble”, which collates opinions on an article from a variety of perspectives and summarizes them above the comments section (as in this article). This feature was inspired by the echo chamber that liberals and conservatives find themselves in, where their friends and media only reflect the same opinions, meaning that they don’t engage with contradictory views. I really like this feature because it summarizes opposing comments in a concise way that removes potentially rude/offensive language. Reading comments sections is usually a waste of time because they can often devolve into insults, but having a clear, readable summary of contradictory views is really useful. The original comments are still accessible, which allows a reader to delve into the comments and respond, but the section is useful to get a high level understanding of people’s comments and ensure that dissenting views are not drowned out. 

What I’ve Got – Swiss Army KnifeMy Swiss Army knife has been one of the most useful things I’ve owned. With a variety of attachments, it can do just about anything, and is compact and pretty hard to break. Swiss Army knives were created in the late 1800s, and have been used ever since. Though newer models with more attachments have come out, I like using the older, original model, because it’s small and simpleSource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Army_knife

What I’ve Got: Contact LensesI wear Acuvue soft contact lenses, and have found them really comfortable and easy to wear. Contact lenses were originally invented by Leornado Da Vinci in the 1500s, though they were only fabricated in the 1800s. In the early 1900s, hard contact lenses, which were uncomfortable to wear and blocked oxygen from reaching the eye, were used. In 1960, synthetic hydrogels were fabricated, leading to the creation of the modern soft contact lens. My lenses are made out of a silicone hydrogel, making them comfortable and breathable. Citations: https://www.acuvue.ie/why-acuvue-contact-lenses

Challenge 8 – Design Point of View

Drone Challenge

What I’ve GotI’ve got a Makey Makey, which is essentially an Arduino which can be connected to various everyday objects, and if the circuit is completed (either by a person, water, any conductive medium) you can connect any function of your computer (making sounds, playing songs, etc) to a physical action. This device is a really cool way to teach kids and adults about electronics in a fun, accessible way, and makes science and engineering more enjoyable. 

What I’ve GotI have a handheld corn sheller, which is a small, cheap, simple tool that makes corn shelling many times faster. People all around the world shell corn, a task mainly done by women, and this task can take hours when done purely by hand. This handheld sheller is easy to fabricate, as it requires three non-mechanical tools and can be done by anyone, regardless of prior knowledge of how to use tools. The sheller is made of a strip of metal, which is bent using pliers, and then hammered into shape using a hammer and anvil. This device is an intermediate technology, which means that it is mechanically more efficient than doing a task by hand, but is not as expensive and complicated as a motorized machine. Technologies like this sheller are common in rural areas of developing countries, where geographical and financial constraints make factories and large machines impossible. Creating devices like this one can also help people who may never have had access to the design process understand the joy of designing and creating useful objects. Source:https://d-lab.mit.edu/node/95

Challenge 10: Mouse for individuals with arthritisWe are designing a better mouse for individuals with arthritis. In our comparative research, we chose to explore two areas: existing products for people with arthritis, and product that reimagine what a mouse could look like. We found a variety of products that decrease strain on the hands and wrists, though most retain the core mouse concept of buttons and a scroll wheel. The two products that take a different approach, eye tracking and hand tracking, are more experimental devices built for gamers, and are slowly being adapted for other purposes. 

Challenge 9: Tempo

Personal listening devices are becoming more and more isolating, and have the potential to cause hearing damage. While these devices can be good for concentration in a distracting environment or for p

What I’ve Got – Bedside Lamp with an OutletMy bedside table lamp comes with an outlet, and I really love this design. It fits my needs exactly, since I use my phone as an alarm, and lets me charge my phone overnight without having to reach behind furniture to plug it in. This device is a great combination of two different needs, the need for a bedside light and a charger, and combines these two uses in an elegant way. 

What I’ve Got – Tide To GoI really love my Tide to go pen because it makes it easy to manage small stains on clothes. When wearing a light colored outfit, this item makes it convenient to remove any stains, as it fits easily in a purse. The pen shape makes it easy to use and prevents any extra cleaning solution from spilling out, making it useful and practical. 

What I’ve Got – Thick/Thin EyelinerI use Maybelline’s Thick/Thin eyeliner and I really like the flexibility it gives me to try different makeup styles. The tip of the brush is flat, so it can be used to paint thick or thin lines, which makes this brush more versatile than most standard brushes. I also like the formula they use, which is fairly waterproof, so it doesn’t smear or smudge from daily use. 

Tridapta

An Interface for EveryoneUser NeedOver 54 million people in the United States have arthritis, a disease that makes it difficult to use the joints in the hands and wrists to perform everyday tasks (CDC