It's Official: Google Nexus 7 Launched

It's Official: Google Nexus 7 Launched.

@[4:0] = Mark Zuckerberg?

Saw this post in FaceBook. It was rumoured that typing "@[4:0]" in any comments would show "Mark Zuckerberg" when you send the comment.

I have tried it and it works! Try it in FaceBook!

Image source: FaceBook

 

Web surfing patterns could reflect mental well-being

Web surfing patterns could reflect mental well-being.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/opinion/sunday/how-depressed-people-use-the-internet.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Can Technology Solve Cities' Problem? An Opinion by Brent Toderian, President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism and Vancouver's former Chief Planner

An opinion by Brent Toderian,Vancouver's former Chief Planner (2006-12) and President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism.

Print your own 3D items, anyone?

The 3D printing technology is kicking up a storm recently, with more materials added.

An example of 3D printed limited edition jewellery. 

Photography: Atelier Ted Noten. Image Source: Wikipedia

So... What's 3D printing?

Wikipedia provides a good explanation of what's 3D printing- "3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. 3D printing is achieved using additive processes, where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material. 3D printing is considered distinct from traditional machining techniques (subtractive processes) which mostly rely on the removal of material by drilling, cutting etc.

3D printing is usually performed using a materials printer, and since 2003 there has been large growth in the sales of these machines. Additionally, the cost of 3D printers has gone down. The technology also finds use in the fields of jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, and many others."

Simplistically speaking- it's making a 3D item on your own, with a 3D printer that is the size of a desktop printer (Hmm... a Laserjet).

A video showing the process of 3D printing:

What does it mean for you and I?

I checked out some of the options available. It seems that the cost of 3D printers are not exuberantly high. A simple 3D printer should cost about USD2000 to 3000- about the price of a high end laptop. The size of a 3D printer, as you would have guessed, is about the size of a desktop printer. Meaning, it won't take up too much space in your home.

With this not-very-expensive price, 3D printers would allow customisation of items. Imagine designing your own phone covers and jewelleries? Ha. However, before you think that this is really easy, you need to first create the 3D virtual data using AutoCAD or similar software such as Google SketchUp. If you are replicating an object, use a 3D scanner to scan the object before loading the resultant data into a software.

Some of the things which perhaps could be done with a 3D printer.

• Prototyping3D printers could be used to create prototypes/models for testing purposes. Just to see if it's fits or whether parts work together.
• ModellingYou models enthusiast out there- yes, you could draw your own characters and create the real models! Imagine creating your own character and then making a real model! (Pardon me, i'm not a model enthusiast. If I made a mistake in this comment, do let me know. :))Links: http://blog.makezine.com/2009/02/12/3d-printed-character-model/
• Education
  
  Compared to visualising anatomy, planets or other curriculum topics in a virtual environment, teachers could potentially create a real model and bring it to the classrooms. Well, that is, if the models are not already available.Perhaps the better use is to make a model that is local context and which is not available internationally. For example, a small model of Bukit Timah Hill in Singapore showing the biodiversity in the area etc.

• Phone Covers??
  Can we make our unique phone covers? Oh yeah. That should be a possibility.
• Medicine
  In the field of medicine, researchers are developing ways to lay down layers of cells to make artificial organs.
  There's also possibility that doctors could use CT scans to generate realistic organs before surgery.

What about the environment?

1.) Resource Management- A dilemma

• Increasing demands for materialsThere's possibility that the advent of 3D printing might cause issues with resource management. The world is already grappling with resource scarcity. If 3D printing is affordable and wide-spread, there might be increasingly use of personalised, home-based printing of items. This would create a consumer market demand on resins and materials, thereby complicating the already tight resource scarcity. Would these cause more items to be made and therefore more resources used (and perhaps also lead to less resources used for mass production due to drop in demand?)?
• Recycling and Reusing Materials
  On the other hand, could we use 3D printing to reuse/recycle old materials? Would it be possible to break down unwanted items into component materials and then make them into new products using 3D printers?
• Less Wastage
  Traditional manufacturing practices usually uses 'subtractive' processes that mostly rely on the removal of material by drilling, cutting etc. Since 3D printers use the 'additive' process where layers upon layers are added to 'print' (well, construct) items, it could potentially save resources wasted in the manufacturing process.
  Also, if a part of your device/machine is spoilt, perhaps you could simply print the part. Could this save you the carbon footprint for buying the part since you can make it locally?Links: http://advantage-environment.com/framtid/industrialization-at-home-rise-of-the-3d-printer/
  http://www.myofficeportal.org/saving-the-environment-through-3d-printing.htm

2.) Pollution

Would the materials cause pollution? Compared to factories who are regulated by government agencies and require compliance in managing pollution during the production process, would the 3D printing process cause pollution issues? Perhaps there is a need to regulate the materials that could be supplied for 3D printers to ensure that it does not cause pollution.

3.) Public Health

Are the materials safe for use? Would it affect our health? Would non-regulated potentially harmful materials make its way into our homes?
This would possibly require regulation and checks to ensure that materials for 3D printers are safe- much like the standards for materials used in food manufacturing and toys etc.

Attitude Matters

I have many questions about the potential impact of 3D printing on our environment. But still, there are some basic principles which we could adopt if we are to ensure a balance of needs, wants and sustainability.

1.) Make/Buy only What You Need

This is the basic idea in sustainability. Make/Buy only based on what you require, rather than making things you want but not really necessary.

2.) Protect Yourself

Only use materials which you know are safe for health. At least, until the regulators set a standard and regulate the materials available.

The not-so-good aspect of 3D printing

Well. Crooks. According to PC World, they could use the device to replicate your keys. your cards and whichever items small enough to be fabricated. That's a nightmare! PC world also stated sources mentioning that a rifle magazine was printed that could hold 5 rounds of ammunition! This is crazy! We don't want guns going round the world and live in fear always. Not that the magazine seemed durable enough for use, but this is a possibility.

Links: http://www.pcworld.com/article/241605/criminals_find_new_uses_for_3d_printing.html

More Understanding Needed
The 3D printing technology is still at nascent stage. More understanding on the potential impacts needs to be studied so that we can make this emerging technology an environmentally sustainable one.

More links on the topic:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394720,00.asp

The blog post reflects the personal views of the author and is not representative of any organisations.

Making Games Architecture Sustainable after the Games

A good effort by the London Organising Committee of the Olympics and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to mandate that the only permanent sports facilities that would be built were those for which there was a demonstrated long-term need. Other facilities are supposed to be shifted from Olympic requirements to community use requirements. This step not only provide the necessary venues for the Olympic Games but also frees up the resources (eg. construction materials and land) after the games. The community also get to enjoy the scaled-down games facilities after the games.

Does that open up the possibility that smaller countries such as Singapore could host the FIFA World Cup or Summer Olympics Games?

Check out the design of 3 such venues which allowed such approach to be adopted at this link.

Image source: Wikipedia.

Wanna unlock your phone? Show your face!

Just loaded my Samsung Galaxy Note with Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 and discovered a new feature- Face Recognition Technology to unlock your phones.

Here's how to set up the face recognition unlock phone function.

J3QQMJ4ZZ7BX

Looking to purchase a PC/Laptop? Remember to ask if there is an option to upgrade to Windows 8. Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows Upgrade Offer.

From Microsoft Website:

REDMOND, Wash. — June 1, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Windows Upgrade Offer for consumers purchasing a qualifying new Windows 7 PC. The Windows Upgrade Offer provides consumers who buy an eligible Windows 7 PC the option to purchase a downloadable upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of just $14.99 (U.S.) during the time of the promotion, which will be redeemable when Windows 8 is generally available. The Windows Upgrade Offer is just the first of many consumer offers that will roll out in conjunction with the general availability of Windows 8.

“We’ve seen a great interest in Windows 8, especially given the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview this week, and yet we know many consumers want a new PC now,” said Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of Windows at Microsoft. “The Windows Upgrade Offer gives people the flexibility to purchase the new Windows 7 PC they need today, with the knowledge they can easily get Windows 8 when it’s available.” 

This program begins tomorrow in 131 markets including the U.S. and Canada and is available for consumers buying new Windows 7 PCs that are preinstalled with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate and include a matching and valid OEM Certificate of Authenticity. The Windows 7 PC must be purchased new during the eligibility period June 2, 2012–Jan. 31, 2013, and redeemed before the program expiration at the end of February 2013. Consumers who register for the Windows Upgrade Offer will be able to download Windows 8 starting the day it is made available generally. The upgrade can be installed on any eligible and compatible Windows PC and comes with 90 days of support from Microsoft. 

More information on taking advantage of the Windows Upgrade Offer can be found by visitinghttp://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com. More information about Windows 8 is available athttp://windowsteamblog.com.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Some information relates to a prerelease product, which may be substantially modified before it is commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx. 

Click here for direct link.

Machine that turns used Office Paper to Toilet Paper on-site

This is an interesting idea. Not sure how much water it uses though.
The machine looks huge. Maybe it can be part of a building/commercial complex. Tenants could send in their shredded paper and redeem the toilet rolls based on the amount of shredded paper they contribute.




Or a shop could come up with a commercial idea to collect shredded paper and allow customers to earn some points to pay off the toilet rolls they need.

Temporary architecture may be the way for mega events

Temporary architecture may be the way for mega events

Illustration by Wen Hwee, 2012

Imagine constructing mammoth buildings for an once-off mega event such as Olympics and World Cup. The cement, concrete, wood, metals, adhesives, transportation (air, land and sea), resources need. This could be a huge amount of resources expended and possibly wasted if the building is not fully utilise after the event is over.


Most mega events will attract millions of people to flock to the area/country. This creates stress in accomodation and transportation for the weeks/ month that the event is held. One way to meet such challenges is to build the infrastructures needed. But again, this brings up the question of whether such a move is sustainable in the long run. Oh well, one could argue that this would create jobs for that period and improve the economy.
Are there other ways that could be adopted to meet the demands of the events and also be more environmentally friendly?


Saw reports about "temporary architectures". Temporary architectures are buildings and units that are not permanent in nature. They could include temporary arenas, hotels etc.


What I could think of as benefits of such structures include:
1.) Meet Temporary Needs of the Events
The architecture could meet the demands of the event that would usually peak during the events but decline after the event. Jobs and projects are still created to construct such temporary buildings.
2.) Environmentally Friendliness
It might be more environmentally friendly if such architectures could be designed to use minimal resources. Once the event is over and demand declines, there is no need for such architectures. If the architecture is temporary, then there is no need to waste resources maintaining a building that is no needed.
Better still, if all the resources of the temporary architectures could be transported to another event for use to construct other temporary architectures.
3.) Returning space to the city.
Space in the city is occupied by the temporary architecture only for the duration when it is needed. Citites are getting increasingly crowded (especially Asian cities) and space is usually considered a 'luxury' in cities. By returning the land to the city council after the event is over, it could be go back to the city planning and meet future needs.


I'm not an architect by training. Do share your thoughts and comments on the topic.


A link to a report on London Olympics Temporary Basketball Arena.