Thoughts

Communicating with Ron online has been going well. Today we had an impromptu crit around Vinnie's laptop to talk about our models, and it seemed to work well with us demonstrating our models and moving the camera around so that Ron could see. Although Ron can't always see the entire group at once, in this instance it definitely helped to be able to move around and show things to the camera rather than gathering around a table as usual.

Communication within the group is at times almost more
difficult than communicating with Ron. A few times there has been a
lack of efficiency because of this. But, we have improved. Having group
talks separate from our talks with Ron help to establish criteria for
design and assign duties, etc.

We are very close to a final design, and because of our recent findings, we should be able to produce the SUMO within budget.

Full Scale Mock-Up

We constructed a full-scale mockup of the pod to test the structural capabilities, portability, and ergonomics. With a jigsaw we cut six ribs out of laminated 1" thick cardboard squares. The ribs are joined with 1/2" wooden dowels. We placed a couple of sheets of cardboard on the seat area so we could sit in it.

Video shows rolling.



Masonite/foam test.

Digital Communication Pod

Melissa and I have developed a proposal for the MINI MEGA that sets acoustics as a priority in design. The pod is to provide an adaptable soundproof station for web conferencing.

The design involves a spherical pod suspended by elastic material within a wood frame. The suspension allows for the pod to be isolated from its environment so that sound vibrations are less likely to pass into and out of the pod. The pod is divided into four sections two of which are fixed and two of which are mobile so that the user can enter and exit the pod as well as providing adaptability to the noise level in the room and the number of users who wish to participate in the video conferencing.

A video of the transformation can be seen here.

The pod is constructed of wood ribbing with an outer fiberglass shell. Spray-in open-cell foam insulation is filled in between the ribs and a vinyl barrier is installed over this. The entire interior is lined with soft, sound absorbing foam.

The interior houses all the electronic components, a seat, and a platform for the user's laptop to be inserted. Speakers are built-in to the walls of the two fixed quadrants as well as the movable quadrants; thus, the station becomes accessible to more than one person while open and completely isolated and soundproof while closed.

The two movable quadrants are operated by a cable and pulley system accessible from the interior. These two quadrants are detachable for portability.

Thoughts

Communicating as a group with Ron listening in went very well, even though the video wasn't working most of the time. The disconnections that occur during our communication are annoying, but they do not cause miscommunication-- I feel that the studio and Ron are on the same page.

Acoustics

A collaborative acoustics team post can be seen here: MEGA MELISSA

Desk Crit

The impromptu video conference was an improvement over discussion through only chat. Our group discussions coupled with individual discussions worked well to answer questions and get immediate feedback on work.

My real challenge at this moment is developing speed and efficiency in my digital work-- to communicate in this medium both clearly and quickly.

The Trans-Global Highway

The idea of a global highway network has been around since the 18th century perhaps even longer, but it has become increasingly plausible because of the rapid expansion of highways in the world, especially in the US and China.

Frank Didik has envisioned a "Trans-Global Highway" that would connect existing highways of major continents by bridges and tunnels.



The global highway would connect Africa, Asia, and Europe to North and South America via existing and proposed bridges. The major bridges would be at the Bering Straight, linking North America and Asia, and other bridges and tunnels would be built to join Europe and Africa and many of the water-bound nations of Asia.

Didik claims that a global highway would streamline trade of raw goods between the continents, thereby increasing global security through trade dependence and ultimately promote global peace.



The above comparison shows that linking North America and Asia across the Bering Strait would be nearly twice as long as the Chunnel which links France and Britain. Technologically, the link is feasible. But economically and politically, the link is not. Peace between countries to be joined would be a prerequisite to the project getting underway.

Didik's proposal does not account for links to Greenland, Australia, and Antarctica. Though linking Antarctica to the rest of the world is unfeasible, the omission of Australia and Greenland in his plan weakens the notion of a truly trans-global network. Perhaps a future revision would include these nations:



Though Didik's proposition is rather undeveloped, it is an interesting study into the increasing importance of highways among the growing nations of the world. The idea of a trans-global highway solely for automobiles is somewhat in opposition to the recent emphasis on reducing vehicular fuel consumption. Perhaps a global railway would be more agreeable to environmentally-conscious nations.