Solution to Alien Map!

One of my first blog postings posed the question:  If you have to give a map or give directions to somebody that doesn’t understand word or symbols, how would you do it?  Our exact assignment was to get somebody from our homes and into the classroom with our map.

 

We were assigned this as our first homework assignment and it really pushed my creative mind.  Upon entering class we were asked to hang out solutions up on the wall for all the class to take a look at.  Jenny (our prof) pointed at mine first saying she never saw my solution before.

 

 

My map looked like a musical chart and my idea was to give directions by listening to the musical notes and scales.  Walking straight was denoted by steady beats of 4/4.  I researched that the average step is about 2.3 feet and each note would represent one of those steps.  Therefore 100 beats would be 230 feet traveled.

A right turn was denoted with going up a scale while a left turn was down a scale.

To indicate to go up stairs, octaves would be played to represent each step.

 

With the solution I came up with, it would give detailed steps on how to navigate into our classroom.

 

What do you guys think?

Among the mess lies greatness

Our Design Project 2 is due on Thursday and this is the mess of prototypes and ideas we have ready to implement.  I knew it was messy but when our prof wanted a camera to take a pic of it, I knew it was unique.  She said that being messy was a sign of productivity and we were certainly trying.

Within the picture above are 2 of our catching mechanisms, 1 of our throwing devices, 1 delay apparatus, and 1 path for our ball.

Can you tell which is which?

What you can’t see are 2 of our cars which will be used for movements.  posted below.  How fully I’ll have some videos for tomorrow!  Stay Tuned!

Operation Table Jumper – DP1

Our first major project for class was called “It takes 2 to Tango”.

It was an individual project where we were tasked with building 2 entities that could get from table 1 to table 2 (separated by 3 feet).  Here were the restrictions:

1. We could only use mechanical energy or gravity for the entities.  No chemical or electrical energy.

2. Whatever you start with has to go over to the 2nd table, ie no leaving behind any parts.

3.  Once you set off the devices, you can not touch them until they are on table 2 or if objects fail to make it.

4.  The 2 entities can’t be connected initially but can be by the end.

5.  We may utilize the crossbar which is halfway between tables and elevated 2 inches above both tables.

6.  Materials can not be purchased.  Materials are to be found from common objects.  Coat hangers, wire, string, bottles, velcro, magnets, etc.

7.  10 days until the presentation day.

Now let me show you my solution to the problem with a little explanation in the video.  Enjoy and please comment if you like anything or hate it all.  Thanks!

The goal of project was to see how we went about solving the problem.  These were a couple of the take home lessons:

- Branch out with ideas.  It’s good to be creative and unhindered in the brainstorming process.  There are no bad ideas and no boundaries.

- It’s important to fail.  From there you can learn from your mistakes and learn how to improve upon weaknesses

- Prototyping is important.  Drawing and theory are great but until you build it, you don’t know how it’s going to work

- Materials will restrict your prototype and it affect the process in which you solve the problem.  With that also comes materials failing and breaking down with repeated use.

Map for an Alien

Here’s an interesting homework problem I had to do.

Imagine you had to give directions/ give a map to a somebody but they do not understand words or symbols.  How would you give the directions?  I’ll post my solution in a few days.  Let me know what you think.

Cantilever exercise

my first day of class I was challenged with a problem and I present it to you.

This is the Cantilever exercise

Take 25 pieces of dried spaghetti and 6 inches of painters tape and see how far horizontally off the table you can make your structure.  You can only use 3 inches of the table as the base, meaning only 3 inches of the spaghetti can be touching the table. We only had 20 minutes but feel free to take longer.  I did 18 inches but the highest in the class was 33 inches.  Good luck

Mini-golf: A NJ tradition

I started to play mini-golf in High school and it was always jokingly competitive among us. Reading the Green, chipping from the rocks, and victory dances were all part of the game. We occasionally played when we were back in town from college and we play at Funmania in Old Bridge NJ. It’s the course we know and the best one around us.

Yesterday I was playing with two friends, Betsy Hilltop and Lev Kassam (not the actor), and we get in the old groove. After Lev calls out, “Let me show you how it’s done” he sinks a hole and one. We applaud while he is struck with surprise and proceeds with a roar. Then I remembered that I had 2 videos from my camera years ago that showed 2 hole’s in one. The shots were done consecutively and weren’t practiced (I’d like to see Tiger mimic Lev’s shot)

Just random luck with BOTH me recording and his puts. ENJOY!

2 phones with the same number?

So a co-worker goes to medical school in the Caribbean and only gets a break of a couple weeks in the summer. She tells me that she has a phone over there but uses an AT&T here in the states for the weeks. What seemed strange to me was that she said that she had one phone for answering calls and one for dialing. It made sense since she probably didn’t get reception with whatever phone she has out in the Caribbean. But then she told me that both phones were currently using the same number.

And so my question is that if she called somebody with her outgoing phone and somebody tried to call her, what would happen? A couple of friends thought that the call wouldn’t be completed since the line is in use, while others think that it will ring because of the call waiting feature. Any ideas?