This is so cool! And here I thought Mr. Dyson was just the dude who designed
the wild vacuum cleaner "that doesn't suck". I was really interested in the
innovative Parquinho playground equipment. I have a good friend with an
autistic child, and she's had to learn and struggle a lot to deal with the
differences in how he processes sensory, tactile, and social input. A firm
pressure really does calm such children. Ever heard of Temple Grandin? She's an
autistic person who went on to get a PHd and who designs humane structures for
slaughterhouses. She relates to the cattle and other animals because her
sensory interpretations are in many ways like those of the animals, based more
on visceral reactions to sound, pressure, and light than on the verbal clues,
gestures, and facial expressions the rest of us use. She noticed that one part
of the path to the slaughterhouse where the cattle were gently restrained
actually seemed to calm them down. So, she designed a device for her own home
based on that. It's a full body device into which she slips, which then applies
a firm but gentle pressure across her body. It's akin to being
hugged--something that all animals respond to well. My friend explained to me
that's why, when autistic children sometimes have outbursts--based on them
being over stimulated by noises, light, or crowds--parents often just grab the
kids and hold them firmly. It's a way of shielding them bodily from the stimuli
their systems simply can't handle. It's why some autistic children in severe
cases will sit in a corner and wrap their arms around themselves and gently
rock. They're trying to enfold themselves protectively from the hurtful stimuli
of the world. This playground equipment seems based on that same concept.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mr. Worf" <hellomahog...@gmail.com>
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:01:21 PM
Subject: [scifinoir2] James Dyson Award National Winners announced
James Dyson Award National Winners announced
By Paul Ridden
04:13 August 11, 2010
34 Pictures
James Dyson Award National Winners announced
James Dyson Award National Winners announced Image Gallery (34 images)
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The first stage in judging the James Dyson Award 2010 has been completed and
the national shortlists have been posted. From these, 20 projects will be
chosen to go onto the next stage later this month. The overall international
winner will be crowned in October. Read on for a look at some of those now
being scrutinized by the judges.
Designers from 18 countries have entered projects in this year's James Dyson
Award . Up for grabs is GBP10,000 (about US$15,775) in prize money for the
international winner plus a visit to one of the Dyson research & development
centers and, of course, a trophy. The university department to which the
winning designer or team belongs, if appropriate, will also receive GBP10,000.
This year's challenge was simply to design something that solves a problem.
The first judging stage has now been completed and national shortlists drawn
up. Up to ten entries from each of the 18 countries are now through to the next
round, which will see those whittled down to just 20. Sadly, the Treadway
Mobility personal transport solution didn't make the cut but Sea Kettle and the
Copenhagen Wheel are through.
Other shortlisted U.S. project include a modular activity frame designed with
autistic kids in mind, a public bicycle security system and a car stereo that
includes docking for cell phones and aims to make cell phone driving
distractions a thing of the past.
Just to the north, Canada's hopes are resting on projects like the Sense Fire
Prevention System which detects different gases and odors and warns home-owners
of potential risks or a wireless car key system where drivers can use a cell
phone or dedicated mobile device to unlock a door.
Amongst the projects on Australia's shortlist are a wireless speaker system for
use in public areas such as pubs to provide clear audio for televised sports
viewing, a monitoring device for those suffering from type 2 diabetes and the
bumpfree dynamic speedbump. Projects from Europe
The UK will be represented by, amongst others, Move-it – as set of wheels onto
which users attach various self-adhesive cardboard sections and end up with a
custom box trolley. There's also a filtration and UV sterilization water bottle
and a compact urban bicycle .
The French are counting on projects like a gesture-controlled musical interface
to impress the judges. Also on offer are survivor locating technologies
incorporated into rescue workers' clothing and morphing travel baggage which
expands or contracts at the touch of a button.
Staying in Europe, and only one project was chosen from eight entries submitted
by designers in Holland, a ceramic water cooler that spurts water into the
under side of special containers placed on any of its tap points. Another
singular shortlisted representative from Belgium is a pillow that helps
insomniacs get some shut-eye. Austria gets the full ten shortlisted projects,
such as a cargo bike with electric assist where the two rear wheels expand
horizontally and the space in-between turns into a 150 liter capacity cargo
space.
Spanish 3D and Italy's fresh air
Eight Spanish projects are through to the next round, the E-touch computer
interface takes images on a computer screen and makes three-dimensional tactile
representations of them on the surface of the device. There's also a bike
helmet with space for sunglasses and built-in airbags. Shortlisted projects
from Ireland include an earphone accessory with adjustable noise isolation and
an ultra light tripod alternative for helping to keep photographic
opportunities on the level.
Amongst Germany's shortlisted projects can be found a mobile toilet which
answers the call of people who want to answer the call of nature, scuttling to
their aid and allowing them to take care of their needs before wandering away
again until needed again. Italy's shortlist includes a natural, USB-powered air
freshener that uses a plant to refresh stale workplace air. There's also a kind
of Swiss Army knife for the garden in the shape of the Garden Toucan .
And that leads us nicely onto the Swiss shortlist where the red cross becomes a
portable, autonomous rescue drone for avalanche victims, capable of seeking out
survivors and tagging them for subsequent rescue. CONA provides a simple means
of GPS navigation for the visually impaired, giving directional instructions
via vibrating paddles controlled by software on a cell phone. Eastward bound
Heading east and just a couple of Singapore projects were entered and both are
through to the next round. There's an air purifier and an elbow device for
children with Cerebral Palsy that pulsates in time with music to help improve a
child's range of motions. Japan's shortlisted projects feature a possible
solution to the problem of getting on and off a crowded subway train without
getting too bruised and battered and a water tap with extendable nose hose
included in the design to help jet wash those difficult to reach bottles and
containers.
Four out of the five projects submitted from Malaysia have made it through,
including a mist washer which produces just the right mix of soap and water to
help keep hands clean. One of the three shortlisted projects from Russia looks
to help those who have problems seeing all those small boxes on forms. The OCNO
pen includes a strategically placed, fold-out magnifying glass to help bring
everything into sharp focus.
Projects from the Kiwi's through to the next round include a seat design that
makes use of lamp posts to give those who need frequent stops a place to take
the load off for a while and the Minotaur . The latter is a fire nozzle system
which is harnessed to the fire fighter and is said to provide greater freedom
of movement as well as being more comfortable to use.
More to see
There are lots more designs currently being scrutinized by the judges. To take
a closer look at those not featured here, choose "Regional Judging" in the
shortlist drop-down box on this page and then either browse through all entries
or select the country whose projects you would like to view.
The next shortlist will appear on August 24 – in the meantime we'll be
featuring in-depth coverage on some of the stand-out entries. Stay tuned.
Gallery Images
• A Portable water bottle for filtration and UV sterilisation of water
anywhere in the world...
• The Garden Toucan is like a Swiss Army knife for garden pruning
• The Drinkfontein is an infinite source where you can fill your glass with
fresh water, jus...
• Nature's call is a mobile toilet which navigates to the user when needed
and then disappea...
• View all
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