1. What are the difficulties that you have encountered during the process?
I thought that we were suppose to make the life size prototype of our product, hence I was lost, I did not know how to make the prototype.
2. How do you overcome the difficulties encountered?
I seek the teacher's help and assistance, hence I was able to solve some of my difficulties. At other times, I asked my friends for help and I also look for websites that may help me overcome the difficulties that I encountered.
3. What are the 2 key takeaways for this lesson?
The 2 key takeaways for this lesson are knowing methods to ensure that my product works and is able to suit the user's need. The other key takeaway is to analyse my product to its very details so that I can make the prototype of the product.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Ergonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)
i) Describe the product. (Appearance, Color, Function, etc)
The product is white in colour and it has a black and white brush that is on a hard surface with a skin peeler beside the brushes. The product has a handle that has a rough texture on it for a better grip. The product can be used to scrub vegetables and fruits or peel off the skin of the fruits and vegetables like carrots. Behind the brush, there are jagged edges for cleaning the fruits and vegetables.
ii) What are the design considerations when designing this product?
-Can the product help to peel off the skin of the fruits and vegetables?
-Can the product help to watch and scrub the food products?
-can the product help to clean the food products?
-Is the product safe?
-Is the product easy to use and comfortable for the consumers to use?
iii) Would an elderly face difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face?
The elderly would not face a lot of difficulties as the product has a handle that is long enough for the elderly to hold. However, the elderly would require a lot of energy to be able to scrub, peel off and clean the skin of the vegetables and fruits. Moreover, the elderly have to be careful since the blade of the product may be sharp.
iv) What do you think can be done to improve on the design of the product to suit the elderly? (Sketch the improved design in your sketchbook and take a picture of it. Post the improved sketch at the end of your post.)
The first solution: The blades are kept in a small box beside the brushes, so that the elderly would not cut themselves accidentally.
The second solution: There is a lever beside the blade to allow the blade to be pushed out and in the hole that is located at the side of the brush.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Ergonomics 2
1. What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment..
Taken from Mac dictionary
Ergonomics covers all aspect of a job, from the physical stresses it places on the worker, to environmental factors which can affect hearing, vision, and general comfort and health.
Taken from: http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm
2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?
a) Safety
b) Comfort
c) Ease of use
d) Productivity/Performance
e) Aesthetics
3. For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.
Safety - Signages can have larger prints and fonts, so that elderly will be able to see the signages, and be warned if there is danger, eg. the caution sign for wet floor.
Comfort - The glare of the television should not be too bright that it will hurt the elderly eyes or cause the elderly to feel uncomfortable.
Ease of use - Buttons on mobile phones should be bigger, so that it is convenient and easy for the elderly to use.
Productivity/Performance - Kettles should be as light as possible, and there should be a holder for the kettle so that the elderly would not feel tired easily when using the kettle.
Aesthetics - Prints on cards should be bigger, so that the elderly can see the prints easily.
Ergonomics is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment..
Taken from Mac dictionary
Ergonomics covers all aspect of a job, from the physical stresses it places on the worker, to environmental factors which can affect hearing, vision, and general comfort and health.
Taken from: http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/ergo/What.htm
2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?
a) Safety
b) Comfort
c) Ease of use
d) Productivity/Performance
e) Aesthetics
3. For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.
Safety - Signages can have larger prints and fonts, so that elderly will be able to see the signages, and be warned if there is danger, eg. the caution sign for wet floor.
Comfort - The glare of the television should not be too bright that it will hurt the elderly eyes or cause the elderly to feel uncomfortable.
Ease of use - Buttons on mobile phones should be bigger, so that it is convenient and easy for the elderly to use.
Productivity/Performance - Kettles should be as light as possible, and there should be a holder for the kettle so that the elderly would not feel tired easily when using the kettle.
Aesthetics - Prints on cards should be bigger, so that the elderly can see the prints easily.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Ergonomic 1
1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.
The first workplace (on the left)
-Uncomfortable chair and incorrect height and depth of the chair caused the man to feel uncomfortable while seating on it. The man had to adjust the chair to meet his comfort and expected height.
-The monitor screen was too far away, resulting in the man straining his eyes to try to read the words on the monitor screen.
-The non-adjustable lamps give off very bright lights, that caused the man to feel uncomfortable. It causes the man to have difficulties doing his work and using the computer.
-The chair restricts the movement of the man, therefore the amount of space that the man can move is limited.
-The man had to adjust his laptop to the right position that enables him to read comfortably and work easily.
-The man does not have usable desk space for him to place his things. This problem would arise when there are either too many things on the desk, or the desk is very messy and untidy.
The second workplace (on the right)
-Comfortable chair which provides the man to adjust the expected height and depth allows the man to feel comfortable and relaxed.
-The adjustable monitor screen allows the man to adjust the distance between the monitor screen and him.
-The lamp is adjustable, so the man is able to control the direction of the light and the lighting is good.
-The chair allows the man to move freely and comfortably without restricting his movements.
-The laptop holder enables the man to adjust the laptop to his preferred height, so that he can be comfortable.
-The man desk is very neat and tidy, enabling him to have usable desk space for other things.
2. Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.
The second workplace (on the right) is preferred. The second workplace allows the man to work at ease and to work comfortably. It does not hinder the progress of the work unlike the first workplace (on the left).
3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?
-Comfort
-Simplicity
-Convenient
4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?
They are factors that we have to take note of when designing a product to attract people to buy our product. It also allows us to design something that would meet the customers' needs.
Model Answer
The first workplace (on the left)
-Uncomfortable chair and incorrect height and depth of the chair caused the man to feel uncomfortable while seating on it. The man had to adjust the chair to meet his comfort and expected height.
-The monitor screen was too far away, resulting in the man straining his eyes to try to read the words on the monitor screen.
-The non-adjustable lamps give off very bright lights, that caused the man to feel uncomfortable. It causes the man to have difficulties doing his work and using the computer.
-The chair restricts the movement of the man, therefore the amount of space that the man can move is limited.
-The man had to adjust his laptop to the right position that enables him to read comfortably and work easily.
-The man does not have usable desk space for him to place his things. This problem would arise when there are either too many things on the desk, or the desk is very messy and untidy.
The second workplace (on the right)
-Comfortable chair which provides the man to adjust the expected height and depth allows the man to feel comfortable and relaxed.
-The adjustable monitor screen allows the man to adjust the distance between the monitor screen and him.
-The lamp is adjustable, so the man is able to control the direction of the light and the lighting is good.
-The chair allows the man to move freely and comfortably without restricting his movements.
-The laptop holder enables the man to adjust the laptop to his preferred height, so that he can be comfortable.
-The man desk is very neat and tidy, enabling him to have usable desk space for other things.
2. Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.
The second workplace (on the right) is preferred. The second workplace allows the man to work at ease and to work comfortably. It does not hinder the progress of the work unlike the first workplace (on the left).
3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?
-Comfort
-Simplicity
-Convenient
4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?
They are factors that we have to take note of when designing a product to attract people to buy our product. It also allows us to design something that would meet the customers' needs.
Model Answer
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Elderly Challenge - Observation 4
I have observed some difficulties that an elderly face in his or her life through an observation that I have done outside my home. These photos are taken for each observation that I have made.
As observed, I believe many of us have seen elderly walking with bags of groceries. After shopping, some of the elderly who live in the vicinity will walk home with their goods. This may be very tiring for the elderly, as they have to carry the loads which may be heavy over a few kilometers. It would be better if there were push carts or trolleys designed for the elderly to use to push their groceries home instead.
Besides that, most of the elderly who are able to move around freely can be found jogging or taking their brisk walks on typical afternoons. However, there are no proper equipments being installed for them to use, or for residents for that matter. This is one of my observation that I have made in today's observation.
Not all of my observations are to the elderly's disadvantage, there are some observations that I have made which are good for the elderly. An example would be this picture which I have taken of some notices on a noticeboard in a community centre. The community centre have activities that are organised regularly for the elderly living in the area. This is good as the elderly can come out together and join in with the community to carry out the activity instead of feeling lonely and cooping up at home.
The last observation that I have made is that not all of the HDB flats have senior residents corner or equipments like the one above for elderly to exercise. Elderly who live in condominiums have more disadvantages as they do not have equipments like the one above for them to use. Most of the condominiums only have swimming pools like the picture below or tennis court. Even if there are workout stations in the condominium, they are not suitable for the elderly to use.
These are some of the observations that I have made today. In conclusion, there are many challenges that the elderly face, and many advantages and disadvantages that they go through each day. After the 4 observations that I have made during the school holidays, I feel that I have benefited from them and have learnt a lot from these observations such as to look at things from a different perspective and to feel for and like an elderly would.
As observed, I believe many of us have seen elderly walking with bags of groceries. After shopping, some of the elderly who live in the vicinity will walk home with their goods. This may be very tiring for the elderly, as they have to carry the loads which may be heavy over a few kilometers. It would be better if there were push carts or trolleys designed for the elderly to use to push their groceries home instead.
Besides that, most of the elderly who are able to move around freely can be found jogging or taking their brisk walks on typical afternoons. However, there are no proper equipments being installed for them to use, or for residents for that matter. This is one of my observation that I have made in today's observation.
Not all of my observations are to the elderly's disadvantage, there are some observations that I have made which are good for the elderly. An example would be this picture which I have taken of some notices on a noticeboard in a community centre. The community centre have activities that are organised regularly for the elderly living in the area. This is good as the elderly can come out together and join in with the community to carry out the activity instead of feeling lonely and cooping up at home.
The last observation that I have made is that not all of the HDB flats have senior residents corner or equipments like the one above for elderly to exercise. Elderly who live in condominiums have more disadvantages as they do not have equipments like the one above for them to use. Most of the condominiums only have swimming pools like the picture below or tennis court. Even if there are workout stations in the condominium, they are not suitable for the elderly to use.
These are some of the observations that I have made today. In conclusion, there are many challenges that the elderly face, and many advantages and disadvantages that they go through each day. After the 4 observations that I have made during the school holidays, I feel that I have benefited from them and have learnt a lot from these observations such as to look at things from a different perspective and to feel for and like an elderly would.
Elderly Challenge - Observation 3
This is a short voice recording of my interview with a caretaker. In this voice recording, the caretaker describes some of the observations on the difficulties that the elderly she takes care of face in her daily life.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Elderly Challenge - Observation 2
I have observed some difficulties that an elderly face in his or her life through an observation that I have done outside my home. These photos are taken for each observation that I have made.
The elderly are always advised to take walks regularly. Hence, they are normally seen in the morning and the afternoon. In this photo, there is a park connector which most people use to do their recreational activities and to walk from one place to another. However, as observed, elderly who are wheelchair-bound face a difficulty. That is the ground is uneven at every point where the main road converge into smaller roads. Thus, whenever the wheelchair travels down a lower level, the wheelchair will jerk, causing the elderly to experience many short jerks. To make matters worse, when the wheelchair travels up a higher level, the elderly will have a hard time tilting the wheelchair to move forward, especially when the elderly is weak and do not have much strength in his or her limbs. In this photo, the elderly has a caretaker who would push down on the handles of the wheelchair to tilt the wheelchair, so that it would travel up a higher level.
Another difficulty that the elderly face is that some of the pathways are too small, thus they have to fight with other people for space to move around. Occasionally, some people are in a rush, so they would have to move out of the pathway and walk on the grass instead to overtake the crowd. The worse scenario would be during the peak hours when the working population share the pathway with the elderly. It would be very crowded.
For those elderly who are advance in their age and have difficulty in their mobility, they are not able to use this equipment as it requires them to move into a different position. Moreover, this equipment needs one's strength to pull the handles, hence it will be a challenge for those elderly who are weak.
This photo might not be clear, but it shows an elderly man walking his dog and pushing a baby stroller at the same time. I find that it is hard for an elderly to pick up the dog's waste as it requires the elderly to bend down. This may be tiring and strenuous for the elderly. These are some of the observations that I have made today.
In conclusion, there are many difficulties and challenges that the elderly face in their lives. We would be surprised as to how many of such difficulties and challenges an elderly has to face. Nonetheless, the elderly around us still continue to live a happy life like us. For this, they are my role models, and I have learnt to live a contented life and to persevere and endure in whatever situations we face.
This should be a common sight at places where there is no space for the elderly on wheelchairs to move around conveniently and comfortably. Thus, they have to resort to travelling along the side of the road. However, this is very dangerous as they are moving on the road where there are vehicles travelling.
The elderly are always advised to take walks regularly. Hence, they are normally seen in the morning and the afternoon. In this photo, there is a park connector which most people use to do their recreational activities and to walk from one place to another. However, as observed, elderly who are wheelchair-bound face a difficulty. That is the ground is uneven at every point where the main road converge into smaller roads. Thus, whenever the wheelchair travels down a lower level, the wheelchair will jerk, causing the elderly to experience many short jerks. To make matters worse, when the wheelchair travels up a higher level, the elderly will have a hard time tilting the wheelchair to move forward, especially when the elderly is weak and do not have much strength in his or her limbs. In this photo, the elderly has a caretaker who would push down on the handles of the wheelchair to tilt the wheelchair, so that it would travel up a higher level.
Another difficulty that the elderly face is that some of the pathways are too small, thus they have to fight with other people for space to move around. Occasionally, some people are in a rush, so they would have to move out of the pathway and walk on the grass instead to overtake the crowd. The worse scenario would be during the peak hours when the working population share the pathway with the elderly. It would be very crowded.
This is a void deck of a HDB flat that has the equipments for residents to exercise. Sometimes, elderly can be found there using the equipments. However, I have observed that some of the equipments are not suitable for the elderly such as the one above. It is placed at a great height and the elderly has to stretch out her hand to reach it. This is very tiring for the elderly as she has to strain to use it. Elderly who are weak may not be able to lift up their hands to use the equipment. Another equipment that I find is unsuitable for the elderly is the one below.
For those elderly who are advance in their age and have difficulty in their mobility, they are not able to use this equipment as it requires them to move into a different position. Moreover, this equipment needs one's strength to pull the handles, hence it will be a challenge for those elderly who are weak.
This photo might not be clear, but it shows an elderly man walking his dog and pushing a baby stroller at the same time. I find that it is hard for an elderly to pick up the dog's waste as it requires the elderly to bend down. This may be tiring and strenuous for the elderly. These are some of the observations that I have made today.
In conclusion, there are many difficulties and challenges that the elderly face in their lives. We would be surprised as to how many of such difficulties and challenges an elderly has to face. Nonetheless, the elderly around us still continue to live a happy life like us. For this, they are my role models, and I have learnt to live a contented life and to persevere and endure in whatever situations we face.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Elderly Challenge - Observation 1
I have observed some of the difficulties that an elderly face through an observation that I have done at home. These photos are taken for each observation that I have made.
As most typical elderly, this elderly is not able to walk freely. Hence, she needs the aid of a wheelchair to help her move from places to places. However, as some elderly are too old, and their limbs are too weak, they require someone to push them around.
Once an elderly is old, their limbs are quite weak, so some of them are not able to get up from a chair as easily as before. Thus, they need someone to help them to get up from their seat. It may be very difficult as they need to push themselves up from their seat to stand up. Moreover, as observed, I realised that the elderly will stretch out her hand and grab anything that she sees, to enable herself to get a better grip.
As the level of the beds at home are low, the elderly have problems lying on the bed and getting out of bed. To make matters worse, there are no bars or railings at the side of the bed for the elderly to hold and support themselves. It is a chore for some of them to lie on the bed as well as get out of bed. Moreover, when the elderly wants to sit, he or she does not have the strength to enable himself or herself to sit. This is another difficulty that the elderly living among us face in their everyday lives.
As mentioned, the elderly are not strong enough, so in this photo, it clearly shows that some of the elderly are not able to stand up on their own, and they need supervision as they are prone to falling. They need people to pull them up when they can move up a higher level from a lower level.
There are a lot of difficulties faced by the elderly in their daily lives, even up to the little detail like having a meal. Some of the elderly cannot lift up a plate, as it is quite difficult. Hence, as seen in this photo here, the elderly uses her body as a support.
Nowadays, it is difficult to find a cup that is light and suitable for an elderly. Most of the cups are either glass or ceramic. These materials are heavy and also fragile, therefore the elderly has to use both of her hands to support the weight of the cup, and maintain at that position for her to drink from the cup. These are some of the observations that I have made today.
In conclusion, there are many difficulties that the elderly in the population face as they grow older. In the future, as we grow older, we will also face the same kind of situations. The only way to help all the elderly is to observe them and their daily routine, and seek for solutions to enable them to live comfortably.
As most typical elderly, this elderly is not able to walk freely. Hence, she needs the aid of a wheelchair to help her move from places to places. However, as some elderly are too old, and their limbs are too weak, they require someone to push them around.
Once an elderly is old, their limbs are quite weak, so some of them are not able to get up from a chair as easily as before. Thus, they need someone to help them to get up from their seat. It may be very difficult as they need to push themselves up from their seat to stand up. Moreover, as observed, I realised that the elderly will stretch out her hand and grab anything that she sees, to enable herself to get a better grip.
As the level of the beds at home are low, the elderly have problems lying on the bed and getting out of bed. To make matters worse, there are no bars or railings at the side of the bed for the elderly to hold and support themselves. It is a chore for some of them to lie on the bed as well as get out of bed. Moreover, when the elderly wants to sit, he or she does not have the strength to enable himself or herself to sit. This is another difficulty that the elderly living among us face in their everyday lives.
As mentioned, the elderly are not strong enough, so in this photo, it clearly shows that some of the elderly are not able to stand up on their own, and they need supervision as they are prone to falling. They need people to pull them up when they can move up a higher level from a lower level.
There are a lot of difficulties faced by the elderly in their daily lives, even up to the little detail like having a meal. Some of the elderly cannot lift up a plate, as it is quite difficult. Hence, as seen in this photo here, the elderly uses her body as a support.
Nowadays, it is difficult to find a cup that is light and suitable for an elderly. Most of the cups are either glass or ceramic. These materials are heavy and also fragile, therefore the elderly has to use both of her hands to support the weight of the cup, and maintain at that position for her to drink from the cup. These are some of the observations that I have made today.
In conclusion, there are many difficulties that the elderly in the population face as they grow older. In the future, as we grow older, we will also face the same kind of situations. The only way to help all the elderly is to observe them and their daily routine, and seek for solutions to enable them to live comfortably.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Holiday Work-Part 1: Understanding the "The Elderly Challenge"
Four key recommendations of the report
Housing for seniors
Singapore will try to meet the needs of the elderly with a range of housing options.
Accessibility for seniors
The built environment and transport system will be elder-friendly and allow the elderly to be active.
Caring for seniors
Healthcare and eldercare services ensure the seniors' dignity and their standard of living to be maintained.
Opportunities for seniors
The seniors will lead a healthy and active lifestyle with fulfilling relationships with everyone.
One way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly
Install grab bars in the bathroom and toilets with non-slip floor tiles.
Two ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable
For those elderly who needs financial assistance, the government can have subsidies for them.
We can provide a complementary range and option of services for Singaporeans who need care so that we afford a reasonable level of care services.
After reading the CAI report, what are three things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges?
I can observe the elderly living in the area, and find out some of the difficulties that they face, and come up with solutions to help them.
I can interview the elderly and ask them about their daily routine. From there, I can see how I can help to improve their lives.
I can help to raise funds for those elderly who needs financial assistance.
Housing for seniors
Singapore will try to meet the needs of the elderly with a range of housing options.
Accessibility for seniors
The built environment and transport system will be elder-friendly and allow the elderly to be active.
Caring for seniors
Healthcare and eldercare services ensure the seniors' dignity and their standard of living to be maintained.
Opportunities for seniors
The seniors will lead a healthy and active lifestyle with fulfilling relationships with everyone.
One way that the CAI report is recommending to make our public housing more elderly-friendly
Install grab bars in the bathroom and toilets with non-slip floor tiles.
Two ways on how we can ensure that the quality of elderly care here in Singapore is affordable
For those elderly who needs financial assistance, the government can have subsidies for them.
We can provide a complementary range and option of services for Singaporeans who need care so that we afford a reasonable level of care services.
After reading the CAI report, what are three things that you can do, as an SST student, to help overcome these elderly challenges?
I can observe the elderly living in the area, and find out some of the difficulties that they face, and come up with solutions to help them.
I can interview the elderly and ask them about their daily routine. From there, I can see how I can help to improve their lives.
I can help to raise funds for those elderly who needs financial assistance.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Personal reflection (NEWater visit)
What are the 3 key takeaways from today’s visit?
-I have learnt the 4 national taps in Singapore and the number of NEWater plants and desalination plants in Singapore.
-I have learnt that the size of the microscopic pores in the membrane technology can be about 0.04 and 0.0001 microns.
-I have learnt that when treating household used water into NEWater, it has to go through 3 stages. The 3 stages are Ultrafiltration, Reverse Osmosis, and Ultraviolet Disinfection.
Name 2 concepts that you have learnt today during the visit.
-I have learnt the process of treating household used water into NEWater.
-I have learnt the parts of the NEWater plant such as the Reverse Osmosis vessels and the technologies that were applied in the NEWater plant.
What is the 1 interesting thing that you have learnt today?
-I have learnt that tap water comprises of 2% of NEWater and 98% of the water that is collected in the reservoir after they have been treated.
What are the things that you can do to help with water conservation in Singapore?
-Everyone has a role and part to play in conserving water, no matter how little the action can help to save water. One of the ways I can help with water conservation in Singapore is to take a shower instead of a bath. Another way is to reuse the water that was used to wash rice, to water the plants.
-I have learnt the 4 national taps in Singapore and the number of NEWater plants and desalination plants in Singapore.
-I have learnt that the size of the microscopic pores in the membrane technology can be about 0.04 and 0.0001 microns.
-I have learnt that when treating household used water into NEWater, it has to go through 3 stages. The 3 stages are Ultrafiltration, Reverse Osmosis, and Ultraviolet Disinfection.
Name 2 concepts that you have learnt today during the visit.
-I have learnt the process of treating household used water into NEWater.
-I have learnt the parts of the NEWater plant such as the Reverse Osmosis vessels and the technologies that were applied in the NEWater plant.
What is the 1 interesting thing that you have learnt today?
-I have learnt that tap water comprises of 2% of NEWater and 98% of the water that is collected in the reservoir after they have been treated.
What are the things that you can do to help with water conservation in Singapore?
-Everyone has a role and part to play in conserving water, no matter how little the action can help to save water. One of the ways I can help with water conservation in Singapore is to take a shower instead of a bath. Another way is to reuse the water that was used to wash rice, to water the plants.
Monday, March 8, 2010
ADMT individual reflections
1. What are the 3 key takeaways from today’s lesson?
I have learnt that everyone has a part to play to contribute to the environment and make it a better place for everyone to stay.
I have learnt that in order to save the environment, one of the ways we can do is to recycle paper.
I have learnt that we have to focus on our target audience when we come up with proposal on our new ideas.
2. Name 2 concepts that you have learnt today pertaining to design and describe why is it important in design?
The first concept that I have learnt is that designs must be easy to understand and should not be too complicated.
The second concept that I have learnt that designs must be attractive and it is part of the learning process.
3. What is the 1 interesting thing that you have learnt today?
I have learnt that when we have new ideas and want to implement it to the society, we have to make sure that it is practical and attractive.
I have learnt that everyone has a part to play to contribute to the environment and make it a better place for everyone to stay.
I have learnt that in order to save the environment, one of the ways we can do is to recycle paper.
I have learnt that we have to focus on our target audience when we come up with proposal on our new ideas.
2. Name 2 concepts that you have learnt today pertaining to design and describe why is it important in design?
The first concept that I have learnt is that designs must be easy to understand and should not be too complicated.
The second concept that I have learnt that designs must be attractive and it is part of the learning process.
3. What is the 1 interesting thing that you have learnt today?
I have learnt that when we have new ideas and want to implement it to the society, we have to make sure that it is practical and attractive.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Photography (People)
The person in this photograph has a background which is full of greenery which links to the topic that we are studying now-The Environment. We have learned that trees are important to the environment, as the trees help to maintain a balanced composition of the air in the eco-system and also help to prevent soil-erosion.
This photograph pictures a scene where students in the school have time to interact with one another. They are able to go outdoor and learn without restriction to classroom-base learning. This enriches the lesson taught to the students and make the learning more interesting and fun.
The girl in this photograph is reflecting on the events and things that have happened in that day. This is a good habit and this is also what the school encourages us to do.
This photograph shows students taking photographs of one another and the Chinese new year decorations in the school. It portrays the happy occasion that students look forward to and also having fun aside studying.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Phototgraphy
Different types of photography
Advertising photography
Aerial photography
Architectural photography
Astronomical photography
Baby photography
Black and white photography
Cityscape photography
Commercial photography
Concert photography
Digital photography
Documentary photography
Equine photography
Family photography
Fine art photography
Fine art nude photography
Food photography
Glamour or fashion photography
Infrared photography
Landscape photography
Macro photography
Nature photography
Night photography
Pet photography
Portrait photography
Seascape photography
Travel photography
underwater photography
Wedding photography
Wildlife photography
Source: http://www.shotaddict.com/wordpress/2006/10/18/1382.html
Equipments
Cameras, video cameras, lenses, cases, tripods, cable releases, flashes, remote light meters
Source: http://photography.about.com/od/photographyequipment/a/basicequipment.htm
Aperture
Aperture is the term used to describe what is simply the hole in the lens that light travels through to reach the camera’s sensor or film. This hole can be set at different sizes, and combined with shutter speed, you get the two main settings which control exposure.
Source: http://www.photography-basics.com/2007/01/what-is-aperture/
Focus
There are various methods to focusing depending on the type of subject being photographed. The most important part of the image to capture is the eyes of the subject.
Source: http://www.schoolofphotography.com/courses/free-photography-tips-and-articles/16-how-to-focus-your-camera.html
Shutter speed
Shutter speed is, apart from aperture, the other main component required to form a proper exposure. It is control by the shutter speed dial. Shutter speed means timing and duration of opening and closing of the shutter curtain at the back of the camera. A fast shutter speed will freezes action while slower speed creates blurring effect. A shutter speed of 1/125 will allow one time more the amount of light to reach the film than 1/250, the amount of light is double on the next scale of 1/60 to 1/125 etc.
Source: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/apershutter/shutter.htm
ISO speed
ISO in ISO Speeds stands for International Standards Organisation and a few decades ago they came up with a standard for measuring the speed of film called the ISO Speed.
As with aperture and shutter speed, film speeds are governed by a factor of two rule.
Film speeds come in the following ratings:
25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200
The speed of a film is the measure of how fast it responds to light. A low ISO speed means a film responds slowly to light, a fast ISO speed means the film responds quickly.
Source: http://www.great-landscape-photography.com/iso-speed.html
Metering
Metering is a process which involves the camera taking a light level reading from the scene and selecting the appropriate combination of aperture and shutter speed to set the required exposure value. Various modes are offered to allow the user to select the most suitable one for the specific lighting conditions These can then be changed manually via use of exposure compensation meter if required. There are various types of metering which can be set, and these change the way the light levels are read by the camera.
Centre-weighted
A metering is taken from the whole of the scene first, then the central spot. The result is the average reading, but with extra weight given to the central part. Some cameras allow the user to change the amount of weight given to the central area but as a general rule, around 60 to 80 per cent of the sensitivity is directed towards the central part of the image, making it a good choice for portraits.
Spot metering
Spot metering takes a reading from a very small part of the image (between 1 and 5 per cent), and ignores the exposure of the rest of the scene. Spot metering is good choice for high contrast and backlit scenes but needs to be used with care, and aimed at an area that will form the mid-tone part of the final image.
Zone metering
A type of metering which takes readings from several different areas - or zones - within the scene to produce a calculated average. This is useful for general scenes with low contrast.
Source: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Beginners-Guide-to-Photography--Metering-6351
White balance
White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in real life will look white in your photo. We adjust white balance to get the colors in our images as accurate as possible.
Source: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm
http://digital-photography-school.com/introduction-to-white-balance
Photography composition rules
Pattern
There are patterns all around us if we only learn to see them. Emphasizing and highlighting these patterns can lead to striking shots – as can high lighting when patterns are broken.
Symmetry
Depending upon the scene – symmetry can be something to go for – or to avoid completely.
A symmetrical shot with strong composition and a good point of interest can lead to a striking image – but without the strong point of interest it can be a little predictable. I prefer to experiment with both in the one shoot to see which works best.
Texture
Images a two dimensional thing yet with the clever use of ‘texture’ they can come alive and become almost three dimensional.
Texture particularly comes into play when light hits objects at interesting angles.
Depth of field
The depth of field that you select when taking an image will drastically impact the composition of an image.
It can isolate a subject from its background and foreground (when using a shallow depth of field) or it can put the same subject in context by revealing it’s surrounds with a larger depth of field.
Lines
Lines can be powerful elements in an image.
They have the power to draw the eye to key focal points in a shot and to impact the ‘feel’ of an image greatly.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines generally work well to draw the eye of an image’s viewer through the photograph. They create points of interest as they intersect with other lines and often give images depth by suggesting perspective.
They can also add a sense of action to an image and add a dynamic looks and feel.
Horizontal Lines
Layers of horizontal lines can create rhythm or patterns in an image that can become the focus of an image in and of itself.
Vertical Lines
Look out for vertical lines that are repeated in patterns in your images as they can be used to great impact – particularly if they are contrasted with other shapes and lines going in different directions.
Converging Lines
We’ve talked previously about how lines have the potential to add interest to an image – but multiple lines that converge together (or come close to one another) can be a great technique to lead your viewers eye into a shot.
Source: http://digital-photography-school.com/5-elements-of-composition-in-photography
Rules of third
The Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Crop your photo so that the main subjects are located around one of the intersection points rather than in the center of the image:
Golden section
It has been found that certain points in a picture's composition automatically attract the viewer's attention. Similarly, many natural or man-made objects and scenes with certain proportions (whether by chance or by design) automatically please us.
Diagonal rule
One side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts. The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture should be placed along these diagonals:
Source: http://www.colorpilot.com/comp_rules.html#rule2
Techniques
Make sure your photographs are well lit, well focused and nicely framed before you take a picture of it.
As there are many techniques/tips in the source below, I will only name a few.
Sunlight: Avoid taking photos when the sun is directly overhead. This causes harsh shadows. Try to shoot with the sun behind you as this prevents loss of detail caused by bright light.
Night-time photos: Place the camera on a tripod and set its shot timer so there’s no risk of your camera moving when you press the trigger.
Golden hour: Using the golden hour is especially good for people shots so you avoid harsh shadows on faces caused by midday sun. Experiment with angles and zoom to find the perfect balance of light.
Source: http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/digital_photography/tours/beginners/index.html
Advertising photography
Aerial photography
Architectural photography
Astronomical photography
Baby photography
Black and white photography
Cityscape photography
Commercial photography
Concert photography
Digital photography
Documentary photography
Equine photography
Family photography
Fine art photography
Fine art nude photography
Food photography
Glamour or fashion photography
Infrared photography
Landscape photography
Macro photography
Nature photography
Night photography
Pet photography
Portrait photography
Seascape photography
Travel photography
underwater photography
Wedding photography
Wildlife photography
Source: http://www.shotaddict.com/wordpress/2006/10/18/1382.html
Equipments
Cameras, video cameras, lenses, cases, tripods, cable releases, flashes, remote light meters
Source: http://photography.about.com/od/photographyequipment/a/basicequipment.htm
Aperture
Aperture is the term used to describe what is simply the hole in the lens that light travels through to reach the camera’s sensor or film. This hole can be set at different sizes, and combined with shutter speed, you get the two main settings which control exposure.
Source: http://www.photography-basics.com/2007/01/what-is-aperture/
Focus
There are various methods to focusing depending on the type of subject being photographed. The most important part of the image to capture is the eyes of the subject.
Source: http://www.schoolofphotography.com/courses/free-photography-tips-and-articles/16-how-to-focus-your-camera.html
Shutter speed
Shutter speed is, apart from aperture, the other main component required to form a proper exposure. It is control by the shutter speed dial. Shutter speed means timing and duration of opening and closing of the shutter curtain at the back of the camera. A fast shutter speed will freezes action while slower speed creates blurring effect. A shutter speed of 1/125 will allow one time more the amount of light to reach the film than 1/250, the amount of light is double on the next scale of 1/60 to 1/125 etc.
Source: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/apershutter/shutter.htm
ISO speed
ISO in ISO Speeds stands for International Standards Organisation and a few decades ago they came up with a standard for measuring the speed of film called the ISO Speed.
As with aperture and shutter speed, film speeds are governed by a factor of two rule.
Film speeds come in the following ratings:
25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200
The speed of a film is the measure of how fast it responds to light. A low ISO speed means a film responds slowly to light, a fast ISO speed means the film responds quickly.
Source: http://www.great-landscape-photography.com/iso-speed.html
Metering
Metering is a process which involves the camera taking a light level reading from the scene and selecting the appropriate combination of aperture and shutter speed to set the required exposure value. Various modes are offered to allow the user to select the most suitable one for the specific lighting conditions These can then be changed manually via use of exposure compensation meter if required. There are various types of metering which can be set, and these change the way the light levels are read by the camera.
Centre-weighted
A metering is taken from the whole of the scene first, then the central spot. The result is the average reading, but with extra weight given to the central part. Some cameras allow the user to change the amount of weight given to the central area but as a general rule, around 60 to 80 per cent of the sensitivity is directed towards the central part of the image, making it a good choice for portraits.
Spot metering
Spot metering takes a reading from a very small part of the image (between 1 and 5 per cent), and ignores the exposure of the rest of the scene. Spot metering is good choice for high contrast and backlit scenes but needs to be used with care, and aimed at an area that will form the mid-tone part of the final image.
Zone metering
A type of metering which takes readings from several different areas - or zones - within the scene to produce a calculated average. This is useful for general scenes with low contrast.
Source: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Beginners-Guide-to-Photography--Metering-6351
White balance
White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in real life will look white in your photo. We adjust white balance to get the colors in our images as accurate as possible.
Source: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm
http://digital-photography-school.com/introduction-to-white-balance
Photography composition rules
Pattern
There are patterns all around us if we only learn to see them. Emphasizing and highlighting these patterns can lead to striking shots – as can high lighting when patterns are broken.
Symmetry
Depending upon the scene – symmetry can be something to go for – or to avoid completely.
A symmetrical shot with strong composition and a good point of interest can lead to a striking image – but without the strong point of interest it can be a little predictable. I prefer to experiment with both in the one shoot to see which works best.
Texture
Images a two dimensional thing yet with the clever use of ‘texture’ they can come alive and become almost three dimensional.
Texture particularly comes into play when light hits objects at interesting angles.
Depth of field
The depth of field that you select when taking an image will drastically impact the composition of an image.
It can isolate a subject from its background and foreground (when using a shallow depth of field) or it can put the same subject in context by revealing it’s surrounds with a larger depth of field.
Lines
Lines can be powerful elements in an image.
They have the power to draw the eye to key focal points in a shot and to impact the ‘feel’ of an image greatly.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines generally work well to draw the eye of an image’s viewer through the photograph. They create points of interest as they intersect with other lines and often give images depth by suggesting perspective.
They can also add a sense of action to an image and add a dynamic looks and feel.
Horizontal Lines
Layers of horizontal lines can create rhythm or patterns in an image that can become the focus of an image in and of itself.
Vertical Lines
Look out for vertical lines that are repeated in patterns in your images as they can be used to great impact – particularly if they are contrasted with other shapes and lines going in different directions.
Converging Lines
We’ve talked previously about how lines have the potential to add interest to an image – but multiple lines that converge together (or come close to one another) can be a great technique to lead your viewers eye into a shot.
Source: http://digital-photography-school.com/5-elements-of-composition-in-photography
Rules of third
The Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Crop your photo so that the main subjects are located around one of the intersection points rather than in the center of the image:
Golden section
It has been found that certain points in a picture's composition automatically attract the viewer's attention. Similarly, many natural or man-made objects and scenes with certain proportions (whether by chance or by design) automatically please us.
Diagonal rule
One side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts. The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture should be placed along these diagonals:
Source: http://www.colorpilot.com/comp_rules.html#rule2
Techniques
Make sure your photographs are well lit, well focused and nicely framed before you take a picture of it.
As there are many techniques/tips in the source below, I will only name a few.
Sunlight: Avoid taking photos when the sun is directly overhead. This causes harsh shadows. Try to shoot with the sun behind you as this prevents loss of detail caused by bright light.
Night-time photos: Place the camera on a tripod and set its shot timer so there’s no risk of your camera moving when you press the trigger.
Golden hour: Using the golden hour is especially good for people shots so you avoid harsh shadows on faces caused by midday sun. Experiment with angles and zoom to find the perfect balance of light.
Source: http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/digital_photography/tours/beginners/index.html
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Difference between Perspective, Isometric, Oblique and Orthographic Drawing
Oblique: Oblique projection is a method of drawing objects in 3 dimensions. It is a type of drawing involving a combination of a flat, orthographic front with depth lines receding at a selected angle, usually at 45 degrees.Isometric: Isometric
drawing is way of presenting designs/drawings in three dimensions. Designs are always drawn at 30 degrees in isometric projection. 
Orthographic: Orthographic drawing is a way of drawing a three dimensional object. Normally the object is drawn as three separate, related views - Front View, Side View and Plan View. A drawing that communicates the shape and size of an object through a series of related two-dimensional views.Perspective: A form of pictorial
drawing in which vanishing points are used to provide the depth and distortion that is seen with the human eye. Perspective drawings can be drawn using one, two, and three vanishing points.Thursday, January 14, 2010
Definition of the theme-Environment
-The totality of surrounding conditions.
Surrounding-The things and conditions around a person or thing. An example: The environment here is dirty.
-The area in which something exists or lives which means the place where living things live.
Area and Place-a region or part of a place like a town or a country. An example is: A lot of wildlife lives in this environment.
Credits:http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:environment&ei=owxQS_3NO8qLkAXYn_SsCg&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title&ved=0CA0QkAE
Social Forces-the environment developed by humans such as pollution cause by human activities, as compared to the natural environment.
Cultural forces-the culture in a place that forms the environment.
Credits:http://www.ask.com/web?q=dictionary%3A+environment&content=ahdict%7C29469&o=10616&l=dir
-the system which a user, computer, program operates.
System-the conditions in which the user or a computer functions.
Credits:Dictionary in the macbook
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Lesson 1 - Introduction to Art, Design, Media and Technology (Personal Reflection)
1)What does ADMT means to you?
ADMT means combining art, design media, and technology into one topic. It also include artworks created with new media technology. For example, if a company wants to introduce a product, it has to plan and design the product before creating it. After creating the product, the company has to advertise it, before selling it to the public. Hence, it will use media and technology to advertise the product and sell it.
2)What are the attitude that an ADMT student should have?
An ADMT student should be positive and persevere. He/She must always try and not give up easily.
3)What are you aspiration as an ADMT student?
I aspire to be a SST student that is good in ADMT and contribute to the society in the future.
4)How do you think you can achieve your aspiration?
I think I should try to put in my effort and do my best in the subject and I should also try to have all the attitudes above to help me to achieve my aspirations.
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