“Aesthetics”

1.Researching about portable projector design

a. INNOCUBE IC-100 LED portable projector This is a portable projector called INNOCUBE, in USB type. This weighs 83g and enables a 50 inch screen for watching movies. It doesnʼt require a separate power supply as itʼs powered after connecting to a PC, like a USB stick. It uses LED light so that itʼs able to use up to 20,000 hours. Bodyʼs size is 65 x 46 x 48(mm).

b. SANWA USB mobile projectorSANWA USB mobile projector supports a 48.5 inch screen. This mobile projector is powered by a PC and it can be on up to 10,000 hours. It weighs around 84g and has the size of 65 x 82 x 21 (mm).

2. Design sketches for QR code projector

✔ a, b, c-1, c-2, d-1, d-2: idea sketches

✔ e-1, e-2, e-3 : Final design sketchesSize: 60x60x60(mm)

3.Colours and texture Itʼs coloured in bright and vivid colours, as itʼs a device for children. Also, texture could be a smooth and soft material, rather than refined and clean like an aluminium.

a. c-1. c-2.

d-1. d-2.

e-1. e-2. e-3.

b.

“Usability”

The connection between usability and sustainability is some part of design which prompts behavioural change from user. In the article from the magazine Interactions, James Pierce and David Roedl argued that a large portion of energy consumed by a digital product is often governed by user behaviour, no matter how efficient an interactive product may be, in terms of efforts to reduce the energy consumption. This can be referred to as design for changing behavioural pattern. In this point, using QR code could reduce paper, self-evidently as less paper copies required. Also, contents held in QR code can be projected directly on desk, paper, or wall by QR code projector in the class, instead of using mobile screen, and it facilitates using QR code as a way to dematerialise learning resources. We can expect diversifying of learning resources and devices by connecting paper with projector, PC, mobile etc through QR code. I designed QR code projector in a simple shape and function as much as possible, for children. Giving different colours to the body and projector part reveals that two parts are separated and projector can be swivelled for convenience.

James Pierce, David Roedl, 2008, ʻInteractions-Changing energy use through designʼ, Volume 15 Issue 4, USA magazine, pp.6-12

1. Usability of QR code projector

a. Present data in QR code directly on the paper, desk, wall etc. QR code can be read only by QR code scanner through smart phones and PCs at the moment. I assumed that most people would have smart phones in 3 years, however the screen is too small to exhibit contents in QR code. For this, the appropriate device for study would be better than using mobile phones in a class. The way to use is like this: put the QR code projector on the code that you want to decode, project the screen on the surface you want.

b. Connect with smartphone or PC to project contents of QR code.It can be used with other devices as well. If users have some QR code that they took and save in the mobile, connect to a QR code projector and users can share the contents with other people, even out of the classroom.

2. QR code hand out for parents

Assumption Most parents have their own smartphone in 3 years.

Stepsa. Teacher generates QR code, with URL links, photos, or text about reviewing or further studies for student after a class, and prints it on sticker paper.b. Attach on the paper that students used in a class. c. Students hand over the paper to parents.d. Parents follow the QR code through a smart phone.ResultThere are still some inconveniences to using emailing service for a schoolʼs newsletter, even though staff make links in the email for parents to find information easily. Using a QR code, what parents can do is scan a QR code that students have got from a class, by a QR code reader through a smart phone. A QR code connects the web site that the teacher wants to notify the parents about, directly. Parents donʼt need to struggle with searching for the information anymore.

“Renewable plastic material” Iʼve chosen to research plastic materials. Plastic material is light, strong and available with any colours and shapes, compared with other materials. However, the plastic material that we normally use is semi-permanent material, and this is an issue as itʼs contributing to environmental problems. For this reason, there are efforts to develop new plastic materials which can replace prior materials and disintegrate after they are used; PHA(made with elements of vegetation), bio-plastic(made with the element called chitin), RBHM by Haifa in Israel, soybean plastic by ISU in USA etc. PLA is one of the sustainable plastic materials among them.

http://blog.naver.com/shallallaok?Redirect=Log&logNo=100007401632 1. PLA(Polylactic Acid)?

PLA is as strong as PS and PET materials and endures up to 170℃. As Naturalworks in USA introduced PLA material, lots of industries have researched about how this material can be applied for products to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. Now, some companies are promoting PLA use: Cargill Dow(USA), Novamont(Italy), Mitsubishi Plastics(Japan),BASP/ FkuR Kunststoff/ Polymer Chemie(German), Rodenburg Biopolymers(Holland) and Vegeplast(France).

2. Usages of PLA material for products

a. SAFE RADIO BAMBOO by LEXONThis is the radio design by LEXON, made with PLA and bamboo. Front and back covers are made with bamboo material, and body is conducted with PLA material to maximise to the productʼs ʻEco-friendlyʼ concept.

b. TOO MUCH MOUSE by Karim Rashid, LEXONWireless mouse design by Karim Rashid. Basically, PLA material is transparent and this makes it easy to colourise the product. PLA is a suitable material for wireless or portable products, as it is light.

c-1. PARUFUc-2. DURAPULP LAMP by Claesson Koivisto Rune & SödraParufu is a chair designed for children and the Durapulp lamp is a light. Those are made with material called DuraPulp which is a mixture of PLA and pulp (from paper). Södra found that when the mixture of pulp and PLA is heated to 167℃, PLA material encapsulates pulp. Its shape and form is still similar to paper, but the materialʼs character is different from normal pulp. DuraPulp has similar texture with paper, but highly durable at humidity and enhanced for waterproofing. Also, it has high tensile and flexural strength as the advantages.

d. ECO-mobile(SCH-W510) by SamsungThis is a mobile made with PLA, developed and introduced in the USA mobile market by Samsung in 2005.

http://www.wastberg.com/product.asp?S=2&ID=2&PID=208, http://www.sodrapulplabs.com/#/project/001/, http://www.circuitiverdi.it/blog/2010/06/23/lampada-da-tavolo-di-carta/

b.

c-2.

c-1.

d.

About PLAPolylactic Acid, or Polyactide, more commonly known as PLA, is a biodegradable polymer derived from 100% renewable resources. PLA, comparable to petroleum based plastic, is now used in a variety of industries including packaging, clothing, medicine and more. Classified as GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) by FDA, PLA is a nonvolatile and odorless polymer.

PLA- Life CycleThe life cycle of PLA starts with starch rich plants such as corn, wheat and sugar beet. These plants are first milled to separate the starch, from which is unrefined dextrose is processed. The unrefined dextrose went through a fermentation process and result in lactic acid. After the chemical process called Condensation, two lactic acid molecules were converted into one lactide. The lactide molecule is then purified through vacuum distillation and a solvent-free melt causes the ring shaped molecule to turn into long chain polymers.

PLA is fully compostable in commercial composting facilities. It can be converted back to monomer and polymer, or, it can be biodegraded into water, carbon dioxide and organic materials. http://www.cupdepot.com/pla-material-info.html

a.

“Is it sustainable? Is it any better? How much better is it?”

1. About using QR code; reducing paper use and diversifying the type of learning resourcesQR code stands for Quick Response code, created by Denso Wave in 1994. This code can hold much more information than a bar code with vertical lines (about 100 times more), because itʼs designed in a two-dimensional matrix-style. The information encoded can be text messages, URL links, and images. In this case, for example, 10 pages of a text book could be transmitted to students by a single, one page QR code, supporting various kinds of resources such as data, appendices, photos et

“One page of paper can be a significantly smaller size by generating it as a QR code.”

A QR code can store up to 7,089 numerical characters or 4,296 alphanumeric characters, and support 3KB for photos, films, audio sounds etc. 4,296 words normally requires 8-10 pages of paper. One 226x226(pixel) size QR code can reduce 10 pages of paper to one, with other blank space to use more.This advantage of the QR code enables users to connect paper with fluent visual resources by facilitating use of technology devices.

2. Environmental viewpoint_calculating MIPS and LCAThe aim of the MIPS calculation here is to compare using a QR code scanner for an activity book to using a normal activity book binding with copied papers.

Assumption for overall calculations & two scenarios-Using a QR code, the paper use for an activity book can be reduced approximately by 1/10. (e.g. Normal activity book: 50 pages/ activity book using QR code:5 pages)-Activity book is for year 6 particularly.-Activity book is used for only one semester. Scenario#1 is using an activity book which is made with 50 pages of copied paper for only one semester. This is assumed to weigh approximately 0.1kg per one activity book.Scenario#2 is using QR code projector to study activity book containing QR codes. Activity book is also used for only one semester, but QR code projector could be used for 5 years(or more than 5 years). QR code projector is mainly made with PP material(assumption for MIPS calculation by Greenfly), and Australian energy mix and a Li-ion battery are consumables necessary for recharging. This device is assumed to weigh approximately 0.22kg.For both, transportation of 1.5 tKm by container ship was presumed.

LCA for each scenarioScenario#1For a normal activity book, overall, manufacturing has more impact than other phases, as it doesnʼt require any electrics.Scenario#2For a LCI of a QR code projector, manufacturing and use phases are having some amount of impact. Especially, as it requires energy consumption for recharging, phase of use has higher figures than scenario #1 has.

Comparison between scenario#1 and scenario#2According to the total amount of each part, solid waste, water use, CO2 emission, and energy demand, scenario#1 has higher effect on the environment.Comparing Ecological Rucksack and MIPSScenario#1: Coated paper’s(not bleached) rucksack factor = 8.94 MI = 8.94 x 0.1(kg) = 0.9Scenario#2: PP’s rucksack factor = 2.09 MI = 2.09 x 0.2(kg) = 0.42 Glass for lens- rucksack factor = 6.71 MI = 6.71 x 0.02(kg) = 0.14 SUM of all MI figures =0.56

Ecological rucksack of the two scenarios doesnʼt have much distance between each other. With the fact that students use their activity books only once, using QR code projector makes the activity book more sustainable for the natural environment.

3. Back up through webpageQR code can be generated and saved through a web site easily. Saving data by QR code, which is a relevant topic for a classroom, is secure so that the teacher can connect to the web page or other applications later on. Also this facilitates parents access to links through email or hand out paper, so that parents donʼt need to struggle with finding the website or information through the web site.

Resources for the following facts and tips include The GreenConsumer, 50 Simple Things you Can Do to Save the Earth,the “simple things you can do to Save the Earth 1991 Tip-A-Day Calendar,” and the magazine “Current Science.”

If you made paper bags out of 15-year-old tree, you’d only getabout 700 of them. How long would they last? About one hour, ina big supermarket. Tip: Bring your own tote bag to the store to carry your groceries.If you’re buying something small tell the sales clerk you dontneed a bag.

The average American uses seven trees a year.Tip: Save the trees! Share magazine and newspaper subscrip-tions with friends. Donate old magazines to doctors’ waitingrooms, senior citizens’ groups, or day care centers (little kidslove to cut and paste pictures).

The shade from a tree can save 10 to 50% of the energyneeded for air conditioning

Growing cotton can be harmful to the environment. While cot-ton fields are allowed to lie fallow in prosperous areas of theworld, they are not in third world countries because cotton is anessential cash crop. Soil becomes exhausted of its nutrients. An-other environmental hazard is the amount of pesticides used oncotton crops. In the third world, about half of the pesticidesused are for cultivating cotton.

Rain forests cover only 2% of the planet but are home to morethan half the world’s plants and animals. Rain forests are beingdestroyed at the rate of 50 to 100 acres a minute.Tip: Check the perfume you have in your house. Does it haverosewood oil in it? Encourage family members not to buy per-fumes made with rosewood oil, which comes from rain forests.

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“ A couple hundred y ears ago theair was clean, we had many trees,and there weren’t any candy wrap-pers on the ground. I guess thingschange. but did any one ever thinkit would get this bad?”Erik St. Paul, MN