Monthly Archives: November 2008

Daniel Bauen. "Instructables" – and the symbiosis of art and engineering

Given our cultural separations – “artists” in one place – “engineers” another – many of us – I’m guilty of this frequently – we forget how intertwined, and sometimes indistinguishable they are. Rather than make the general argument, check out Daniel Bauen, a young Atlanta-based maker and designer of things. You can look at his resume – and some brilliant pieces of work. If anyone thinks they can draw bright lines between the art and the engineering, we might have an interesting discussion. What’s beyond question is that he’s doing marvelous work. Beautiful, practical – and some so fun that I’m tempted to say that he’s a toymaker – who, in order to make what he makes – became an engineerand an artist in the process.

A motorized moving shade system for buildings – that is, roof-mounted solar panels move automatically in order to maximize shade and solar collection: (pictured left); A solar rock spinner – solar-powered when none one feels like pushing it around;

Bauen also – as a student – participated in the design of two bood-drawing devices one for pediatric and one for diabetics, designed to alleviate, if not  eliminate the pain of blood drawing.

There’s more at Daniel Bauen’a personal site and even more at his other site-  Engineerable. Continue reading →

Q-Blox and VibrantHomeTown.com

In looking for simple community-usable planning tools -we’ve come across an impressive consultancy called Vibrant  Hometown, and a 3-D modeling tool they’ve developed called Q-Blox. It’s not yet clear if their urban planning

consultancy takes into account Popular Logistics’ concerns about disaster risk mitigaton and response – or whether the Q-Blox are available without engaging their services. In any case – Vibrant  Hometown

is certainly worth a look.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

FastRadios.com

We’ve been casting about for two-way radio vendors – and sophisticated advice. And found, for our purposes, an amazing oufit in FastRadios.com – based in Naples, Florida – but they sell at very competitive prices and on very competitive terms (extended warranties, for instance, on batteries as well as radios). After a long conversation with Manzie Lawfer (purportedly their sales manager, but it seems that his function is more about finding configuration solutions). Lawfer was able to propose simple, elegant and inexpensive solutions to certain problems we’ve been having in designing a model comms system for community-based disaster response organizations. Being a natural-born cynic, and having spent most of my career cross-examining and interviewing all manner of fabricators and prevaricators – and being concerned about budget – I dropped several opportunities for him to propose more expensive solutions. Straight arrows, it seems, these guys. Look for several posts about solutions they’ve devised for clients – including using existing UPS systems in power failures and solar power in emergencies to keep comms up. Readers may want to start with their “Little Green Radio Book” (free).

CONGRATULATIONS, BARACK OBAMA AND AMERICA!

President-Elect Obama’s campaign was focused, disciplined, and effective. He has shown himself to be bright, calm, and decisive. He listens, and he has good judgment. We at Popular Logistics wish him and the country well.  And we know this: If President Obama governs the way President-Elect Obama campaigned, the country will do well.  Very well.