NU12 #11 - Magnifying Glass Toaster by the Great White

Ateneo Innovation and Entrepreneurship "New ideas create more and better new products and services; create more wealth."

NU12  #11 - Magnifying Glass Toaster by the Great White

Heat producing appliances like oven toasters are the most energy or electric consuming appliances in the household. My idea to provide a greener alternative to the oven toaster is to have a large magnifying glass, similar to the size of a plate, to be installed along the window of your kitchen. It can be moved and swiveled to adjust to the angle of the light source. You can use that magnifying glass to heat your food instead of using an oven toaster provided that the sun is up. In the Philippines, we enjoy broad sunlight in most days of the year. This large magnifying glass does not ultimately aim to replace the oven toaster since the heat from the sun is not available 24/7. It merely acts as a greener alternative during daylight to help us save electricity and avoid harmful effects of appliances like radiation and the likes. 3

NU12 #10 - School Anti-Stress Room by the Great White

Ateneo Innovation and Entrepreneurship "New ideas create more and better new products and services; create more wealth."

NU12 #10 - University Anti-Stress Room

University life is very stressful. Students and professors live a very hectic schedule especially when hell weeks are fast approaching. There have also been cases where students commit suicide because of the overwhelming stress. Back when I was a college student in the Ateneo, I had my fair share of the intense stress most college people undergo. There were times when I have to stay awake for 40 hours straight just to finish all my requirements on time or sleep only a total of 8 hours a week.

During those times, I just wish we had a anti-stress room inside the university - an air-conditioned room with nature-themed interiors, soothing sounds and aroma. Soft elements like foams, carpets and sofas will also dominate the interiors. Like in the library, making noise is prohibited. Students can study there or spend a little time to relax. The color green is scientifically proven to relax people thus the anti-stress, nature-themed room will have predominantly green interiors. Stuffed toys, videos of cute puppies, soothing sounds, herbal teas and relaxing scents will also be available to help overworked students and professors unwind even for just a few minutes.

With the anti-stress room, physically, mentally and emotionally drained students and professors can refresh themselves to face all the challenges that await them. 4

Submitted by: the Great White

NU12 # 7 – What pisses me off at school and what must be done by the Great White

NU12 # 7 – What pisses me off at AGSB and what must be done.

I have spent four fruitful years studying college in the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Schools. I am proud to have undergone that very exhausting but rewarding tradition of quality Jesuit education. Contrary to popular belief, being "conyo" is not a prerequisite to enter the prestigious university. There are also lots of simple and humble students and many are from the provinces. Many scholars also populate the university. This expels the notion that the university only accepts the elite class of the country. During my four-year stay in the Loyola Schools, I have somehow experienced the true Atenean culture. Enduring philosophy, theology and other classes from legendary Jesuits and non-Jesuit professors, eating in Manang's home-style cooking, hanging out at Zen Garden or along SEC walk and being with real people are just some of my most memorable experiences in the Loyola Schools.

Having shared my experiences regarding the university, I cannot help but compare my experiences here in AGSB from the ones I've had in Loyola Schools. Students in AGSB come from different colleges and universities here and even abroad. Surprisingly, graduates of the Loyola Schools are only comprised of a few handfuls of students. In most of my classes, I would only have around 1-5 classmates who are also from the Loyola Schools and the others would be from various schools. This makes the culture in AGSB very different from the Loyola Schools. I am not saying that the lifestyle in the Loyola Schools is perfect. I have just realized how people from many walks of life have made the Atenean culture very different in AGSB. Sad to say, some of the good qualities of the Loyola Schools' culture have been replaced by false stereotypes.

First, being in Ateneo doesn't mean that you are "conyo" and should speak English ALL THE TIME. No need to force yourself to speak in English especially when your nose is already bleeding. It's widely acceptable to speak in Filipino in regular conversations. Speak or write in English if your professors require you to, otherwise, just be true to yourself.

Another thing that annoys me in AGSB is how many students try to brag about money and their material possessions. Being an Atenean is not equivalent to being the top 1% of the social class nor is it a requirement to enter the university. Many students think that once they are in Arteneow they have to be very sosyal or pa-sosyal. NO! You are living in a misconception of what being an Atenean is! My suggestion is try to be humble especially if you're just bragging your imaginary or unsubstantial wealth. We are in AGSB not to show off but to learn.

In the Loyola Schools, plagiarism is never tolerated. Students who have been suspected to have plagiarized face heavy consequences or even expulsion. Professors and departments are intensely strict about enforcing their stand on plagiarism. They even acquire expensive software just to ensure that all who attempts to plagiarize will be caught. In AGSB, I've witnessed many students plagiarize and get high grades for it. I've seen AGSB students who plagiarize and even graduate with flying colors. Honestly, I think many undeserving people have graduated in AGSB because of their ignorance toward plagiarism, their cruel intention to just copy and paste to get things the easy way or because of some professor's lenience or maybe all of the above. AGSB has a roster of professors with outstanding credentials and achievements. I hope they tighten their stand on plagiarism. They can also acquire software to detect plagiarism and persecute students who get caught. 3  <we caught some and failed them. I do not know if we expelled them.  For the NU 12, I did not publish or give them grades  because they are not orig.>

NU12 #8 - new PUV loading unloading system by the Great White

NU12 # 8 – PUV loading and unloading system

Everyone knows and experiences how public vehicles like jeeps and buses obstruct and cause severely inconvenient and time-draining traffic jams. I need not explain its effects in our lives and the economics of the whole country as it is already obvious. Enforcers are also lenient and forgiving to PUVs which empowers PUVs to break every single traffic law.

My idea is to have an RFID or any other identification tracking device with GPS installed in every jeep and bus in the Metro. An electronically controlled door will also be installed in buses and jeeps however, drivers and assistants do not have full control of the doors. More bus and jeep stops will be also established in major urban highways and busy streets like EDSA, Commonwealth Ave, Taft Ave, C-5 and the likes.

To force PUV's to load and unload their passengers in designated bus and jeep stops, their doors will only open when they are within the vicinity (and inside the yellow lane) of a PUV stop. Their doors will not open if they are not inside the yellow lane and far away from the PUV stop. In cases of emergency, there will be an emergency door on the driver's side where he can use to go down and manually open the main door from the outside. I don't think he has the luxury of time to use that emergency door to open the main door manually for each passenger who wishes to disobey loading and unloading zones.

Since they already have an RFID and GPS, the police or MMDA can track their activities. They will be easily caught if they violated any rules since the system will show and alarm the respective office. If an emergency door is used, the system will also alarm the office so they can send someone to check on the bus or jeep that used their emergency door. In side streets, the driver and assistant can control the main door; only in busy and major streets will the main door's use be restricted.

I know many passengers will complain because with this system since they cannot just get out wherever it is convenient for them. They will need to walk more to get to their destination since they need to get out of a PUV stop. That's one of the problems we have here in our local transportation system; passengers do not want to walk more and just want to get out of the vehicle right where they want to be even if it's not on a designated PUV stop and even if they are already causing inconvenience to others. In first world countries, passengers of public vehicles go down in designated stops and walk to where they aim to go even if it's in broad daylight. I hope here in the Philippines, passengers will stop complaining and just learn how to make small sacrifices for the benefit of the majority and besides, walking more will do your heart good.

Technology of today can make this idea possible however the large investment is needed. As prices of available technology drops as time passes by, we can expect PUVs to be governed by a system like this. 

Submitted by the Great White <there is an earlier  invention of former student that won award at UK>

NU12 #6 - Watch with Blood Pressure Monitoring by the Great White

NU12 #6 - Watch with Blood Pressure Monitoring

Many people neither have the time for regular health checks nor wear health monitoring accessories. This negligence when it comes to our health often results in late discovery of illnesses and health problems.

To help people become more aware of their health condition, health monitoring products should be installed in regular accessories like watches instead of having a separate apparatus for it. Many people feel naked when not wearing a watch; they look at it every other minute to check time. We currently have watches which have chest bands wirelessly connected to it to monitor our heart rate. It's mainly used for endurance sports. Likewise, since the watch is normally worn on our wrists, it is also possible for a watch to detect our pulse rate.

The watch with the health monitoring function does not aim to check your cholesterol level and replace regular blood test. What it aims to do is to alarm you when your blood pressure, for instance, is shooting up. Whether you are in a road rage or extremely upset because of something that can cause your blood pressure to soar, this watch with a health monitoring feature will alarm you to make you aware of your higher than normal blood pressure before it makes permanent damage to your body (i.e. heart failure, stroke).

The design of the watch will be completely like a regular watch; it is stylish and convenient. No one would ever think that it has a feature of check your blood pressure especially in times of extreme pressure and stress. 3 <not feasible;  heart rate monitor lang>

 submitted by: The Great White

NU12 #9 - Car seat with Breathalyzer by the Great White

NU12 #9 - Car seat with Breathalyzer

The police forces use breathalyzers to determine the blood alcohol level of suspected drivers under the influence of alcohol. In the Philippines, I wonder if they have breathalyzers. Furthermore, our police patrols are not enough to keep all roads safe from drunk drivers.

My idea is to have a built in breathalyzer at the headrest of the driver's seat – close to the driver's head and mouth. The car will not start if no one is seated at the driver's seat or if the one seated have blood alcohol level beyond what is allowed. Having it built-in a car makes us rely less on the inefficient police force to keep our roads safe from accident prone drunk drivers. 4.

Submitted by: The Great White

NU12 #4: The Ultimate Alarm Bed by Great White

NU12 #4 – The Ultimate Alarm Bed

How many of us have already missed an important meeting, presentation or class because we failed to get out of bed? I know we all have alarm clocks and it is even one of the most used applications in our smart phones. However, no matter how loud our alarm clocks can get the gravitational pull of our bed is still so much greater.

It would be a good idea to have a more aggressive alarm system to aid us in getting out of dreamland, especially when dreams become very engaging. Alarm clocks only involve one of the five human senses – hearing. That leaves the other four senses wandering in dreamland. What I am proposing is to involve the other senses in helping us get out of bed. This alarm system will be integrated with the bed's frame and headboard, something similar to an electronically operated hospital bed but with more functions and stylish design.

First, there will be the usual alarm sound. Small speakers will be installed in the headboard. The second feature is a bright LED lighting system strategically placed also in the headboard to brighten up the owner's eyes (yes, even if eyes are closed). To take it another step further, there will also be a feature where scents will be released by the bed. These scents range from disgusting fumes like the smell of garbage to appetizing fumes of bacon, tuyo or other fried breakfast food. This feature will surely catch the sense of smell of the owner. Still not enough to wake you up? The last and final feature of this bed is to shake and vibrate the whole bed. Having all those features, I believe, will be enough to wake someone up who's very busy riding in unicorns and playing in Alice's wonderland.

Those features will be operated by a remote control or with a few buttons on the headboard of the bed. There will be a traditional alarm clock to set the time and four additional buttons both on the remote and on the headboard. The four additional buttons are for the additional features of the bed; the alarm sound, alarm lights, alarm smell and the shaking feature will have a corresponding button each. Just press the alarm type of your choice and it will go on the time indicated. Have a very important meeting the next day? Press all four buttons! 3.5

Submitted by: The Great White

NU12 #3 - Self-sustaining Waiting Sheds

Self-Sustaining Waiting Sheds and PUV Stops

As a tropical country, we enjoy (or despise) bright hot sunny days most days of the year. Thin layers of clothes, summer outfits and flip flops are the fashion trend whole year round. When it rains, the sun seldom completely disappears; it just hides a little from the clouds than bring rain.

Third world countries are often associated with high crime and poor infrastructure development rates. True enough this is what is happening in the Philippines. Our less fortunate brothers and sisters have resorted to desperate measures to earn money. Many of them opt violent encounters just to squeeze out a few pesos from innocent civilians while others rely on their skillful hands to slither their way to our pockets and bags. These crimes usually happen in dark places like in waiting sheds and PUV stops.

There are currently some solar powered street lights installed in the Philippines. Some can be seen in Bonifacio Global City. It would be a good idea to take that idea one step further and put solar panels on top of waiting sheds and PUV stops around the Metro and eventually around the whole country. The solar panels will benefit from the powerful rays of the sun we experience whole year round. With a source of power, waiting sheds and PUV stops can now be installed with functional things like LED lights, ceiling fans and CCTV cameras without the need of a power outlet (and expensive electric bill). Small solar panels are only needed for the waiting shed, a little bigger than those in solar powered street lights. An additional feature of a phone/gadget charging station can also be installed.

I know solar panels are expensive now but that doesn't mean that this idea is not feasible. There are solar panel companies out there which prove that it is a viable business and source of energy for various applications. Solar panel prices have dropped in the recent years and will continue to follow that downward trend in the following years to come. (http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/top-chinese-manufacturers-will-produce-solar-panels-for-42-cents-a-wat)

With a well-lit, ventilated and protected waiting sheds and PUV stops citizens will feel more confident about our public transportation system. Crooks, on the other hand, will think twice of committing crimes in waiting sheds. It's about time the government focuses its efforts on the safety of the people. Yes, we can definitely say that things are "more fun in the Philippines." but are they safe? 3

Submitted by: The Great White