NU12 by Kristine Raval - improvements on IV therapy

Improvements on the IV (intravenous therapy)

I've been stuck here in the hospital for a week now, and it's been a struggle for me in so many ways, especially in moving around. I know I'm supposed to just stay put and rest, but of course, there are some important movements that I need to do while I'm here – go to the bathroom, eat, change clothes. But these simple things I find difficult now because of the IV that's attached to my hand. For the first few days, the IV was attached to my left hand, but because it was becoming too heavy for my left hand, the nurse had to transfer it to my right hand – my more "workable" hand. The struggle here is that while this IV is attached to me, I have to bring it with me wherever I go, and my movements are limited. I can't even change my clothes without hanging my shirt on the IV pole and be creative about it. I can't eat properly with this tube dangling on my side or sometimes getting in the way of my food.

This personal experience has brought me to thinking that the design of the IV should be revisited. Those in the medical profession or those in the business of manufacturing or distributing the IV should take into consideration the convenience that a patient should be able to feel while in the hospital or while an IV is attached to him/her. For example, the IV could be strapped to the arm or the shoulder while the patient is mobile. The IV, in this case, could be placed in a smaller bag so that the patient's arm or shoulder won't be strained so easily. Another way to improve on the IV is to make it waterproof – or at least it should have a shield from water or any liquid substance while the patient is taking a bath or washing his/her (other) hand. One more way to make the IV convenient for the patient is that it should be easy to detach or that the tube can be easily removed and replaced by the stopper – in cases where the patient really needs to move without that extra weight. The problem here is that some nurses, are too slow to respond to the patient's call, and sometimes it's too late. So with these suggestions in the design of the IV, perhaps some of the struggles of the patient while at the hospital will be reduced. 4 < wow naman;  maski may sakit nagsubmit;  samantalang ang iba maayos ang daming alibi and do not submit.  thanks.>

NU12 by Kristine Raval - cable TV on the go

Cable On-The-Go

I have always been a TV person. Most of my waking days at home are spent watching different TV shows – upon waking up, I turn on the TV, and even as I go to sleep, I put the TV on sleep mode so I can go to slumber with the boob tube (as what it was traditionally known as) still on. TV, I believe, is man's greatest invention – and cable TV, is the best service ever. I watch shows from E! News to National Geographic to HBO, to even Deutsche Welle, just as long as it is an entertaining program.

Too bad, I always have to be at work (and at school) more than 14 hours a day for most of the week, so I don't really get to watch cable TV that often anymore. I don't get to watch my favourite TV series anymore, even if I download them from Torrent as I don't have time to sit down and watch. Sure, I hear about and see those portable TVs and even those DVD players with built-in screens, as well as mini notebooks and tablets where you can watch those downloaded and saved files, but the experience is not the same. For me, cable TV has to be live, especially for those breaking and hot news topics. Even TiVo can't do the job.

So how about we upgrade these portable gadgets with screens big enough for us to see a good resolution? Perhaps if Sky Cable, Cignal Cable, or other cable providers expanded their reach to those who are always busy and yet need their daily dose of television programs, then they would be more appreciated for their services.

Let's take a portable TV with the size of an iPad or a mini notebook, for example. Since most of us now rely much on digital devices, then tuning in and changing channels won't be a problem for this portable TV because we can just put any channel number then it would easily be read. It would have a storage capacity of about the same as a regular computer, then it would have a special chip or input device (i.e., SIM card) which has the capability of detecting signals – similar to how a mobile phone works. Once you turn on this portable TV, then you could just easily watch your favourite cable shows anywhere you go. The role of the cable provider here is to offer that special chip or SIM card which would allow the portable TV to access cable signals wherever the user goes. This special chip can even be transferred to other devices which have a compatibility port. Simply put – cable TV at its ultimate convenience. 3

NU 12 by Kristine Raval - Vacuum Luggage

VACUUM-PACK LUGGAGE

When traveling, a lot of people find packing their things as a challenge. Imagine all the clothes that you need to bring, toiletries, and other miscellaneous items that they usually bring – it's just crazy. No matter how "light" someone wants their packing style to be, it just seems difficult especially when it's time to go home and s/he has to pack all the stuff that was shopped for and all the pasalubong that needs to be given to friends and family back home.

I have been searching for different luggage accessories that may help fit all the things that one needs to put in a luggage. There are some packing cubes (where different types of clothing – i.e., underwear, shirts, bottoms – may be segregated), toiletry bags, compact towels, luggage with lots of pockets and compartments – but all of these do not really suffice "light" packing. So I look back at all the infomercials that I have seen, and I just distinctly remember this vacuum pack which is made of plastic and has a hole at the side where a vacuum can suck all the air from the bag and make it compact enough to fit in the cabinet and ultimately make storage clutter-free. Then I thought of integrating this idea with the luggage to make packing easier for those who have a lot of things to bring when traveling.

This vacuum-pack luggage shall look like a normal luggage on the outside, but when opened, it has lots of compartments which are vacuum-friendly (regardless of the material). Each compartment would have an integrated vacuum seal connected to the main luggage contraption which, when turned on, will activate the vacuum and make all the compartments compact. When this is done, there will be enough space within the luggage for one to put in all the extra stuff that needs to be packed. There could also be bonus vacuum packs for those extras so that there would even be more space in the luggage. This way, travelers can avoid bringing along bigger luggage or multiple bags just to be able to bring everything that is needed (and wanted).4

NU12 for June 5, 2012 (KRaval) - What Pisses You Off at the Office

What pisses me off in the office? What must be done?

I've been working in the same company for the last 6 years, and I can say that it has been a very great learning experience for me. I never would have thought that I would get to a Project Development job, being a Philosophy graduate myself. Our company is currently operating at a very fast pace, and it can be very stressful. We begin work at 7:30am, and ideally, we could go home at 4:30pm, but that's not the case. It is oftentimes embarrassing to our other officemates if we go home at 4:30pm, or even earlier than 5pm, just because everyone has to have a share in the burden of the current task at hand.

Our work usually begins with reading e-mails, then do some paperwork, then attend meetings, then make presentations, then back to reading e-mails, then interrupted by calls, then attend meetings again... until you've realized that you are already hungry and thirsty. This is definitely not the ideal "life at the office". And so my office mates were brainstorming one day about what should be done about this kind of office routine and prevent the employees from burning out. We thought of those days we dreamed of a work-life balance, and those days in the office we cannot even send a text message or make a phone call to a friend or a family member just because we're too busy to do so. Therefore we came up with a few things to somehow make our "work-life balance" dream come true:

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            1. There should be at least one day of the week we are allowed to work from home: read and answer e-mails, make and answer phone calls – while doing personal errands. This would definitely help us make more time to do our personal errands (especially when we need to go to government offices which are only open during weekdays) as well as spend more time with our family (especially for those who still have small children) while still being productive at work. We believe that one day away from the office won't make a lot of difference. Paperwork and other items of concern won't run out, anyway.

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      2. There should be at least one day of week that is declared as "meeting-less" day: this would help us work on our backlog paperwork and read or answer e-mails that have been sitting on our desks for at least 2 weeks. Meetings, after all, are just simply a waste of time, especially those that run for more than an hour. Further, meetings are meant for decision-making amongst the group involved – employees should already know the background of the agenda be prepared with solutions or recommendations. <ganun meeting de avance? always ? wala nang nagagawa?>

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      3. Employees should be entitled to a wellness program. Our company used to have one, but because of management decision, it was one of the employee programs that were cut from the budget. The wellness program that we are proposing is that of a provision of even a cafeteria that has healthy food options – aside from a gym and a fitness program offer. The company's number 1 asset should be the workforce – so we should be treated well and given this type of opportunity.

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      4.To avoid too much paperwork, there should be limits as to the number of paperwork that an employee should handle on a certain period. Some should already be automated so we can also avoid using too much paper. We are always on-line, so we can probably view such documents and approve/sign off on them via system.

5. Employees should be rewarded with an automatic workday off when we go to work on weekends. There are times we are required to go to work on a Saturday or Sunday for so many reasons, but of course, we lose our personal time off and our time for our family and friends. This "swap" day should automatically be credited to us without the management questioning our absence for not showing up at work the first official workday after that weekend. < that is what the law requires> 3

NU12 for May 29, 2012 (KRaval) Night Vision Windshield

Magnifying and Night Vision Windshield

When driving, one always requires a clear vision of the road so s/he may be able to drive well and avoid accidents. In my case, because I have astigmatism, I sometimes find it difficult to drive especially at night. It is oftentimes hard for me to recognize the other cars as well as pedestrians crossing especially those that suddenly appear within my sight. I can't even read plate numbers of the cars near mine. Even at times when I wear my glasses, it is still a challenge for me.

During my drive home last week, I kept thinking about how it would be visually easier for me to drive at night. And so I turn to the first object that I see – my car windshield, that is. Since it's the first thing and the one thing that I have direct visual contact with when driving, I thought maybe if it were modified as if it were my eyeglasses, with the added functionality of a night vision goggles, then perhaps I won't have any more complaints driving at night.

With this "smart" windshield, we can adjust the vision according to the driver's preference and according to how clear the vision is – similar to how an optometrist refracts the eyesight of a patient. There could also be an option to focus on a certain part of the vision which the driver can magnify just so s/he can see it more closely. A more advanced option with the "smart" windshield is the night vision functionality. When traversing a road that is not well-lit or doesn't have street lights at all, the car would have a "lumino-sensor" which detects the (lack of) lights within the external surroundings of the vehicle. If further visual is required, then the windshield would automatically be on its night vision mode, therefore helping the driver see the surroundings amidst the dark or in an area with the lack of proper lighting.  Ultimately, this car modification would be an added safety feature of the vehicle – no more visual "surprises" and drivers would surely enjoy the driving experience because s/he can clearly see what's ahead on the road. 3<Rt has a similar idea>

NU12 for May 22, 2012 (KRaval)

All-in-One camping gear

I've been going up and down mountains for four years now and it is always a delightful experience, especially whenever I reach the summit and see breathtaking views and witness nature's wonders. The whole mountaineering experience for me is great, because I feel rewarded, and it is also a form of extreme exercise for me, especially during the trek. The downside to trekking, though, is that you have to carry a very heavy pack while going up uneven terrain amidst the extreme weather. No matter how "light" you pack, the gear is still not light enough to carry up the mountains.

A big technical pack, a tent, trekking pole, insulation, sleeping bag, extra clothes, extra footwear, hydration pack, binoculars, camera, cooking tools and ingredients, carabiners, trekking rope, windbreaker, headlamp – these are the basics. In packing these mountaineering gear, you still have to gather all of these and put them in one bag and make sure that all of them fit. For me and my fellow backpackers, it is quite a hassle because we have to pack and unpack every so often. And so we think of how to make it more convenient for us to get ready for the climb – what if Black Diamond or Deuter or any outdoor gear brand come up with an all-in-one camping/trekking pack featuring these items? All items, of course, should be made of ultra lightweight material and should have an exclusive pocket in the backpack or bag. This should save a lot of time and effort in packing and even give us the convenience to get the specific gear that we need at a specific time during the climb. It's like a Swiss army knife but it's a bag with all the survival gear needed. So instead of buying one gear at a time, buying this all-in-one pack would be a much easier approach to getting ready for your adventure – this way you would surely enjoy the experience much better and more conveniently. 3.5 (you need upper body strengthening for the weight, or if not a Sherpa guide ha3)

NU12 for May 15, 2012 (KRaval) - Portable Food Chiller/Heater

Portable Food Chiller/Heater

Every morning I prepare my lunch which I bring to the office. I usually put it in an air-tight container to prevent spillage and so that it will be preserved "fresh" until break time. Food temperature has always been an issue to me because I prefer to have my food at the right temperature when I am about to eat. For instance, when it's a rice meal I have prepared for myself, I always make sure that I go to the pantry to use the microwave oven to heat it; or when it's a salad, I still go to the pantry but this time I get my food container which I have placed inside the refrigerator as soon as I arrive at the office in the morning. This takes so much of my time because the pantry is far from my workstation and also far from the designated eating area in the office – which is not efficient at all.

What I have thought of to make this all efficient and save me from the hassle of going back and forth to the pantry just to make sure that my food is heated or kept cold well, is a food container which has the capacity to keep the food fresh. It is a battery-operated food container and food preserver – so there are two knobs – one for heating the food and one for keeping the food cold. In keeping the food cold, it should be turned on the minute that the food is placed in it, so that there will be constant cool temperature until it is time to eat the food. This is sort of a portable mini-"refrigerator" which is actually a food container or a "Tupperware" for packed lunch. On the other hand, in keeping the food warm, the food container may not necessarily be turned on the minute the food is placed in it, but it has the capacity to heat the food on its own by the time it's to be served. In this case, it can turn into a portable mini-"microwave" which is again, actually a food container. The battery life can reach about 12 hours, notwithstanding the length the food container is turned on whether as the "refrigerator" or the "microwave". The battery can be replaced or recharged so we can use it anytime. A special storage or "bag" similar to a real lunch box or lunch bag comes with the container so that it will be well-protected. It should be lightweight, so even children can use it in school for their packed lunches.

This type of food container will definitely help us be more efficient and save on electricity because of the use of batteries only, and that we will always be guaranteed of fresh food at the right temperature, which it always should be. 4

NU12 for (KRaval) - Bike Protector

Bike Protector

For bicycle fanatics, it is such a breeze when riding especially on a bright sunny day. You get to traverse any terrain (especially those with mountain bikes) and not worry about getting stuck anywhere as long as you have the right tools and complete gear. But how about on a rainy day? It's always a hassle that in the middle of your ride during the scorching heat of the day, the rain suddenly kicks in. Your parade has literally been rained on. You look for a shade just to dry yourself as well as protect your bike from rust and further damage.

It is also a concern nowadays for riders to have a lightweight bike because of all the gear that they bring when riding. So we take a bike with a carbon fiber frame and use it as a prototype. We use this type of bike as a standard, and then we consider it to be an all-terrain bike. And then we think of how we can use it anytime and during any weather – so we create an all-weather bike. But how to do this? Perhaps given all the technology we can access, we automate the bike, and with the press of a button, a "shield" appears, therefore giving the bike fanatic something new he can experience while riding. The "shield" or bike "cover" doesn't necessarily have to enclose the entire bike except the wheels. In a more modern age, it can be like a "force field" wherein the cover is invisible or transparent. Of course, it would still have a provision for oxygen so that the rider is spared from suffocation. It may seem too complicated now, but with a more thrrough study and detailed attention to this type of solution for an all-weather bike, the idea can be further developed and executed. When that time comes that the market is offered a bike that can protect it from any weather and that can help the rider have an easier time looking for a shade, I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of demand for this and the community of biking sport enthusiasts will grow even more. 3

NU12 for April 24, 2012 (KRaval) - Adjustable Shoe

The Adjustable Shoe

Almost every week, I go to the mall and I stumble upon shoe stores and become a victim of un-scheduled shoe shopping. Since I have big feet (at 9 to 9.5), it has always been a challenge to me in purchasing footwear because my shoe size is like an introductory size for men, and I am pretty sure that those in the extreme side of the shoe size problem – those with the 5's – also have a difficult time looking for shoes because it's like they're borderline on the children's footwear section.

Even when I get a shoe size 9 or sometimes 10, it is not always certain that the shoe would fit, because different brands have different "measurements" also for shoe sizes – footwear size is not always as standard as we thought. Sometimes the shoes I buy are loose, sometimes tight.

So perhaps to address this problem that goes for us, I was hoping there would be a special footwear to be released in the market – an adjustable shoe which can fit anyone. For example, a free-size pair of loafers – whether the shoe size is 5 or extreme 10 – that can be adjusted, stretched, or made smaller so that any shoe size can fit. Even adjustable basketball shoes that can be fit according to the player's comfort. The adjusting mechanism for this shoe is to be found in the middle of the shoe or at the arch part of the feet so that the designs at the toe and at the heel parts of the shoe won't be compromised.

Further, the standard price to be put on this adjustable shoe can be better justified because there's just one size of material that is used compared to the "standardized" shoe price whether there is more leather or rubber material used.

How I wish I were a shoemaker so that I would be a pioneer in developing this idea and actually executing it and selling it to the market – I'm sure a lot of people would buy into it.4

NU12 by Kristin Raval - What pisses you off at the School

What pisses you off at AGSB? What must be done?

I have been in AGSB for the past 2 years and I have come to appreciate all the benefits and learnings that I have acquired from studying in the school. It has (almost) always been a pleasant experience whenever I am at school – except for some that I have been exasperating since.

One of them would be the lost ID charges – my question is, how did the school even come up with the Php200 fee? What comes with it? Is it the price of getting students (or even professors) hassled nowadays? Perhaps the school needs to re-think this policy because I think this is unfair to all of us concerned. Come to think of it, how the student gets to be legitimately allowed within the school premises is just too funny – there will be argument (or pleading) between the student and the guard, and then once the student realized s/he doesn't get her/his way, a guard escorts (or flags to other security guards within the school grounds) the student to the cashier and then the student is let go. I mean, it is also hassle for the guards because they have to babysit some forgetful student for the day. What I think the school needs to do first is to do away with this forgotten or lost ID fee so all parties concerned will not be hassled anymore. How about the school has a centralized database (or even just a list of enrolled students for the term) which the guards can access from their post so that when one student forgets his/her ID, the guard just verifies through the database that s/he indeed is a student of the school and just lets him/her in. One way of penalizing the student for forgetting his/her ID is to modify the earlier suggestion – the guard has access to the database, then a scanner is placed on all entry points of the school. This scanner shall be the "ticket" of the student to enter the school and can also double up as an attendance monitoring system. If a student forgets his/her ID for the day, s/he will be marked absent in class without any chance to appeal.

Another thing that somehow annoys me is that there are very few choices in the school cafeteria. Albeit the good food offered by the current concessionaire, it is still not enough for the students. The cafeteria is very big for the entire student population so we need more than just Wendy's, Fruitas, Tea Delite, and Pizza Pedericos. There should be a re-layout of the cafeteria wherein 3 or 4 more stalls can be added at the sides. Proposed food choices should be more on the gourmet side, since a lot of people nowadays are health-conscious. Perhaps a salad bar, a dessert stall, and a mini-coffee shop are the minimum "requirements" to vamp up the cafeteria. This way, students will appreciate the cafeteria better and we won't have to cross the street anymore to get to Powerplant just to buy more decent snacks.

One last major thing that I have been hoping that the school realizes is that there is no tissue paper provided for in the toilets and that the hand dryer mechanism doesn't work properly. Sure, the wash rooms are big enough for the school population and that there is a working bidet in each cubicle, but I still don't get it why the school can't even provide a toilet paper. I think it is very basic for a toilet paper to exist in a wash room. I noticed that there are tissue holders in some cubicles, but what is the use of the tissue holder if there's no tissue to hold? There are also tissue and sanitary napkin vendo machines, but most of the time those are empty. The school needs to provide toilet papers in each of the wash room cubicles and make sure that they don't run out of supply. Also, there should be strict monitoring of the vendo supplies so that students don't have to go around asking others if they have sanitary napkins to spare or even tissue paper.

As one of the most prestigious schools in the country, AGSB needs to provide the students with a more hassle-free academic life, a more decent cafeteria, and a working and complete toilet. This way, the school can better protect its brand and give the entire school population a better peace of mind. 4                  This is the nth time this complaint  has been forwarded.  No action.  from a management education institution?