NU 12 by RT - Anti Graffiti Paint

Good morning Sir!


Here is my nu12 paper #12.


Thanks and Regards,
Risha

ANTI-GRAFFITI AND ANTI-POSTER PAINT

Time flies by so fast that pretty soon we're going to have another national elections going on. As they try to be so strict with the allocations of space for posters and banners, it's inevitable that the public (and private) walls will be bombarded with posters that would be too difficult to take away – polluting the visual images around the city again. The metro aides will work full time shortly after the winners will be proclaimed.

This doesn't just happen during election-time though. Graffiti and posters are posted just about anywhere. It's a problem that hasn't been resolved.

I researched on the available wall paints out there that may solve the problem, but the available ones fall short. Boysen's Wallguard just has higher resistance to dirt. But I would bet my money that anyone with a spray paint can would be able to use it on a wall painted with this line of Boysen's paint.

We're trying to fight against graffiti and posters.

First, the posters. If the paint of the walls has a top layer of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which we know as Teflon. There should be enough of PTFE that the walls come out non-stick. This way, only official signed by MMDA could be screwed or nailed onto the walls. No more surprise posters in the morning after the midnight miracle workers did their thing.

Then, the graffiti. The main objective is to avoid graffiti. The other objective is to minimize need for metro aides to clean the walls. The PTFE will help the spray paint from sticking, but as a further step, the paint should therefore be inspired by the thermal paper of fax machines – which is made of fluoran leuco dye and octadecylphosphonic acid. This way, even if images (from spray paint) may achieve contact at one point, in the long run it will detach and fade under normal humidity – bringing the wall paint back to original. This eliminates the need for the aides to clean up.

With this new breed of paint mixing PTFE and the thermal paper ingredients would help clean up the visual images of the city, any time of the year. 4

Bathroom E-Reader (NU12 Paper #10 by RT)

Good afternoon Sir!

Here is my NU12 paper #10.

Thanks and Regards,
Risha

BATHROOM E-READER

In one of my current architectural projects, the client wanted a bathtub in the master bedroom. The wife requested to have a ledge next to the bathtub for toiletries, and as a place for her books and magazines since she liked to read in the bathtub.

It made me question and think about the feasibility of reading while using the bathtub. I know it is common as seen in movies and TV shows. The problem is, it is almost impossible to not get the book wet. Even if using an iPad or a Kindle, there aren't any waterproof versions yet.

So I thought the solution would be retractable waterproof e-reader with a combination of features of the following:

1.       Kindle or iPad for the e-reader features

2.       Samsung Smart TV wherein the user doesn't have to touch the actual screen; TV has a sensor with the user's actions from afar

3.       Retractable mirror

The waterproof e-reader would be attached to the wall at the side of the bathtub. The user can adjust the position of the e-reader through the retractable feature. The contraption should be steady, but be able to move left, right, up and down so the user can adjust length and height. Once in place, the user can just move his/her hand in a sweeping motion even a couple feet away from the e-reader in order to change the page.

This way, the user can have the leisure of reading without worrying about books and e-readers getting wet and damaged. 3

Personal Inventory System (NU12 Paper #9 by RT)

Good evening Sir,

Here is my NU12 paper for the week.

Thanks and Regards,
Risha

PERSONAL INVENTORY SYSTEM

For the past couple of months I've been missing pieces of accessories. They're cheap but I really liked them and used them often. They aren't easy to replace, so the loss is felt.

Everyone has lost something at least once in their lives, some more than others, and sometimes the item lost is something with sentimental value.  

I've been organizing the inventory of my shop for the past week and I was thinking if there was a way to take inventory also of all my personal possessions. If in groceries and other stores, we have barcodes marking each item to track them, why can't we have barcodes for our personal possessions as well? Of course it would be unsightly to see barcodes or stickers on items, but the barcodes can be in laser format.

The personal inventory system will be composed of a scanner which can connect to a laptop or desktop via USB. The scanner will scan any item and virtually stamps that item with a barcode. The item's barcode will automatically be input in the inventory system in the computer. Wherever the item will be placed, the system will be updated of its location, like a GPS tracking device. So if an item is missing or stolen, the item can be tracked.

If you are even meticulous, you can identify the maximum radius for the location of an item (from your home, your cellphone, or whatever starting point you wish), so that once it goes beyond the boundaries, you will be notified via email. This way you can still chase after the stolen item when it isn't so far away yet, or you can still go back for an item you left behind, when you aren't so far away yet.

This system will help people get organized and be able to keep track of the whereabouts of their items. 4

NU 12 Transition Windshield Paper #8 by RT)

Good morning Sir!

Here is my NU12 paper for the week.

Thanks and Regards,
Risha

TRANSITION WINDSHIELD

This idea applies the concept of Transition Glasses with the windshield of vehicles. This came to mind whenever I go through underground tunnels (particularly the one linking Boni Avenue under EDSA) -- where the tunnel isn't well-lit -- so the contrast from outside to tunnel to outside again is quite distracting and possibly a safety hazard. Turning on the headlights isn't much help, as it is still too dark.  If bright, it takes effort to put down the visor, and the visor doesn't help much, and blocks out part of your view.

With the Transition Windshield, the glass comes with a light-detecting sensor to identify the amount of lightness or darkness. When dark, the windshield can provide night vision or additional brightness/contrast to the view of the driver. For brightness, it would dim the glare just like a pair of sunglasses. This way, there's no need to use sunglasses, visor, or excessive use of headlights. 4

What Pissed Me Off at AGSB (by RT) - NU12 paper #7

Good morning Sir!

Here is my NU12 paper for the week.

Thanks and Regards,

Risha

WHAT PISSES ME OFF AT AGSB?

I've been saving this topic, because I wanted to cover as much as I could. Although some of the items are from past experiences, I wanted to navigate the halls of AGSB and consciously see what has irked and continuously irks me.

LIBRARY TURNSTILES

I've been in AGSB for over a year now, and I can only count with one hand the times my ID was actually read by the scanner to allow me to enter the library. The library personnel are probably familiar with the problem since they sometimes open the turnstile even before the student scans his or her ID.

This makes me think why they need the turnstiles in the first place -- do they just want to screen out the enrolled students, teachers and personnel from outsiders who want to enter the library? If the library personnel end up just having students enter due to face recognition, why don't they just do that altogether? Only those with ID's can enter. A non-electronic turnstile would have done the job at less resource.

And for the exit, if they are concerned people are going out with books not officially borrowed, then they just install a scanner like in the mall stores tied in with the barcode of the books.4

MBA AREA IN LIBRARY

It's sometimes depressing to think how small an area is devoted to MBA students in the library. Although MBA students are free to use the other tables outside this area, the separation of areas makes AGSB students using the tables outside the MBA area feel awkward.

I know that the separation was originally placed because the Law students tended to hog all the tables. But the separation of the area should be designed in a way that it's more conducive for learning, and empowering still for the MBA student. A row of shelves doesn't do the trick. If they had an area that had softer boundaries such as plants, it won't be as marginalizing. 3

CAFETERIA FOOD

The cafeteria food is very limited, especially during the Law students' summer break, when all the other kiosks are closed. Again, MBA students feel marginalized since it seems that it's only to the Law students the other kiosks are catering to.

We all understand that Law students are in school full time, and MBA students are only in evenings and Saturdays, but if the school can design it in a way that rent is cheaper during the "off-season" periods like Law school summer break, so that tenants can still meet their ROI, and the school still earns from the rent.

Another idea is that since MBA is filled with entrepreneurs. Students should be invited to set up stalls to practice their entrepreneurship.4

LINK TO POWERPLANT MALL

The entrance at the corner is the most used by the MBA students. It just doesn't link to the mall, but it is only through the mall that students who commute can go to the jeepneys along JP Rizal. There is no shaded walkway towards the mall during unexpected rainfall.

The student council employed the Rent an Umbrella scheme by leaving your ID, but I don't know why these umbrellas are placed by the entrance close to the Cashier, and not the entrance leading to the mall, where most of the students go in and out.

WEBSITE

The website isn't as user-friendly as it should be. When my friend and I started MBA, we couldn't find all the necessary information online and had to call the office a lot. Even today after several semesters, when the schedule for the next semester is shown, somehow, not everyone can navigate the site properly, and only some chance upon the schedules that have the professors listed. The website still isn't streamlined for navigating. The website should undergo an overhaul for effectiveness for students, teachers and interested applicants. 4

ONLINE REGISTRATION

No registration has passed that I don't know anyone who had a problem with it. As convenient as online registration is, there are always bugs in the procedure. Personally, I've experienced that I click on a certain section, and what registers is a different section and schedule. And sometimes, the system says the subjects I'm registering for are conflicting, but they aren't really. The system should be repeatedly tested before the actual run and be cleared of all bugs, so as to avoid problems by the students. 3.5

Re: Smart Rotating Clothesline (NU12 Paper #6)

Good afternoon, sir,

I'd just like to check if you got my email below, or do I have to repeat this NU12? I sent it Tuesday morning, it hasn't been posted in the NU12 page. Please advise what I should do.

Thanks and Regards,
Risha

On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 11:51 AM, Risha Tobias <risha.tobias@gmail.com> wrote:

Good morning Sir!

Here is my NU12 for this week.

Best Regards,
Risha

SMART ROTATING CLOTHES LINE

I couldn't remember when we last had a helper at home. For more than 10 years,  all of us in the household would have our own chores. My mom was in charge of the laundry  (though bulk still went to the Laundromat). Some were handwashed, some were put into the washing machine. A dryer wasn't used though, we let the clothes hang out to dry at our terrace.

During my few years in Singapore, since most of the people lived in condominiums, and developers didn't provide space for hanging clothes, people had metal rods to hang out of their windows for their clothes to dry. I used the washing machine and hung my clothes to dry.

Either here or Singapore, it was always an issue if it started raining. Especially if everyone was out, and it rained unexpectedly. People would start to panic about the clothes they've hung out to dry. (I couldn't begin to explain how my mom would panic or worry when this happens).

There are clotheslines that come in loops, so that you can pull for them to rotate. But this is done manually. It is not enough to solve the issue of unexpected rain.

The solution for this is a smart rotating clothesline. The clothesline has a sensor that if it senses a certain minimum amount of shower/rainfall, the clothesline will rotate until the clothes hung are gathered at one end where it is shaded. It is required of course that a portion of the clothesline is shaded by roof eaves or any form of shade. An added feature is that if it stops raining, the clothesline rotates back and the clothes can go back to their original positions.

With this, everyone will have his or piece of mind and no longer worry about their laundry.3 <is this an existing equipment in Singapore, or is this entirely new? this will have to be changed if is an existing product.>

--
Risha Carla C. Tobias
Architect
63.917.5288285

NU 12 by RT -Smart Shopping Cart (NU12 Paper #5)

Good morning Sir,

Here is my NU12 paper for the week,

Regards,
Risha

SMART SHOPPING CART

I go to the grocery once a week.  Not just out of necessity, but I always want to be updated with new items coming out – either local or imported products.

A few weeks back I was at Shopwise Cubao in particular. For that branch, they have the policy that in order to get free parking for 3 hours, you should have purchased P300 worth of items from them, and P1,000 for 5 hours of parking. So I was mentally calculating each item I was putting in the cart to know if I have already reached the minimum.

My dad, just also recently, got a powdered juice drink when we were at SM Hypermart, Cubao. He got that item particularly because he saw on the price label at the display rack that it was cheaper than elsewhere. But when he got to the cashier, the price came out higher than what was displayed. It turns out the display price was outdated.

After these two instances, I was thinking there have been times when I would see the people before me at the cashier line, removing items last minute because they have exceeded their budget or have run out of money.

Another instance is when supermarkets hold raffle promos where for every certain amount (example for every P500) or for a minimum amount, they will get a raffle stub. And sometimes to complicate things, the groceries required purchase of certain brands and products. I'm sure a lot of shoppers want to maximize their shopping experience by the chance of winning in one of those raffles. My family have experienced running short of the required purchase.

So I was thinking that since supermarkets also want to give as best a service they could to their customers, they should come up with Smart Shopping Carts, which have their own scanning devices that automatically scans the barcodes of the items put inside the cart, showing the running total. Of course it is necessary that the scanners are updated with the latest prices. This will help shoppers budget their money and also maximize their shopping experience – just like in the instances I listed above, like in raffle promos or free parking. Shoppers may have other reasons.

There are a couple ways to build from this idea:

1.       Just like how BPI branches have installed their automated kiosks within their branches so that clients will just input their transactions there before seeing the teller, for the smart shopping cart, since the customer has already put all the items in the cart and know the total and breakdown, once checking out, the cashier just has to receive the money from them. To be more green, the smart shopping cart could read through recyclable shopping bags, so even if the items are placed inside these eco-bags, they can still scan the prices. So once checked out and paid, the shopper can just pick up the eco-bags and go. The cashier can also just give the corresponding raffle stubs if applicable, or free parking pass.

2.       If the shopping cart scanning system is in the form of a tablet, the tablet can also double as a GPS system that would assist the shopper in navigating through the supermarket in order to find the items he or she is looking for. If this is so, the supermarket can earn more by flashing some advertisements by their sponsors in these LCD screens.

With this system, supermarket owners will cut back on manpower and decrease queuing time in the checkout kiosks. Hopefully it would also decrease the instances where people leave items right before the cashier since they've run out of budget. The system will allow shoppers to be more conscientious of what items they're putting in their cart, and be able to shop within their budgets and objectives. 3,5

All these because the supermarket gave maximum service through the Smart Shopping Cart.

NU 12 by Arch Tobias, Chameleon Clothes

Good evening Sir!

Here is my NU12 paper for the week.

Regards,
Risha

CHAMELEON CLOTHES

I drive my own car, but there are times that it's really more practical to take the public transport. Another reason would be when my car isn't allowed to go out because of the color-coding scheme.

I know of people who have been harassed or have been stolen from during their train ride or walking to or from the train terminal, so I am very cautious when I take the public transportation, which would usually be the MRT, LRT, jeep or cab. For one, I look Chinese even if my Chinese blood is very minimal. I make it a point to dress down without any makeup or jewellery on and just change wherever I go. But there are times that I go to meetings, and it would be quite of an effort to bring extra clothes, and it's difficult to tow along an extra bag for the additional clothes.

I sometimes also worry about my sister who also takes the train or the cab. She doesn't take the extra effort of dressing down, or changing clothes. She, like me, looks Chinese as well. So aside from me and my sister, I'm sure there are countless women out there who just want to be extra careful during these times.

So I thought of chameleon clothes. Chameleons are known for changing colors to adapt to their environment. So if there are chameleon clothes, these would adjust based on the surrounding of the person wearing them.

For example, I have a meeting in Makati with a prospective client. I would have to look presentable and credible. So on my way to the MRT, during my MRT ride, and walking from the Ayala MRT station to SM, I am wearing ordinary clothes that would allow me to blend in with the surroundings. But once I step into SM where it is relatively safer, my clothes shift to something more distinguished and appropriate for my meeting. The clothes would be in tune with my brain. My brain knows which design and style I prefer so it knows what to change into.

These chameleon clothes aren't just for safety, but for practicality. For example it's very sunny outside then it rains. Wouldn't you wish you had a jacket and a hood? So just by thinking about it, your clothes grow longer sleeves, change to a waterproof material, and a hood grows behind you. And voila, you can walk through the rain.

Other uses would be for people who want to change from their work clothes to night-out clothes, or for people who go to the gym before or after work. The uses are countless. It is the future of clothes where people can change in an instant without the actual action of doing so.

Imagine how simple it would have been for Clark Kent to shift from newspaper reporter to Superman? 3.5

NU 12 by RT, Travelling Light

Good evening sir!

Below is my second paper for NU12.

Best Regards,
Risha


Traveling "Light"

I'm one of those people who brings too many things in my bag. During my grade school and high school years, even if we had student lockers, I chose to bring home all of my books to ensure I would have all the needed materials for homework. There weren't any technology such as iPads then yet so we had all these books and notebooks to bring around.

During my college years, my friends and classmates knew I always had a lot of stuff in my bag. I had a foldable umbrella (I studied in UP and even with the jeepneys, you're bound to get wet when it's raining), a calculator, relevant school books, wallet, cell phone, and other items. Even for my college yearbook writeup, all my friends wrote about were the items I had in my bag that reflected my personality.

Now with my work, I've added a tape measure to the lineup of items in my bag, among others. I try to be a girl scout when it comes to the items I bring along with me. And even if I try to find the most compact versions of the items, I end up with a lot of stuff, and end up with a heavy bag most of the time. And even if there's the most compact foldable umbrella for example, they aren't as sturdy as the reliable original umbrellas.

When traveling, I try my best to pack as light as I could. Sometimes I succeed, but my sister and my mom for instance, just have a hard time packing light. Even for overnight trips, my sister would end up with a bag as heavy as what I would pack for a week-long trip.

And as the airlines explain, overall weight of passengers and luggage contribute of the amount of gas consumed during the trip.

So what solution did I think of? This may be far out, but I'd like to think that with technology, there are no limits, and the future beholds everything of our imagination. I am thinking of bags and luggage that have the ability of shrinking items put inside. But as an added feature, only the bag-/luggage-owner has the remote that can shrink the items in the bag, so that it prevents people from stealing the bags and luggage since they won't be able to "unlock" the items inside it.

Another advantage would for be health and posture reasons. There won't be a risk of having uneven shoulders from having to carry the heavy load on one shoulder most of the time, as people tend to do so.

And again, airlines would consume less gas with the much lighter load they're carrying. Then Import and export of goods among countries would also be very cost-efficient, promoting free trade and maximum globalization.

Finally everyone can travel light. 4

NU l2 by RT: What Pisses Me Off at the Mall

Good morning, Sir!

Below is my NU12 assignment for this week.

Thanks and Regards,

Risha

WHAT PISSES ME OFF AT THE MALL?

This topic was a natural choice for me since I go to the mall once a week on average for business, work and leisure.I spend an average of 3 hours per visit, and indeed there are some items within the mall setting that does piss me off. Mall developers and management should understand that malls should bring service to their clientele and it should be a totally pleasant experience.

PARKING RATES

I personally find the parking rates in malls exorbitant. Currently they range from 40 to 50 pesos for the first three hours. And ever since Quezon City implemented free parking (for the first three hours) for senior citizen residents of the city, both Trinoma Mall and Eastwood Mall hiked up their parking rate from 45 to 50 pesos.

It is quite obvious that many malls get a a lot of revenues from parking alone, that SM Megamall is building carpark buildings left and right.

Parking at the mall should be part of the service provided by the mall. They should find a way that parking would be free for minimum purchase at the mall. For SM malls for example, they have the SM Advantage membership card, which serves as a loyalty program. They can add free parking feature as follows:

1.     SM malls set minimum purchase to avail of free parking. (ex. P1,000)

2.    The SM Advantage card should serve as the parking stub when the mall-goer checks in, instead of them issuing stubs (so it would be paperless and earth-friendly).

3.     SM Advantage Card should be tied in with a particular car and plate number.

4.    The SM Advantage Card would be used for all purchases in the mall, not just in the department store and grocery, but for all tenants.

5.       When that customer makes purchases amounting to the minimum amount (i.e. P1,000) this will reflect in the card.

6.     When they leave the carpark building, the guard will scan the card to see that the customer spent at least P1,000 and is entitled to free parking.

7.       In the event that the customer wasn't able to meet the minimum, that's when they're charged with the parking rates.

Other malls can follow suit. This way, it would serve as service to their loyal customers, and entices customers to make more purchases in the mall.

BAG INSPECTION

Of course I understand why they have to go through this – for the safety of everyone. But it's frustrating to see long queues of people waiting for their bag to be inspected, when the guards end up rushing inspecting the bags and not really scrutinizing the contents.

Malls should invest in the detectors which should be more reliable. Right now I can only think of Podium Mall as having this.

PAY LOUNGES

In some malls, you have to go to pay lounges to have toilet paper in the cubicles. It is more than enough that they already charge for parking, but for bathrooms too?

In the same way that I proposed that cards such as the SM Advantage card can be used to track spending by the customers. So for example they set a minimum purchase of P200 then the card-holder is entitled to enter these "pay lounges".

MAINTENANCE

Many of us mall-goers must have experienced non-working escalators and closed-up ones, so people are going up and down the steps manually. Escalators shouldn't be fixed during mall hours. Malls should make an arrangement with the escalator subcontractors that maintenance and repairs should be done outside mall hours.

FLYERING

I do understand that some business models rely on aggressive sales practices to be able to get customers. Lately, there are a bunch of salespersons for condominiums, fitness centers, massage chairs, etc at the corridors of the malls, and they don't just stay within the confines of their booth. They cross the corridor to meet you halfway to give you a flyer and give their sales pitch.

Personally I feel like my personal bubble or comfort zone is being intruded. Mall management should set rules that flyering should only be done within the boundaries of the booth, or at most up to 1 meter around, so that the sales representatives are allowed to move around.

Also, there have been and there are still cases of misleading sales strategies of companies such as scratch cards within reputable malls. The management should properly scrutinize the merits of the tenants. If the customers of the malls end up being harassed or misled, it wouldn't be good for the reputation of the mall. 4