The form of the project is great in the fact that it allows visitors to come from all sides in order to interact with the exhibit. One of my concerns is that while visitors stand around the exhibit, the visible part (the top) of the project does not hint at the contents of the exhibit. Possibly you guys could consider putting an object at the top that moves with the wind, something a little more sculptural and attractive than a normal windmill. Hopefully this can draw people in from a further distance.
I like that there are different types of turbines to compare to one another, and I think it would be cool if the energy they output could be counted or compared to something, such as counting rotations/min and then saying how much electricity that generates. Also, I think the exhibit isn't clear in terms of its purpose to someone walking up to it. You could decorate the center column and make it a turbine, for example.
I feel that you presented your idea very well. Its clear and gets to the point. I love the idea of having different turbine especially. The only thing I would be somewhat worried about would be your signs. I am not sure if there would be enough space for some attractive signs. I think once you have people around the exhibit, it would look rather bland. Perhaps there could be a stronger attention getter that towers over the exhibit.
I like that you exhibit will address misconceptions that people have about wind power and attitudes they have toward it. I also thought the way you started your presentation with a question to the audience about how many earths it would take to sustain energy usage if everyone was like Americans, was good because it put the importance into the mind of the viewer right away.
To cover the questions you were asking a the end: --In the views I've seen, the bellows aren't pointed a the windmills, so reorienting them would make their purpose more obvious. --I like the idea of visual feedback, mainly because of younger kids, but the idea of having a 'high score' is good too. --The exhibit does read wind energy from a distance. Good job on that! --I will always vote for open exhibits. Being able to touch the moving parts adds to the interactivity, just make sure that can be done safely.
I think that this is a very interesting idea, both the selection of topics and your approach to the solution. One thing that I was looking for that I didn’t really get from your guys’ presentation is the site of the project. I understand that it’s not suppose to be site specific, but I was just wondering where it would be placed. I think that one thing to maybe address is how this technology can be applied to the home at a small scale level. Overall, I like the idea of comparing different forms of the same technology, it shows the evolution of it and how the technology has improved over time. Maybe look at the horizontal wind turbines that spin about a vertical axis as another potential addition to your exhibit.
Presentation: strong, good $ shot at beginning, engaged audience by opening with a question, overall graphics very strong, successful text to talk to image ratio. Nice presentation to end the design review with (sorry you had to go last and had to rush!).
Design: - Conceptual focus seems to be more about turbine technology rather than wind power/renewable energy. May require some refocusing/simpification. - Make sure you establish a basic understanding of wind energy, then, if possible pursue a layered understanding of turbines in relationship to it - Try to connect your idea to the local context and local initiatives. - Clarify learning objectives relative to turbine variety; allow variability to be appreciated visually and understood intellectually. - Some aspects of design may have to be simplified; this will benefit durability, which is a major consideration. - Base of exhibit feels weak and could be better integrated with its other parts - Idea of several interesting stations with different activities is interesting, but do the activities come together into a central experiences or concept? Can a user do 1 thing and have a meaningful experience? - Are there other ways to generate wind? (Are handle bars intuitive to generate wind? Use natural wind in environment? Compare power from “real” wind to human-made wind?) - Consider other outputs, rather than just “tower power” of lights (but with easy way to gauge “power output”); blowing fabric?, something very eye catching (kinetic sculpturish?). Wind has such potential to create whimsical, attractive outputs…what is going to promote “attracting power” and what will lead to “holding power”? - Connect to local community somehow…are there wind farms nearby? Are there household wind power applications?
Positives
- Attention to social/ethical concerns…how many Earths Q was thought-provoking…could propel behavioral change. - Attention to social nature of user experiences, but will it be collaborative? Or just doing activities in parallel? Can they work toward a common goal? - Impact statements very strong, realistic. - Attention to next steps phrased as important questions that we can pursue in class.
The form of the project is great in the fact that it allows visitors to come from all sides in order to interact with the exhibit. One of my concerns is that while visitors stand around the exhibit, the visible part (the top) of the project does not hint at the contents of the exhibit. Possibly you guys could consider putting an object at the top that moves with the wind, something a little more sculptural and attractive than a normal windmill. Hopefully this can draw people in from a further distance.
ReplyDeleteI like that there are different types of turbines to compare to one another, and I think it would be cool if the energy they output could be counted or compared to something, such as counting rotations/min and then saying how much electricity that generates. Also, I think the exhibit isn't clear in terms of its purpose to someone walking up to it. You could decorate the center column and make it a turbine, for example.
ReplyDeleteI feel that you presented your idea very well. Its clear and gets to the point. I love the idea of having different turbine especially. The only thing I would be somewhat worried about would be your signs. I am not sure if there would be enough space for some attractive signs. I think once you have people around the exhibit, it would look rather bland. Perhaps there could be a stronger attention getter that towers over the exhibit.
ReplyDeleteI like that you exhibit will address misconceptions that people have about wind power and attitudes they have toward it. I also thought the way you started your presentation with a question to the audience about how many earths it would take to sustain energy usage if everyone was like Americans, was good because it put the importance into the mind of the viewer right away.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, great idea guys!
ReplyDeleteTo cover the questions you were asking a the end:
--In the views I've seen, the bellows aren't pointed a the windmills, so reorienting them would make their purpose more obvious.
--I like the idea of visual feedback, mainly because of younger kids, but the idea of having a 'high score' is good too.
--The exhibit does read wind energy from a distance. Good job on that!
--I will always vote for open exhibits. Being able to touch the moving parts adds to the interactivity, just make sure that can be done safely.
I think that this is a very interesting idea, both the selection of topics and your approach to the solution. One thing that I was looking for that I didn’t really get from your guys’ presentation is the site of the project. I understand that it’s not suppose to be site specific, but I was just wondering where it would be placed. I think that one thing to maybe address is how this technology can be applied to the home at a small scale level. Overall, I like the idea of comparing different forms of the same technology, it shows the evolution of it and how the technology has improved over time. Maybe look at the horizontal wind turbines that spin about a vertical axis as another potential addition to your exhibit.
ReplyDeleteWhirligigs – Instructor Comments
ReplyDeletePresentation: strong, good $ shot at beginning, engaged audience by opening with a question, overall graphics very strong, successful text to talk to image ratio. Nice presentation to end the design review with (sorry you had to go last and had to rush!).
Design:
- Conceptual focus seems to be more about turbine technology rather than wind power/renewable energy. May require some refocusing/simpification.
- Make sure you establish a basic understanding of wind energy, then, if possible pursue a layered understanding of turbines in relationship to it
- Try to connect your idea to the local context and local initiatives.
- Clarify learning objectives relative to turbine variety; allow variability to be appreciated visually and understood intellectually.
- Some aspects of design may have to be simplified; this will benefit durability, which is a major consideration.
- Base of exhibit feels weak and could be better integrated with its other parts
- Idea of several interesting stations with different activities is interesting, but do the activities come together into a central experiences or concept? Can a user do 1 thing and have a meaningful experience?
- Are there other ways to generate wind? (Are handle bars intuitive to generate wind? Use natural wind in environment? Compare power from “real” wind to human-made wind?)
- Consider other outputs, rather than just “tower power” of lights (but with easy way to gauge “power output”); blowing fabric?, something very eye catching (kinetic sculpturish?). Wind has such potential to create whimsical, attractive outputs…what is going to promote “attracting power” and what will lead to “holding power”?
- Connect to local community somehow…are there wind farms nearby? Are there household wind power applications?
Positives
- Attention to social/ethical concerns…how many Earths Q was thought-provoking…could propel behavioral change.
- Attention to social nature of user experiences, but will it be collaborative? Or just doing activities in parallel? Can they work toward a common goal?
- Impact statements very strong, realistic.
- Attention to next steps phrased as important questions that we can pursue in class.