WATER Wetness and the POWER of GRAVITY 20040726

We all know that even small droplets of water can carve deep holes in solid rock over centuries. That's the power of gravity.

So let's consider the wetness in public washrooms. Some basins are not designed to reduce the wetness all around the areas because of the hand movements as people wash their hands. Then the cleaner has to come dry the area, but not frequently enough most of the time. 

Thus, we can use the flow of water, even very slowly, to converge at the basin. Design the basin such that it is flush with the surface of the table top. Mildly angle the Table Top such that water will flow into the basins. In this way, we do not need the cleaner to come dry it so often and water will not puddle.

Use the power of nature, of gravity, to do the work. Most natural things are good.

DM 20040726 136PM MONDAY SGP

 

TENNIS MENACE Balls Back To You 20040716

I play "recreational" tennis with some very good friends each week. The friends are good but our tennis is, OK. Thus, we have to use a full bag of balls to play. (The better the player, the lesser the balls.)
 
And so we have the balls all over the tennis court and since the court is designed to, sort of, allow water to flow to the drains, the balls tend to end up at the extreme side of the court.
 
What people should do is to have SLOPED structures along the fence and walls that "deflect" and "direct" the balls back to the "centre" of the court, or better still, toward specific areas of the court (like behind the players.) This Angled Structures also help to protect the FENCE, since after many shots at it, most fences tend to get damaged over time.
 
So, for those who could have qualified for Grand Slams, this Angled Structure approach will help them focus more on the GAME, than pick balls....
 
DM 20040716 FRIDAY 11am SINGAPORE.
 
 

CARTS and SUPERMARTS - Why Only at ENTRANCE? 20040703

Supermarkets are so much a part of our lives. For many people, the visit is a routine or ritual that cannot be neglected. And most supermarts have done well in terms of the ergonomics of the buying process.

Items are well organized and the layout is designed to guide the customer so that he buys a little more than what he came for. She cannot get the perfect sense of where she is but gets to see a lot more things, be attracted by them, as she meanders through the rows of shelves.

But the CART, the CART at SUPERMARTS! Why do they only have them at the ENTRANCE? For most people, they just stroll into the supermarket because the fruits and the cakes all attract them quickly. Then they realize they want to buy this and that and then more of this and that. But, he has to run all the way to the entrance to get the CART or the BASKET.

It is probably a logistics flow problem that the supermarkets are trying to solve. Why do they want to push all these carts and baskets way deep inside the store when the Returns (from the carpark) can easily be placed at the entrance for collection?

Therein lies the "customer service" mediocrity. The process scripter ought to have taken into account the feelings and tendencies of people to THINK of the ITEMS first before thinking about the cart/basket to carry them.

So supermarts should seriously consider placing baskets and carts in more places DEEP within the store so that people will conveniently grab a cart/basket, and start putting stuff in to buy!

I love supermarts!

DM 2004jul03 1024pm SATURDAY SGP

SUNLIGHT use it well in SINGAPORE 20040701

July in SINGAPORE is very hot, and there is lots of SUNSHINE! Yet all the sunlight is "wasted" as it heats the ground, the buildings, and the vehicles.

SOLAR CELLS are expensive and have a limited lifespan.

We could design metallic reflectors that direct sunlight in a concentrated way to do a few things:
Boil water
Fry eggs
Cook
Charge batteries
Dry fruits

Focus the heat to a certain spot, then it can do the "cooking."

DM 20040701 1144pm THU SGP