Task 2c - Climate Change- Who Killed the Electric Car??

Personal transportation has been one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions; this with combination of electricity generation, industry and agriculture, our planet is in constant stress of depleting sources of biofuels and atmospheric pollution. From observing this problem, great design and engineering have thoughtfully been practiced to address this damage to our earth through greener and emission free automobile.

In 1996, General Motors released to the citizens of America the first mass-produced and purpose-designed electric vehicle of the modern era, the EV1. An invention thought that would change the way urban residents commute to and from work. With an 80% energy efficiency compared to our conventional 20% fuel-efficient car, the EV1 produced absolutely no emissions and grew with a leasing market. Within 10 years, this extraordinary vehicle was then taken off all the roads due to politics over petrol and the continued use of the biofuel car was kept to make more money from petrol.

With our overloading consumption of fossil fuels, we are burning out a grave of air pollution, toxic emissions and drastic climate change, which not only will it be hazardous to human health, but we are destroying the planet that we live on. Though I may not be the most enthusiastic green designer to make a stand for this point, but I believe with our current technology and global status, we have so much potential to be countering our consumption of biofuels. It is such a shame that the people who have power and potential to turn the world into a much more earth conscious and greener place are only looking ahead to make money and not making change. In contrast, it is also very unfair for those who worked hard to make a change and designers and engineers dreaming for wonderful futures have no say for this cause and even the greatest inventions can be come trash, due to the differences of global values.

However, I believe the previous generations have only been strict to tradition and the coming generations who come to take over will be the ones who will make changes. With the growth in technology and design, the world will slowly be submerged into an era of green and earth friendly.

PSS: Exercise and Diet Re-habituation Program

Obesity has always been one of the most critical health conditions in the world. Whether it is eating disorders, lack of exercise, lack of self care, there are countless influences that lead up to conditions of overweight and obesity. This is especially found in Australia, which is known for one of the fattest and laziest populations.

In recent years he Australian government has also been promoting campaigns and initiatives to encourage the population to eat healthy and exercise healthy to reduce the risk of chronic disease in the long run. This goal is to regain a healthier Australian demographic and reduce the stresses put on healthcare.

"67.4% of adult 25 yrs and over of Australian Population is overweight, 7% higher than that in 2004 (World Health Organization 2007)"

In Country and suburban areas, it is 1.3 times more common to identify this weight increasing demographic. The rising obesity concern is most critical in Australians aged 55years and over, which a growing count that is approaching 1 million of this ageing population.

In 2004-05 or both men and women the proportion classified as overweight or obese was highest in the 55-64 year age group, with persons in this age group being twice as likely to be overweight or obese (72% of men and 58% of women aged 55-64 years) than those in the 18-24 years age group (36% of men and 28% of women).

Causes of Obesity in the 55-64 range include:
Uneducated of exercise routines (fatigue)

-Bad Diet habits or Eating Disorders

- Slowed down aging metabolism

- Lack understanding of own body

-Lack of Motivation

"Re-Active" is an Exercise and Diet Re-habituation Program Kit, which is designed as a government initiative. It revolves around a local community group, which allows people who are diagnosed as overweight or obese to be connected together and achieve lifestyle changing goals.

This Kit aims to:
• Educate in Healthy eating habits
• Promote Safe and Healthy Exercising routines
• Provide Motivation in physical exercise within a community group
• Keeping track of personal progress

RE-active: Exercise and Diet Re-habituation Program

Product Service Systems project reflection

Like most Design project, planning for a concept and beginning the development base of a new Industrial Design Idea, perhaps is the hardest part of any design work. It is even more difficult this time thinking in a large-scale manner and not just making considerations about a product by its own, but also designing the system that the product travels through.

As this project required us to work as a team, it all depended on the work force of each member and the management of the team. Particularly the beginning of the project was indeed difficult and it required a lot of researching into the surroundings of the product like current government schemes, initiatives and picking out the potentials or gaps within existing system.

Our group focused on the topic health, and consolidating on a concept was the hardest part, we went from, pest control, to personal training, smoking and even safe sex. After being baffled by the tutors to concentrate on personal training, health and obesity. Our group explored the depths of obesity, looking into existing services such as dietary, exercise and weight-loss programs and finally decided to push the idea into a product that cover these areas.

Finally the team agreed to design for the most crucial sector of obesity, which is the 55-64 year olds, who are the largest in the obesity/overweight percentage, due to the aging population and declining metabolisms of this age group. Our team’s goal was to:

• Educating in Healthy eating habits
• Promoting Safe and Healthy Exercising routines
• Motivation in physical exercise within a community group
• Keeping track of personal progress

This became a Kit and part of a government campaign called “Re-active”

“Exercise and Diet re-habituation program”

By JULIAN CHOW, EUGENIUS LAI, GABRIEL LY (University of New South Whales, Industrial Design)

Peer Comments

Marco Tallarida
Patrick Gates
Fanru Wang
Kiran Kashap
Gleb Labazine

Design for Disasters Project Process

BIO-SAFE: Design for Disasters