Hello,
   Today our wise class met to discuss our first week's work. I was interesting to get to hear other people's projects and know their progress to understand how far they are. It was really cool hearing Emma's project, I think it is fascinating that she is writing a novel (http://firsttryatfiction.blogspot.com/). Also Connar's project seems awesome. He is building a motorcycle or I think he is; anyway it's something to do with a motorcycle. Kind of wish I could get his blog url so I can follow it.
   I still need to get my interview done. I have not gotten a response from my contacts. I really need to do it because I think they can give me some valuable advise for my project such as going through the design process and using certain programs. Other than that I am still trying to understand the revit architecture program more by watching tutorials on youtube.

This is an example of the tutorial for revit architecture.

[ You don't have to be an engineer to appreciate this story!  ]

A toothpaste factory had a problem: they sometimes shipped empty boxes, without the tube inside.  This was due to the way the production line was set up, and people with experience in designing production lines will tell you how difficult it is to have everything happen with timings so precise that every single unit coming out of it is perfect 100% of the time.  Small variations in the environment (which can't be controlled in a cost-effective fashion) mean you must have quality assurance checks smartly distributed across the line so that customers all the way down to the supermarket don't get pissed off and buy another product instead.

Understanding how important that was, the CEO of the toothpaste factory got the top people in the company together and they decided to start a new project, in which they would hire an external engineering company to solve their empty boxes problem, as their engineering department was already too stretched to take on any extra effort.  

The project followed the usual process: budget and project sponsor allocated, RFP, third-parties selected, and six months (and $8 million) later they had a fantastic solution — on time, on budget, high quality and everyone in the project had a great time.  They solved the problem by using high-tech precision scales that would sound a bell and flash lights whenever a toothpaste box would weigh less than it should.  The line would stop, and someone had to walk over and yank the defective box out of it, pressing another button when done to re-start the line.    

A while later, the CEO decides to have a look at the ROI of the project: amazing results!  No empty boxes ever shipped out of the factory after the scales were put in place.  Very few customer complaints, and they were gaining market share.  That's some money well spent! – he says, before looking closely at the other statistics in the report.    

It turns out, the number of defects picked up by the scales was 0 after three weeks of production use.  It should have been picking up at least a dozen a day, so maybe there was something wrong with the report.  He filed a bug against it, and after some investigation, the engineers come back saying the report was actually correct.  The scales really weren't picking up any defects, because all boxes that got to that point in the conveyor belt were good.    

Puzzled, the CEO travels down to the factory, and walks up to the part of the line where the precision scales were installed.   

A few feet before the scale, there was a $20 desk fan, blowing the empty boxes off of the belt and into a bin.  

Oh, that, says one of the workers — one of the guys put it there 'cause he was tired of walking over every time the bell rang.

Two Week Plan

What interest drives you?
     When I was a kid I dreamed of being an architect. I took art lessons and past generations in my family have been architects, so all signs pointed towards architecture as my life work. Who knows if ill become an architect, but I am great full for the opportunity the wise project provides me to understand architecture before I have to decide what I am going to do.
   For the first two weeks I will most likely be sketching designs of building structures so I can begin to visualize my project. I am interested in the possibility of creating structure with no limitations and with endless possibility. I want to create a structure that has a modern green image with many circular shapes and includes a small skyscrapers. I also want to create an aesthetically pleasing image, which involves a lot of nature as part of the design.
What are your goals?
    My goal is to learn how to use the revit architecture program because architects use the program to create their ideas on the computer and view a preview of their structure in the natural world. Then, create a model of that structure. However, I have absolutely no idea on what material and resources to use so I will need help researching on how to build my model. Another, goal is to experiment if I want to become an architect; I don't expect to experience the true feeling of being an architect in a time period of few months, but maybe a glimpse of being an architect.
What are your hopes and ideas?
    I hope to not get too carried away with my design and be able to create something that is realistically possible for me to build. However, that does not mean I do not want to challenge myself. My idea is to create and efficient building, thus I will need more research to understand how different designs in the structure can help have a better ecological footprint impact. I also had this idea of putting a river or a park as part of my structural grid (like I said their are infinite possibilities for architects).
Two Week Plan?
    I am going to buy a sketch book, it's not necessary, but all architects have a sketch book that contains their designs. So if I am learning to be an architect I should use a sketch book. Then I will begin designing and drawing my ideas of a structure on paper. Hopefully I can finish my design by the first week so I can begin to use the revit architecture program.




  

Hello

This is my blog for my wise project, so basicly I am going to design a building and then build a model of that building... also known as architecture.