Idea!

We all know what solar panels are, and the energy they produce, Solar energy. What if somehow we could make a more the solar energy a better resource. Solar panels occupy a lot of space wherever they are placed and the should always be facing the sun. Also most of the times they must be really big and they must be placed in open areas or in really tall areas so that it can receive the most solar energy possible, since they haven't been that effective to collect a lot energy.

On the other hand what do all cities have and some of the mayor cities could take advantage of it the most? Windows! All cities have windows, and modern constructions involve mostly in their outer structure glass. We can find windows in cars, houses, also in skyscrapers. What if we could find away to combine this two? Solar Panels + Windows(Glass) = ?

We could try by finding a way to incorporate those solar cells into the glass, while continuing with a clear and "normal glass"as a window. By having this solar cells in the windows we could take advantage of the solar energy provided, which is the most obvious source of energy, but somehow has been the most difficult to obtain. Having this solar cells in the skyscrapers would be one of the first targets for it, since are the taller buildings and the ones who will receive the most light. Also this glasses could be used wherever you use glass, houses, apartments, all sort of buildings, maybe cars, who knows!?.

Basically by making a window as a transparent solar panel, we could make connections into the building, that would have storage batteries and everything else a solar panel needs to work, and how can the energy could be transformed into usable energy. On the other hand by improving this solar cells, maybe someday the own buildings, houses, everything that has glass on it could work by itself with its own collected solar energy.

Parent Skype Call

Yesterday in my talk to my parents I just let my imagination fly, I just closed my eyes and tried to in-merge completely in only what I was hearing. At the beginning of the conversation I just started by asking them what it was going on, how was their day, what was new, how were they. After each time they spoke and I tried to answer something, I felt I was paraphrasing in my mind, I was remembering what they had just said, reduce it to a simple idea to which I could give a response or an answer, and talk back by giving a response.

I found out that by being more into the words other people say and getting the key terms they are telling you, it can give you the key items you must know to give an intelligent answer. By getting rid of the body language, you can get a more accurate sense of hearing, and by being focused you can get the main idea the other person is trying to communicate to you. I also learn that to start a good conversation, you just ask a question, find out on the others day, or the others life, this is also a good way for hearing and listening, which is ideal to carry a good conversation. It is really important to be focused.

On the other hand, I could carry a long conversation which most of the time is too difficult to do. I found out that you can throw spontaneous questions that may or may not relate to the last topic of conversation you were talking about so that the conversation doesn't end. I also let my imagination roll over, while I was hearing I just got the key words, which my own brain and my imagination processed and it recreate it spontaneously with images in my head, to have a visual also of what they were talking to me about. I also let the conversation flow by giving each of the both sides the time to talk and to answer and not only to talk by myself, and don't let the other talk, just hear, in my opinion this couldn't be called conversation, because for it a alternating listener and speaker must exist.

Although I do a good listening and conversation, I know that I need to improve to talk and too listen to strangers, how to start conversation, which its a important thing in your life when you are talking to a recruiter or you are being part of an interview. Also I do use two of the four ways of listening that exist. Asking to tell stories and paraphrasing is part of my daily listening although sometimes it is difficult for me to carry a conversation. In conclusion I think that by improving a little bit more the last two, and making the mirror to confirm feelings and the Prime to my daily listening, I know I could get to be a great listener, which also carries to be a good speaker.

Cell Phone's

The following video uses a piece of the following video from Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcnXOhrmDB8&feature=related

The images in the video were obtained from the following web pages:

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/01/11_billion_cellphones_sold_worldwide_in_2007.htm

http://www.imvrs.com/DOTBLOG/images/first_cell_phone.jpg&imgrefurl

http://cdn.venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/droid_x.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.upenn.edu/computing/provider/pda/images/iphone/iphone-4.jpg&imgrefurl

http://ajaxian.com/wp-content/uploads/cssclock.png&imgrefurl

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/images/2008/10/15/aluratek_internet_radio_1.jpg&imgrefurl

http://8vsb.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/agenda.jpg&imgrefurl

http://earth911.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/envelope-mail.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.defotografia.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/camara_digital_sony.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.hdtvuk.tv/lg_small_plasma_32_inch_tv.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.ismashphone.com/images/2008/07/30/iphone_gaming_foto.jpg&imgrefurl

http://indieregister.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/nintendo-ds_lite.jpg&imgrefurl

http://magento.siteground.com/media/catalog/product/cache/17/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/a/c/acer-ferrari-3200-notebook-computer-pc.jpg&imgrefurl

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/images/microsoft-office.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/media/logitech_harmony_one_universal_remote.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/windowsxp/images/using/setup/personalize/67384-click-all-programs.gif&imgrefurl

http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2009/11/05/one-billion-apps-hero-20090418.png&imgrefurl

http://gadget-geek.net/wp-content/uploads/linksys-wrtgs-wireless-router-0.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.techdigest.tv/firefox-eats-internet-explorer.jpg&imgrefurl

http://blogs.voices.com/buzz/music-notes.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.texasoutside.com/GPS/garmin-nuvi-260-A.jpg&imgrefurl

http://turanchox.com/wp-content/uploads/vector-communication-banners-0.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.inkity.com/catalog/img/2/2647.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.einstein.yu.edu/iphs/images/think_tank.jpg&imgrefurl

http://static2.thrivesmart.com/uploaded_images/business_images/0003/2229/up_slide_show.jpg%3F1205363749&imgrefurl

http://www.fernandobayon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/personal-effectiveness1.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.openjason.com/images/magoomla.png&imgrefurl

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCw7MqROn-nww5T2QlgcjyjgS9Lu6Y8SWZPloly3njjua3XW40TrbJnS4Wee5EV0b0hKrb3atZro0Dq2JvEQLIO4iiyz77hxtmm1dhftVwsZu8SpSTLyEJDuod531-41IGUoEEmaWKQc/s400/integrate_photo.jpg&imgrefurl

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/portable-internet-devices-4.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u107/ipod-family.jpg&imgrefurl

http://aboutgadgets.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/mp3-doorbell.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.newlaunches.com/entry_images/0607/06/hummer-ht1-cellphone.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.quantum360.co.uk/Portals/0/images/easy%2520image.jpg&imgrefurl

http://static.technorati.com/10/09/04/17695/itunes9icon.png&imgrefurl

http://techtites.com/wp-content/uploads/itunes-movie-rentals.jpg&imgrefurl

http://images.appleinsider.com/itunes-06-2.gif&imgrefurl

http://fasteddie.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/time-warp.jpg&imgrefurl

http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/connection.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.tecnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/folders.jpg&imgrefurl

http://bplteensofwa.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/computer.jpg&imgrefurl

http://gadgetophilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/external-hard-drive.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.masternewmedia.org/images/free_music_online.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.coolclockshop.com/contemporary_wall/images/modern_silver_black_clock.jpg&imgrefurl

http://www.effective.it/Photos/EffectiveProjects.jpg&imgrefurl

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/304216/304216,1237574387,14/stock-photo-young-student-boy-dress-in-red-hearing-mp-music-studio-isolated-on-white-27045136.jpg&imgrefurl

http://meds.queensu.ca/assets/happy-face-istock-456.jpg&imgrefurl

http://pthub.co.uk/images/time.jpg&imgrefurl

Toulmin Model = Problem Solution

During my senior year I had to do a senior project. My senior project was about how the power develops in the lower members of the human body in females and males from 4 to 18 years old. Although our project was a success and was named as the best project with a 4.0 grade and was given the SUMMA CUM LAUDE(Greatest award to the best project) we had some problems during the development of it.

One of those problems were the good collection of data but the wrong management of it. Although we got to solve it, not by the Toulmin model, but by research and external help, this type of model would had help a lot in finding the problem and answering the W questions to find out the correct solution. Maybe by knowing it before, our solution of the problem could had been solved easier and in consequence faster.

As to prove this, I have solved the same problem by the Toulmin Model, as a result is an easier way to find what was it going wrong and what should be done for it improvement in a short way manner.

The problem we were facing was the wrong data usage in the mechanical formula of kinematics for Xf= X0 + vt + 1/2at^2, and due to this when we tried to use the data from the last formula into the power formula, P = W/t = Fv, the obtained power was not as expected from research done before. Due to this our project wouldn't been credible as the data wouldn't have match with previous researches. We seek in our process and found that we were using the wrong starting height and the wrong end height into the formula, and that was what made the power so diverse. Although we spend less than a day figuring this problem out with help from our project tutor, based on the Tuolmin model, it could have been a easier and good way to make our problem solved in an easier and faster way (As it is shown in the diagram above).

Communication for Engineers

Communication is a vital skill in everyones daily life, and it is also really important in engineers life, as it was also picked as one of the missing basics for engineers. Communication is not only an activity of everyday life but it is also a way of opening doors, of making yourself more understandable, on expressing your ideas clearly, but one of the most important, and also learned in Eng 198, it improves our own network. When I mean by opening doors, I refer to having more opportunities, not only work opportunities, but education opportunities and opportunities for life. Knowing how to communicate, can give a better impression to your maybe future boss, having good communication skills can give you a job, between much more things. By having a good communication skill you can also meet knew people, get to have really good friends, or once again you can meet people that can give you a future work opportunity, all this people can also be part of a future networking group. Having a good communication skill is also an opportunity for making you understand, is a way that you can express your ideas in a clear way, in conclusion is way to opening to society and being part to the world.

Communication is also part of the globalization process, and what involves in globalization? Networking, a part of communication, exchange of ideas and cultures, another part of communication (a branch of if that involve knowing languages, knowing other cultures, and all this can be possible by communication, not only by a verbal form of it, but also other forms have arise, like sign language or also communication for blind people. Problems in people haven't been an obstacle to communication, because this is a skill that rules everyones life), technology, which is a big piece of engineers, and also the ability to make the big world a concentrated spot in finding all things easier with the help of communication.

Networking: Opportunities and Solutions

Since this assignment was given, I am pretty sure I have improved my networking skills and contacts. During this time in my Italian class I start socializing with people from it, but specially with two girls, Chelsea and Elise. Since then we have got to be great friends, we have shared ideas, work in group and learn a new language, a part of communication. We have started to meet each other so well, that now we not only meet in class, but instead last weekend we went to eat the three of us, talk and have some fun time. Furthermore, we are planning in being part of the Italian group on campus and do a series of activities together.

In the other hand, during the last week I tried to communicate with a U of I professor called Jean, expert in my field and great researcher in the Nanotechnology field. As he just emailed me back this week, we are meeting next Wednesday to talk about some research opportunities, about what is nanotechnology, give me some explanation about what he does and that I can show him some of my crazy ideas. I am really willing to meet him and why not, being part of a research project in his area.

To conclude I am now part of EWOB (Entrepreneur,s without borders) and as a networking opportunity, precisely today, some Croatians are arriving to the university for one week to make some activities, to discuss business and other topics. I think this would be a really interesting networking opportunity, beside that I am hosting one of this Croatians. Due that this two last are this next weekend I'll try to post a brief explanation later on what this two last experiences resulted in.

3 Chained Skills Mini-Action Plan

Improving skills is always good for becoming a better person and professional, the following three skills, I know I lack of them or part of them and need to improve them.

1. Fluency. Useful as a way for expressing ideas and making me understand more easily and clearer.
2. Communication. By gaining fluency, communication can be improved. Communication is an important skill for participating and socializing.
3. Team-Work. With communication and fluency teamwork can be achieved(that's why I called them the chained skills), that is what future society is about, working and achieving work not alone but with others. Three brains think better that one.

To improve fluency, shyness must not exist, interacting and participating in class and with others is a good way to practice and improve it. Although I know fluency can't be gained from one that to another, it can be achieved with dedicated work, being conscious you want to achieve it, that is why I know that by final semester my fluency would have improved significantly.

By achieving a step in fluency, the next step is start interacting with other, once again shyness can't exist and communicating must become a daily activity in everyones life. To improve communication courage must be met and a broad vocabulary must be learned also. This way by improving fluency, communication will also improve parallel to it, and it would be improved during the whole semester.

At last, by improving the two past skills, team work can be reached and the chain must have reached its goal, for know. Being more open minded and trusting in others and that their knowledge and work is valid also, it is a good way to start by working in teamwork. Although to reach teamwork it need from the other two skills, once again they can work parallel by improving all three at the same time through this semester. This is because this 3 skills are not skill that can be reached from one day to another but by working, being dedicated and willing for them.

The Missing Basics: Do they really miss?

According to professor Goldberg missing basics, in which he believes engineers aren't prepared to ask, label, model, decompose, measure, visualize and communicate, I would doubt, as future engineer, in some of this basics like asking, measuring, visualizing and communicating.

Although I agree in certain way that us, as engineers don;t know how to ask, during my education received in Colombia they do taught us how to ask. Asking was taught to us also as a possibility to open doors, to understand, to learn and to go beyond the knowledge of what is being told and heard. Asking is one step of the modern education in Colombia, we believe that without asking education and learning would not exist. The teacher or the lecturer aren't always right, they also are humans and they can commit mistakes, that is why asking i s so important in our life.

Measuring, is one of the basics and skills that every student should have, or at least a great proportion of them. This basic is such an important one, due in any field research or just in a lab, that at least once in a lifetime an student has had one of those(we did a lot at school). Measuring needs to be known, so that an experiment can be done, or data can be recollected, and results and conclusions could be drawn afterwards, referring to precision or accuracy, between others.

Visualizing, was also taught to us by the simple fact of doing summaries and drawing conclusions about reading or based on works. How to draw sketches and diagrams was always a really good way to remember things and to understand ideas much clearer, sometimes ideas from a causal chain situation.

At last, we have Communication. To finish, to conclude and to draw conclusions and results was always a higher step taught to us in Philosophy class(from where all the behind basics come from for Prof. Goldberg). Finding the way to express the others our ideas, always led to a discussion, which in a causal way, led to results and general ideas that made thing much easier.

Although I disagree in the way Prof. Goldberg thinks that we lack of some of this missing basics, and that engineers are only made up from math, science and engineering sciences, reinforcing this basics is never bad and learning new ones like labeling, modeling, and decomposing is much better, I believe that by reinforcing this basics that some of us might have and others don't, will make us much better engineers.