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Materials

  I found some stress balls, because I am interested in the topic of stress. They were made of two different materials; the yellow balls were made of foam and the other balls were made of thermoplastic rubber (TPE). I invited a number of people to experiment with the two types of balls. All felt that the TPE balls were softer and could be more easily compressed, so I chose to study TPE.

    TPE is a class of copolymers, or a physical mix of polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber). It consists of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties.

   It is often used in the automotive industry and the household appliances industry. In addition, it is also used in medical devices as well as for electrical cable jackets and inner insulation.

     The elasticity of TPE is very good. To study the TPE, I cut the TPE ball in half, which was quite difficult as it is very tough. Next, I examined the inside of the ball and found the TPE to be transparent, and when cut into fine pieces, a bit sticky. Then, I carried out three experiments on the tiny pieces of TPE.

   In the first experiment, I put some TPE into turpentine to see what would happen. 

    I dipped the it into the turps at about three o 'clock, and at five o 'clock, I found that the TPE had been reshaped a lot. The next morning, the TPE was completely reshaped. This proved that the TPE slowly dissolves and is reshaped by placing it into turps.

    In the second experiment, I tried to melt the fragments of TPE. I placed the TPE on a convection oven tray and placed a wooden board over it to add pressure to try to melt the TPE faster. However, the TPE melted very slowly and did not melt completely.

    After a few minutes, I placed the tray on a cool table to speed up the cooling. 

    After an hour, the TPE had cooled and reshaped; it looked like a crystal, but it was still elastic. On investigating, I found that the melting point of TPE was around 180°C-210°C generally and it melted slowly.

   In the final experiment, I stuck shredded TPE onto a piece of paper with Latex glue and then added deep red oil paint and left it overnight to dry. I found that latex glue can also be used for sticking TPE materials .

   Through these experiments, I found that TPE has outstanding material stability and thermal properties across a wide range of temperatures. TPE remains elastic after melting, and its material properties change little, so it can be reused. In addition, the material is easy to dye.

[jessicaxinyi]

Current Affairs

     I cut out newspaper articles that interest me, with such topics as environmental protection, promoting neighborhood relationships, mental illness, cyberattacks, and so on.

     Subsequently, I found and cut out sentences or words that seem related to stress, because it is the topic I am interested in.

    Mental illness is one of the greatest demons of our time. Because of mental illness, many people are constantly in a state of deep depression. A study of 2,000 employees by the Mental Health Foundation showed 38 per cent wouldn’t feel safe being open and honest. Workers fear talking about mental health issues. In addition, many people are focusing on their thoughts and accepting negative feelings. Sometimes, they turn to alcohol to paralyze themselves in a manner that is detrimental to their physical and mental health. Now, what we are creating is a very special community resource for which we will organize people to grow greens together. This program not only can help lead to a sustainable way of life, but also can help participants connect with their neighbors . Thus, people can develop new skills, reconnect with nature, and more importantly, communicate with others. This activity is aimed to help people relax and decompress, which is good for physical and mental health. The impact of this activity on physical and mental health will make people surprised if it continues to grow.

     I have decided roughly what kinds of story I was going to write while I was cutting out these words to write a new story. The purpose is strong and let me form a new story more smoothly, but it lacked fun. I thought I would find more possibilities and fun by using those scraps of paper.

[jessicaxinyi]

TARGET ACHIEVED

Topic - Stress 

1. Identify one person 

Kelly McGonigal 

2. Identify one place, space or site

Psychological counseling centre (e.g. https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/?gclid=CJXw0s7s49YCFUm17Qodjh4CKQ ) 

or

Gym

3. Identify one substance or material 

Alcohol

or

Comedy Film (e.g. 3 Idiots )

4. Identify one object or artefact 

Pillow / Cigarette 

5. Identify one primary inspirational text 

Ted Talk - How to make stress your friend . 

Reference - 

The Insidious Connection Between Substance Abuse and Stress

https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/the-insidious-connection-between-substance-abuse-and-stress/

[jessicaxinyi]

Water-Heavens

     Tan Dun is the mastermind behind the show, The Construction of Music, which takes place in Qingpu Zhujiajiao and combines performance music and performance art, creating a new concert concept through audio-visual art, a string quartet, the pipa, a female vocalist and percussion.

      Tan Shou said his inspiration for the architectural music show came from the feelings evoked by Zhujiajiao, the water features of the town and the influence of the ancient Yuanjin Temple. He was deeply moved by the town, and he decided to bring the spirit of inheritance of the old buildings and ancient musical culture into this ‘construction of music’ show.

     There is a certain relationship between the different artistic forms. People can intuitively feel the ideological significance conveyed through the music. Compared with other artistic forms, music can give people more spiritual enrichment. Music can express emotions and exhibit the strength of feelings.

      This project associates music with design or architecture, which can resonant strongly with people and enable them to understand the intended concept and the spiritual connotation.

Reference -

http://tandun.com/visual-music/water-heavens/

[jessicaxinyi]

gendered lives

    I am reading a book titled Gendered Lives. The book discusses the relationship between gender, culture and communication, and reveals how gender affects the spread of personal activities and the different cultural effects of communication on women and men. This book is broadly divided into two parts, the first part elaborates on some theories and views on the gender concept, women’s and men’s movements in the United States and the language of gender. The second part explores the content of family, education, intimacy, spread, violence and so on. The author gives many examples of gender that we take for granted. For example, a magazine will display a beautiful, sexy girl at the side of a successful man, or on prime-time television shows, the husband will discuss major business affairs while his wife is busy preparing dinner. Both of the above examples convey the specific gender concepts of a society. In addition, studies have shown that some teachers tend to encourage female students to be quiet and obedient, but this contradicts their strong self-confidence. In contrast, teachers often reward the independence, self-confidence and assertiveness of male students (Krupnick, 1985; Sadker & Sadker, 1984).

     We pursue gender equality, but many times we ignore the details that can really change gender inequality. Despite the messages reinforcing gender norms that are ubiquitous in daily life, most people rarely and seriously think that this information is reasonable and normal. How we can change gender concepts in real life is an important factor for achieving gender equity.

[jessicaxinyi]

HMI system in the future

    PCH has a new vision for the HMI system after 2018 and is preparing for the next five years. PCH conducted a comprehensive survey of the current state of the HMI system, giving a summary of the current social needs relative to the technology, which will affect the design of HMI and the development of the HMI system in the future.

    Smartphones, games and science fiction products continue to provide the best user experience in terms of consumer electronics, but the user experience of cars is still limited. Developing the best car user experience after 2018 will mean combining traditional HMI interfaces with a wide range of new features, such as cloud-based entertainment.

     One of the points in the PCH report mentions that the purpose of car use is also changing. Our relationship with automotive products and services has also been redefined, and cars have become more personalised partners, to some extent, detailing and reflecting our daily lives. In addition, the car can help us make better decisions and enjoy more activities through a higher degree of information reception. With increasingly common and natural interchanges, the boundaries of in-car life will also be widened, and thus our relationship with the interface will fundamentally change. The design of the HMI interface will be connected to all aspects of people’s lives and enable the car to make us safer and be more effective.

Reference -

http://pch-innovations.com/the-blended-drive

[jessicaxinyi]

sleeping aid

    Nearly a third of the population is suffering from insomnia, which is affecting their health. Almost 30% of people in the UK have serious sleep problems. An organisation called Sleepio conducted a survey and found that more than a third of respondents may suffer from chronic insomnia, which can affect people’s physical and mental health.

     Since ancient times, people have been looking for a good way to sleep. For example, in ancient China, people paid such close attention to sleep health that there are requirements for pillows and sleeping positions. In addition, Air Aroma launched a kind of aromatherapy that can help people sleep. Recently, many companies have launched sleep aid products. I think building a space in homes that is conducive to sleep can provide the maximum help for people to enjoy quality sleep at home.

[jessicaxinyi]

Eating out

    When we go out to eat, we often encounter a problem – that is, the restaurant does not have hooks or chairs that are convenient for keeping jackets or bags in place, such as a bar stool. Someone has designed a chair on which to hang clothes, but I think a portable hook may be more convenient; after all, not every restaurant will be equipped with such chairs, and it is convenient to carry a small hook ourselves. Various clothes and packages have different weights; therefore, the hook must be designed to hold a suitable range of weights. The choice of bonded material is also important, because no trace of the hook can be left on the surface of the table or wall.

[jessicaxinyi]

psychology

    Due to work pressure, family problems and other reasons, many people today are suffering from psychological problems or mental illness. A World Health Organization report shows that at some point in their lives, a quarter of the world’s population will be affected by mental illness, such as depression, social anxiety or autism. However, nearly two-thirds of people with known mental disorders have never been treated, mainly because of fear of discrimination and being judged by the people around them.

    It is important to confront psychological problems. People should have a correct understanding of mental illness and know where to seek treatment. Moreover, those who have mental problems should understand that is no more shameful than other illnesses, like a fever or a cold.

Reference - 

Mental disorders affect one in four people

http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/

Mental Illness: A Growing Problem in Modern Society

http://www.urbanagenda.org/mental-illness/mental-illness-a-growing-problem-in-modern-society/

[jessicaxinyi]

colour preferences

    People of different ages have different colour preferences. By establishing a database pertaining to different age groups or types of work, to study colour preferences and reading habits, for example, designers can more effectively satisfy customers’ requests. After all, most customers do not have a professional design background, and they simply prefer a specific colour or layout. In some cases, they cannot even provide any design requirements. For instance, older Chinese people prefer the colour red, and some younger people want cool tones in their homes, whereas older people may hate the same design and may like warm tones and spacious designs.

[jessicaxinyi]

Extended space

    Although the main housing types differ among countries and cities, expensive housing prices lead many people to buy or rent small apartments. Small houses can easily feel crowded if they contain a lot of furniture. If the furniture can quickly shrink or be moved, the function of each room can be changed at any time, and we can, for example, hold a party with many people in the small living space.

[jessicaxinyi]

Personal logo

    Everyone can be divided into different social groups because of personality traits or preferences, and people like to communicate with people who share similar interests. For example, in my design project last year, I defined a group of people who like to dress and behave like cats and found that cattism exists in real life. When cattists can congregate in a friendly space, they can communicate with those who have similar characteristics or preferences, and they can easily become friends.

    It may be possible to design a specific logo or little things to express a hobby or group of people, such as a ring, so that people can identify those who share common interests in the street.

[jessicaxinyi]

Famous, Rich & Homeless

    This is a BBC documentary , where five celebrities have ten days to experience how to live like homeless people on the streets of London.

    It makes me impressed that former newspaper editor Rosie Boycott met a homeless girl who had taken cocaine, and the editor said that she had also engaged in some risky behaviours at the age of 19, such as taking heroin and drinking excessively. The editor said that she could understand the girl, and she felt very lucky to have come out of those experiences unscathed. In fact, anyone can try something adventurous and take a misstep into the abyss.

    In addition, volunteers tried to live with the homeless. Someone living on the street may have had any identity before becoming homeless; this person could have been a manager or a father, or could have come from a wealthy family background, and may have wandered off for various reasons because of drug abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism or sexual abuse.

    Volunteers spent the last three days of the project in homeless shelters. They met people with a variety of experiences, such as long-term alcoholism or addiction. Many homeless people stay in the shelters after wandering the streets, and they are eventually buried in a certain cemetery without a tombstone.

    There are many young people in homeless shelters. They may have done some bad things and have been expelled from the house. They may also try to correct their mistakes and return to social life, but find that this is very difficult. Many families in this world have experienced tragedy, and many families are fragmented. Vast inequality among the social classes is are also real. However, we do not really understand the lives of the poor or the people who live in this underclass. We have acquired a lot of knowledge and have been to many places, but in reality we know nothing about a lot of things. Perhaps we are also not as brave as we imagine.

Perhaps we can change the way people think about the homeless through documentaries or other means, and help homeless people solve their problems and even change their lives. It is also important to note that some homeless people do not want to live in shelters, and some street designs can allow the homeless to live better lives.

episode 1：https://v.qq.com/x/cover/1eric3o1gcrqgz8/b0023z38aj4.html

episode 2：https://v.qq.com/x/cover/1eric3o1gcrqgz8/w00236fqbq1.html

episode 3：https://v.qq.com/x/cover/1eric3o1gcrqgz8/x00239e2l84.html

[jessicaxinyi]

Psychological needs of the elderly

     As I volunteered in a nursing home in primary school and junior high school, and I pass a nursing home on my way to work, I have been able to deeply feel the loneliness of the elderly.

     The main activities of the elderly in nursing homes in China are playing Mahjong and watching TV, although some nursing homes occasionally organise some performance activities, but most of the time, the residents do not get along with outsiders.

     The United Kingdom has established mental health clinics for the elderly, but there are few organisations and activities focussed on the spiritual needs of the elderly. Some elders have no mental problems; they just lack psychological satisfaction.

     We can help the elderly satisfy their spiritual needs, for example, by creating elderly apartment communities that offer some activities or by establishing a network that facilitates communication and contact between senior citizens and young people. Organising cultural and leisure activities for the elderly can help them make friends. Moreover, focussing on offering more emotional communication can help elders, especially those without family, enjoy more spiritual fulfilment.

[jessicaxinyi]

Office environment

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There is a correlation between the comfort level of an office environment and work efficiency. Some office spaces can make a person depressive, while others can make a person feel relaxed.

During my internship, I felt the impact of the office environment on people’s moods, and I observed that this can even impact the enthusiasm and efficiency of the staff. For instance, a bright, green work environment is more comfortable than a dark environment, and one can easily feel depressed in a dark office environment.

Cases - 

http://www.rees.com/about/news/03022017-0908

http://www.gensleron.com/work/2015/4/2/stress-performance-and-workplace-design.html

[jessicaxinyi]

Ride sharing

    During an internship, I did a survey on the future development of the car and searched for a bus sharing company in San Francisco（https://www.chariot.com） , which had planned routes to meet the needs of office workers. Such ride sharing is a friendly and useful transport option for office workers, like me, as the distance my home and the company where I was doing the internship was only a few kilometres, and a taxi would transport me in less than 20 minutes, whereas public transit would take nearly an hour.

     Sharing buses and a mobile phone network would be convenient for a large number of office workers and would also be conducive to sustainable environmental development.

[jessicaxinyi]

Schedule management

    Many mobile apps exist that help us record and track our schedule, but, in general, an app can really only help us to a very small extent. I have friends complain to me that apps for helping users plan and manage trips are not very useful for pushing them to carry out their plan. Therefore, I downloaded and used several apps to evaluate their functions, and I found that most of the apps on the market are similar to the iPhone’s notes or calendar function, and they cannot really remind people to complete their planning. A good app that urges users to exercise self-discipline should be able to stimulate the users to undertake planning, thereby improving people who are always procrastinating and helping them arrange their time reasonably.