Week_6

=** Tutorial Question #6 ** = ===** Write a short, one paragraph synopsis of each of your 3 favourite product designs. Describe why you like the design in your responses. ** ===

1) Antibacterial Film - An Australian company studied a type of seaweed in which natural compounds prevent bacteria from gathering. It developed a film that prevents bacteria from colonizing by "jamming" or interfering with the signals used by microbes to communicate with one another. When applied to contact lenses, this film prevents infections without helping to create superstrains of harmful bacteria. I like this because I wear contact lenses and I think about how much chemical solution I empty down the drain daily and what effect does putting this solution in my eyes have on my vision and body.

2) Self-Cleaning Paint - Using the microscopic structure of leaves, which repel water, the German company's scientists came up with a paint with similar structures that repel water in the same way. Doing this, the rainwater washes away any dirt. This eliminates the overuse of the Earth's freshwater to wash vehicles for example, along with the toxic chemicals that are used in conjunction to wash these vehicles.

3) Bio-Inspired Colour Displays - engineers and scientists developed a display that mimics the way a butterfly shows off its brightly coloured wings or a peacock displays its plummage. This technology has the potential to reduce the amount of electricity that electronics and cell phones consume. I like this innovation because it affects a large part of our population. The vast majority of people in our country alone have a cellphone along with televisions and computers that are used daily. If this technology was used by every new product we may be able to cut down the rate of consumption drastically.