I'm having flash backs. This is the type of problem my mechanics teacher (Dr. W.K. Stare) would give us on a pop quiz. He loved to pull these things out of someone's hat and see our faces when we would silently begin to scream. He was an absolute tyrant when you did not state your assumptions FIRST. Then DISPLAY your work in a complete and readable fashion. I can hear him now. My first pop quiz was returned with so much red ink I thought he bled on it. Actually, I learned a great deal from Dr. Stare and there came a time when the class was eager to see what torture awaited with the next one. Very interesting post.
I had a similar reaction, perhaps helped by the fact that I grew up with Cinderella clear plastic "slippers" for little girls, which were actually pumps with sort-of-high heels on them, as shown in the illustration to this article. That also makes me wonder about the assumption that these shoes have high heels on them. Perhaps the word "slipper" in the fairy tale means flat shoes, as it does today? They'd be a lot easier to dance in, especially if made of glass. Perhaps the enigineer should recalculate based on that assumption.
I agree that it might foster interest in STEM. However, it might also foster a conversation about translation as the Fur/Glass slipper dichotomy has been known for years (French/English).
There is one Fairy-Tale that I have referenced in the engineering work-place quite often, being "The Emperor's New Clothes". Remember the story of a unbelievable fabrication of events that only the most royal and eloquent could possibly understand? How many times have I challenged the Program Manager's Schedule, using the line of the little boy in the fairy tale: "I Can't See 'em-!!"
Funny that I never questioned the Glass Slipper actually "holding up". However, I wrestled with the fact that only one girl's foot in the entire Kingdom would fit.
My concern about glass slippers (since I knew I would never wear them) was that they would be uncomfortable because they are not flexible. Obviously Cindarella had to be careful how she walked. I'd like to see the analysis of Cindarella turning into a pumpkin!
The most puzzling part of the story for me is the "lived happily ever after" part. Will there be a sequel?
Your point about the King Kong example got me thinking that using these well indoctrinated, childhood stories as a basis to explore engineering concepts and mathematical theories could actually be a solid way to introduce kids, boys and girls, to what's possible in an engineering career. I'm not sure they'd hold ground for those who've moved beyond the introductory stage, but by exposure, they could definitely spark initial interest in the field, especially for kids who might be bored or not fully become engaged with traditional examples.
UK-based Plastic Logic and French company ISORG have created what the pair tout as a first in flexible printed electronics: a large area, conformable, organic image sensor printed on plastic.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
0 
