Sunday, 19 December 2010
Friday, 10 December 2010
'Boxster tutorial'
Marker Rendering Tutorial - Canay Enes
Good rendering tutorial, using Copic markers, Similar techniques could be used within photoshop/sketchbook pro.
Monday, 6 December 2010
Sunday, 5 December 2010
'ZipCar'
Robin Chase - ZipCar
Zip car is a new mode of personal mobility, with the compay parking a range of cars in densely populated areas, where users can hire cars by the hour, day, week etc.
Meaning that individuals would have no need to pay for their own personal car and would have no need to pay out excess money for the time which they are not using the vehicle.
'Sketchy Predictions'
An article authored by Thomas Frey (senior futurist at the DaVinci Institute) posted on 'impact lab' (A website dedicated to looking at future human experiences) and 'futurist speaker' lays out predictions of what the future will hold for the automotive industry and the developments that will change the world.
The article, written in 2006 makes the following predictions:
- By 2010 personal transportation devices will be all the rage with electric shoes with built-in roller-skates gaining much of the attention. After nine years of heavy media coverage, the Segway Human Transporter will begin to gain serious market share.
- By 2015 traditional gas-powered autos will start to decline with electric automobiles and hybrids taking up most of the slack.
- By 2020 we will see an industry being built up around self-illuminating highways – highways that glow in the dark. Glow roads will be shown to improve driving safety at night and reduce the need for streetlights.
- By 2025 a first attempt at launching the space elevator will fail, setting the industry back a decade.
It should be noted, that whilst predictions for 2015 seem as though they will be relatively accurate, the predictions laid out for 2010 are incredibly inaccurate.
With the most common advance in shoe/rollerblade hybrids that has had a major impact on any market are Heelys. Alongside this, the fact that Segways are effectively illegal as a faesible method of transport in many countries throughout Europe and some states of America.
Saturday, 4 December 2010
'Climate Change'
As with all of the world, Climate change will undoubtedly have a massive effect on vast amounts of people, primarily those located around coastal areas as rising sea levels look to flood many areas globally.
South East Asia is likely to be one of the worst effected areas, meaning this could cause problems for a large coastal city such as Shanghai.
Maybe the future of personal mobility should really be a boat?
'1/3 Renewable by 2050'
China looks towards Renewable sources to supply one third of their national requirements by 2050.
Focusing on utilising wind and solar sources for energy supplies whilst focusing on non-grain bio ethanol and bio diesel to power their transport systems.
'Future Cars'
A site dedicated to exploring the future of cars as a form of transport.
The site also looks at a range of new fuel sources from bio ethanol through to solar and explains the pro's con's and uses of each, whilst also keeping tracks on 'modern fueled' cars which are being produced or developed.
'Can Shanghai Forge The Future?'
An article by Bill Fischer looking at whether it is faesible for Shanghai to become a world leader considering the city has no major brands located within it and all of China's major brands are located elsewhere?
Could this mean Shanghai is set for a boom and decline rather than the planned increases to its future?
'Worlds most populous cities'
Source - www.citymayors.com
Source - Geography.about.com
As can be seen from the graphs above , Shanghai is the worlds 18th most populous city and the worlds 10th most densly populated city.
However, with China's plans to increase urban populations by 2050 Shanghai and the outlined plans for more high rise buildings and Sky scrapers it could become the worlds most desly populated city in coming years.
'Plans for Shanghai Expo 2010'
Video showing the plans of how big Shanghai is expected to grow in "the near future", It is destined to become maintain its positions of one of the largest cities in the world or even take over Tokyo's role as the largest.
A city scaped dominated by skyscrapers and high rises is to be expected with constant development already undergoing and set to increase in the future.
'China's Urban Low Carbon Future in Shanghai'
This INTERESTING ARTICLE looks at the future of all Chinese cities following the closing of the 2010 Expo.
With China claiming that they are looking to have some of the largests greenest cities in the world by 2050. With plans to have 350-600 million more urban residents by this time.
Friday, 3 December 2010
'Packed in'
"Americans think that Manhattan is densely populated," he says. "But by world standards, it barely qualifies." Sao Paolo and Tokyo are three times as densely populated as central Manhattan. Seoul, Shanghai and Mumbay are three times denser than Tokyo, with nine or more people in the space allotted to a single Manhattanite.'
'Etiquette'
""Me first" is what many travelers describe mainland Chinese when they first arrive. A lot of things that would be extremely rude to the western world is considered normal here. Its prevalence is everywhere: line-jumping, crowding, pushing, spitting, and even littering is status quo; about the only thing that will cause them to pause is a policeman wielding a large ticket book.
Pushing in subways is the rule, especially the chaotic People's Square Station. Just dig in and push; don't feel sorry. Bumping into people in streets is commonplace and should not be a reason to get angry. It is not considered impolite to brush against the side of someone or have feet stepped on (considering the population, this may not be surprising). However, compared to public transport in other Chinese cities, the Shanghainese are better at letting people alight first and the mad rush for empty seats is not so bad - your behaviour should follow the situation: if the station is crowded then pushing is acceptable, but if not then you are more likely to be looked upon as an 'uncivilised foreigner'. Also, outside of busy times you should stand to the right on escalators to allow people to pass.
Note that Shanghai subway train drivers will close the train doors and depart when the schedule says so, even if people are still boarding. When you hear the 'doors closing' alarm (usually a series of repeating bleeps) stand back from the doors (particularly on the old Line 1 and 2 trains as the doors close very quickly and may not re-open if blocked).
Crowding (aka no line) is another problem you're likely to encounter. Whether at a ticket booth, at a busy fast food counter, or even at the grocery store, everyone jockeys for position by crowding around a staff member (say, to recharge their jiaotong card), and will do whatever possible to get in first, and get out. If at all possible, avoid the situation in the first place by finding a quiet ticket counter and recharging early. "
'The History of Shanghai'
Suzhou Creek - 1920
JiuJiang Road - Late 1920's
Founded within the 10th century, Shanghai was initially a small town which sustained itself on Cotton production and manufacturing. Until the 13th century when Shanghai became one of China's most prosperous areas. A trait that still sticks with the city today.
China as a whole has had a very strong communist (left wing) nature since the mid 1900's, with Shanghai being particularly effected as it was seen as the industrial cetre for China since this time.
In the mid 1970's Shanghai became the largest tax contributor to the Peoples republic of china's government which in turned caused massive problems for the city's infrastrcuture.
"The city in the year 2000 was composed of 17 urban districts and three counties together occupying 6300 km² of land area. The three counties contain substantial rural land and a number of rural residents who continue to farm for their livelihood."
Source Wiki
Source Wiki
Shanghai Skyline panorama - 2006
Shanghai Skyline Panorama - 2010
'The Future of Shanghai'
This series of news casts looks into the ways in which Shangahi is developing and building at an 'astonishing rate'.
'Shanghai's Future Is China's Future
'Shanghai's Future Is China's Future' - Jook Leung 2010
The title alone shows the importance of Shanghai within China's development.
Nike Mitka Trike
Nike Mitka Trike - Designed by Kathalys Centrum voor Duurzame Productinnovatie, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research and the Delft University of Technology. (2002)
More comfortable than a bike, less hassle than a car.
The future of inner city transport?
'Vertical Storage Carousel'
Bored of standard parking solutions? Maybe this could be used for cars in the future?
Drop your car off and it can be safely stored in a carousel until you return when you can simply recall your car and have it returned to you.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
The Brief
Designers will be called upon to help address ever-growing urban transportation needs and global concerns for safety and efficiency, but beauty, elegance and innovation remain essential ingredients of automotive design. These have the power to drive the excitement of travel, passion for personal vehicles, and genuine harmony between vehicles and their environments.
For the 2012 Michelin Design Challenge, participants are challenged to design a personal, ground-based vehicle that can transport between 2 and 10 people at a time. Designers will choose Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, or Shanghai and design a vehicle to meet anticipated needs for that city in 2046.
In 2046, cities will offer many public and private options for transportation. We challenge you to create a vehicle that can inspire as well as transport.
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