Engineering from Afar, or Up High...

Investigating a source of engineering history can have its UPS and downs. As a long time visitor to Cosford Air Museum, I love to hear, and then see, the new objects of aviation that become the latest statements of the museum's growing floor-art.

I was able to browse over the latest developments in the Junkers JU88 rebuild. The latest email received from Karen Crick, a name that has popped up in my inbox for many years now, stated that they had put the core air-frame together. There was also the mention that the control surfaces weren't attached yet, this however meant that a more interesting trip was to be evident due to the job being 'in progress'. With parts strewn around their storage boxes, it offered more questioning for my two accompanying learners.

The JU88 was a 1930s fast-bomber by design, with the intention of it having a multi-role responsibility in the German Luftwaffe's plans. The twin-engine bird saw more than 16,000 built, with many specification variations produced that included land and sea-battle capabilities.

The history that oozes from this war relic is prevalent from the moment you get close to its moderate hulk. This is a key piece of Nazism, the Third Reich's effort to cast hell upon those below. I have stated, in a previous blog post, that it is important for us to learn about the Axis Powers too. Knowing of the lives lost from the whole war, may represent a chance to stop us reliving the horrors in our digital-rich present.

As I approach the aircraft, I can see the parts missing from the rear of the wings and underbelly. Tins and surfaces are seen lying on the floor, waiting for the engineers to attach them once again. The work, that has already been completed, is incredible, the usual attention to detail that the museum prides itself on is clear in its display at all levels of refurbishment.

From a previous visit, it was in bits!

I had already seen the aircraft in its constituent parts, laying in the corner of the 'War in the Air' hangar at the rear of the site, Just like that time, I was answering questions from my 5 year old, only this visit, I had an additional 6 year old learning the Cosford ropes. The questions came thick and fast, asking me about the outline of the aircraft and details that belonged to the artefacts shown in their glass tank.

Explaining the controls surfaces was interesting. Why are they on the floor? What is that pipe for? I would like to say that the pipe was integral to the JU88's questioning, but this came up throughout the visit, I am sure it was even asked in relation to a tank!

Again I am reminded of the gem that sits so close to home. The memories are always important, and form a major part of my 'joy' for this local attraction. The revelation this time, was understanding the knowledge that I have for both the displays, and the general science and engineering of flight. For this, I am grateful for all the experiences that I was given as a young boy, and the knowledge that is offered to me in my adult life.

Visit the Junkers, it is remarkable and a piece of rare history, at least in such a complete form, anyway. Seeing it in the mechanical flesh, it is a sight to behold.

Happy flying...or building if applicable!

Written by G.Rudd.

Find articles and more at www.beingstem.uk.

Building? Building what?

As I 'build' my website, ready for the STEM-Revolution, I am reminded of the word 'build'. Seeing that I have adopted the slogan, 'Think, design, then build!', I can assume that I need to truly understand the definition of this word.

What do we build? Everything? Just houses? What about knowledge? If you read the 'About' pages on my site, you will notice that most of my interests, for there is a lot, have an essence of building about them. The creation of anything is paramount to human progress. Every new lesson that is offered to a young child, or just the refreshing feeling of holding your new mobile phone, are all 'built' feelings or ideas at some stage in their processes.

Google Definition Search - 8th April '2017

build

bɪld/

verb

1. 1. 

   construct (something) by putting parts or material together.

   "the ironworks were built in 1736"

   synonyms:

   construct, erect, put up, assemble, set up, raise More

2. 2. 

   make or become stronger or more intense.

   "we built up confidence in our abilities"

   synonyms:

   boost, strengthen, increase, improve, invigorate, augment, raise, intensify, enhance, escalate, multiply, swell;

So, looking at this, what can be noted? Even the second term describes it as size, strength etc. Moving past the obvious, we are constructing all of the time, and that makes me think!

What if we can use this as a means of STEM encouragement? Imagine that we have 10 people in a room, without gender being a focus, there would be at least 7 of those 10 that saw no interest in the creation of structures or everyday items. This could be out of bricks made from clay or plastic, it wouldn't really matter. So, can we take, from those 7, some creativity? If I am stating that we ALL build in different ways, then surely each of those do too?

It's an odd concept, but I am sure that there is a shred of plausibility in this concept. With that, I am going to produce a basic survey, a simple click of a radio button will suffice. Let's look for the smallest of creativity in all, we may even find a small number that find a niche in a role that is much needed to be filled. 

What are your opinions? Fill out the survey dots for me, you will find it in the research tab in the menu. 

This post has been written by Gavyn Rudd, Operator of @beingSTEM. You can find out more, register to be an Insider, or just say hello at www.beingstem.uk. @beingSTEM - Think, design, then build!

Is it the 'Advent of True Home Automation'?

There's been a buzz for home automation for years, BBC's Tomorrow's World showed us in the early 80s that we could turn the lights on with a request made to a crazy robot voice in the walls. They were even highlighting the advances in touch-screen units in 1981. (As an amateur inventor, Tomorrow's World was the staple BBC show for me at that time. I can honestly say that I miss it! CNET would later take over, though this was only syndicated through cable channels at odd times of the day.) In the past few years, we have accepted the use of personal assistance in the forms of Siri (October '2011), Google Assistant (May '2016), and Cortana (2014). Newer still, is the creation of Alexa, an Amazon fuelled techno-blob that will do minor tasks for us.

What is the point in Alexa? Well, if you read the outlines for both the taller Echo and the stubby Echo Dot, they offer features such as:

• Music on demand
• News and weather updates
• Search facilities
• And other things that have been done for some time now!

This sounds a little degrading, but I am not aiming for that. I am a little taken with the Echo system, I am not sure how much is being done to make this the true future living, but movies have made a good job of showing us that automation will be the norm in the nearest years to come.

The only crux is that we need to make this an all-round technology, that way, we can have the 'tech-talker' working wherever we are. Our mobile phones are grate at this, there is still work, but they are able to lots with just our voices.

Talking to a phone makes me reminisce about the nightmare of IBM's ViaVoice Suite (August '1997). This was an added software bed, that actively allowed you to 'talk' words into your word processor. There was also the Dragon Naturally-Speaking software (June '1997), this had a similar, and yet, still the unsatisfying operation of talking to Microsoft Word too.

The ideas were great, it was there to give those that couldn't, the chance to write on their computer, I don't believe that this was always the case though. you would often read about companies that used to buy it to replace their secretaries (old speak for a personal assistant), I am not sure what the overall success of this was though.

Are we feeling better about this kind of technology? We were once a species that felt awkward at the mere thought of talking into an answer-phone machine, what are we like now? How often do you see people walking around talking to there phone on speaker, rather than the more traditional at-ear approach?

I don't believe there's a big difference! The public can't interact anyway and headsets always made you look like you were talking to yourself. At least asking your phone for the nearest place that will sell you a pack of Rolos looks like you are on the speaker-phone, and you might even look like you have a friend too, which is quite nice for many in the community.

As a rule, we must progress to become a better society (whatever a better society is). We will create ever more impressive tech every ten years. The decade that opened up from the Millennium was one of great advancement. Everything from mobile communications to hair styling products took a rocket ship to new heights. I would like to think that, likely in the next decade, we will be able to create better technology for those with physical and mental disabilities.

Imagine a world that uses technology to make us better, there is a feeling that we are being less communicative in this decade, perhaps we are becoming distant from each other, up to the point that we live our lives in individual pods, sectioned from the rest of the world. Could voice technologies help us to communicate better? What if it is the answer?

'I hypothesise that talking to electronics could bring about a communication revolution. What if the need to be on our devices could be merged with good old fashioned person to person interaction (AKA talking!) If we can't free ourselves from our phones, maybe we could use it to open up connections before it's too late.'  (G.Rudd - 4/17) (This is only suggestive, what do you think?)

What do you think about the way we are talking to machines? Will there be a day that we are able to use machines as a true sound board? I guess we'll have to see. Please visit www.beingstem.uk to see my work with STEM. Become an insider too, you can offer suggestions and ideas.

Stand under the STEMbrella. Think, design, then build!

@beingSTEM 2017