Homework 6

1.)

When will commercial airplanes will be ten time faster?
o Title: Return to Supersonic Commercial Flight in 2015
o http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/11/return-to-supersonic-commercial-flight.html
o Summary:
According to this website, the Aerion Supersonic Jet has test flights planned for 2012 an will fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.6. Compared to a conventional airplane flying from New York to Paris (which normally takes 7.5 hours) , this jet makes it there in just over 4 hours. With prospects like this, it looks like it will take a long time for commercial airplanes to become 10 times faster than they are today. However, I think it is important to note that this plane has a new design that has expected operation costs similar to that of today’s larger jets.

What will the average human lifespan be in the US, in the year 2050?
o Title: Human Lifespan: Is There a Limit?
o http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=67&t=680&s
o Summary:
One of the most startling conclusions this article comes to is that the number of people surviving after the age of 100 since 1950 in the US is growing at nearly 7% per year. Additionally, the article posits that the maximum human life span is changing and is not a biological constant. Although this article doesn’t allude to any specifics for the average lifespan in 2050, it makes an interesting estimate that the number of centenarians in the US will grow to 834,000 by 2050, from 72,000 in the year 2000. I do believe the average lifespan will increase, but since there are many variables to consider (cures for cancer, aids, starvation, etc), it may be too difficult to discern a reasonable estimate so far into the future.

Will Mac take control of the software market from Microsoft?
o Title: The Mac Versus PC Debate has Never Been Clearer
o http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/23/the-mac-versus-pc-debate-has-never-been-clearer/
o Summary:
In Apple’s quarterly review, their COO Tim Cook stated that the company’s goal was “Not to build the most computers…it’s to build the best.” In my opinion, this article puts the nail in the coffin for this debate. The cold hard fact: Apple has less than 10% of the market, when compared to Windows-based PCs, and most importantly, when price is a key factor, buyers will NEVER buy a Mac. Apple’s market is for premium high quality computers which has and probably always will be successful for them. They have 91% of the market for computers over $1000.

2.)
a) SOLAR ENERGY: For example, we all know that during the summer, one of the hardest costs to offset is for cooling. I would like to suggest a possibility for an advanced cooling system that uses solar energy to energize the cooling system, since often times it is very sunny during this time of year.

b) Principle 1
Energy sources that are more localized instead of mass produced energy, through the implementation of localized green energy technologies. This would help alleviate current issues with current green energy sources efficiency and sustainability issues for larger populations.

Principle 6
For example, one could make window blinds that had solar panel servers to collect energy, or devise exterior building materials that could collect solar energy.

Principle 14
For example, one could use mirrors and curved reflective panels to focus light more directly and intensely on solar panels, increasing their effectiveness and efficiency.

Principle 15
For example, one could design a solar power system that automatically adjusts to the maximum light intensity for optimal efficiency of the solar panel.

Principle 17
For example, one could design a solar power system with multiple panels configured in the most optimum arrangement, instead of just having single sets of panels.

Principle 23
For example, one could introduce feedback into a solar panel system to help the efficiency of the solar panel system.

Principle 30
For example, one could devise a thin film “solar panel” that can be applied over larger areas that is flexible instead of rigid.

Principle 34
For example, one could devise solar panel system that would automatically remove a broken solar panel section and then repair the section with a new set of solar panels, without having to completely disable the solar panels.