Name: Koh Yi Sheng
Word Count: 3,561
School: Fairview International School Subang
Year: 11G
Supervisor: Ms. Ernee Zolkafee
Table of Contents
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Aim
1.2
Area of Interaction
1.3
Planning of Action
2.0
Selecting Sources
2.1
Background Research
2.1.1 Athlete’s
Foot Disease
2.1.2 Shoe
Making Process
2.1.3 Heat
Diffusion
3.0
Application of Information
3.1
My Way
3.2
What I’ve Learnt
3.3
Contribution of Criterion D to Personal Project
4.0
Achieving the Goal
4.1
My Journey
4.2
My Product
4.3
Discussion with my supervisor
5.0
Reflecting the Outcome
6.0
Appendix
Acknowledgements
Throughout
the journey of my personal project, I first have to thank my parents for giving
me approval and support in carrying out the project. I would also like to thank my supervisor for
guiding and motivate me to the completion of this project. Last but not least,
I would like to thank my friends, for sharing and exchanging of ideas and
thoughts regarding to this personal project.
Personal Project Report
1.0
Introduction
Athlete’s foot, also known as ringworms, is a
disease which causes scaling, flaking and the itchiness of affected areas [2],
causing the feet to emit unpleasant smells and rots slowly. This bacterium
requires a warm, wet environment such as inside a shoe to reproduce and
survive.
Being a student and an active sports player, I
have a foot stink problem due to the frequency of me wearing a sport shoe,
fully isolating my foot from fresh air. This had caused sweat and heat to
accumulate in my foot, promoting the growth of bacteria.
I had experienced humiliation due to my
stinky foot, where I was criticized and insulted by others. This motivated me to not just improve the
condition of my own stinky foot, but also other people with athlete’s foot by
creating a shoe to prevent and maintain the foot in a good condition. Imagine,
if a little foot stink had caused such big reactions, what will an athlete’s
foot patient undergo and feel?
1.1
Aim
The aim of my personal project is to create a new
concept for a shoe to prevent and lighting the effect on people getting a
smelly feet and athlete’s foot by mainly allowing ventilation in the shoe,
avoiding moisture and heat to accumulate in it.
I would also like to inspire others to get out of
their comfort zone, and achieve a better and higher result, hence making the
world a better place, and the advancement of mankind.
1.2
Area
of Interaction
As a student,
I am eager to explore the realms of human ingenuity, understanding the process
of creating a product by inventing and creating new concepts. It is interesting
on how humans can initiate changes using their creativity and determinations,
allowing transformation, evolution and the quality of life.
Not only that,
I would like to experience and explore the art of interaction between humans-
the ingenuity of communication which includes social skills, body language,
mindsets and last of the least, language. By going to a new environment, I am
required to grasp and master different languages to communicate with different
people.
1.3
Planning
of Action
I am planning to accomplish my project by visiting a
shoe factory to make requests for help to provide me information about shoe-making
and participation in the factory’s shoe- manufacturing process and alas
completing my own designated shoe with their equipment. However, before that, I
must get all my designs ready and be sure that I am aware of what I am doing.
1.4
My
product
For my personal
project, I will create a shoe which ventilates the airflow inside to prevent
athlete’s foot. In my product, I had set certain specifications to acquire so
that my product will fulfill the needs of the goal, and mistakes can be avoided.
These specifications are:
Ventilation
|
·
Must have at least two functioning devices- one to extract air from the shoe and one to suck it in
|
Waterproof
|
·
Device must be waterproof/unreachable
by water
|
Wiring
|
·
Wiring must be well
protected and hidden
|
Battery
|
·
Battery can
be replaced with ease
|
Budget
|
·
Shoe must fall in a price below RM50
|
Device
|
·
Device must not
be in contact with foot
·
Device must be energy
saving
·
Device must be small
|
User-friendly
|
·
Shoe must be
simple and easy to use
|
Design
|
·
A shoe with reasonable
thickness and height
|
2.0
Selecting
Sources
Sources are
the foundation of a good project, the core that drives the project forward. It
provides and fulfills necessary information and requirements to finish a task
as well as overcome obstacles in the progress. Hence, without sources of
information, a project will not be heading anywhere.
Being a
student establishing my own project, to guarantee effectiveness, I had chosen
multiple sources to power my project. The sources used in this project are the
internet, people of opinions, the shoe factory, and real-life experiences.
For the easiness
of retrieving and understanding of data, the sources will be recorded in
different forms such as mind maps, tables, drawings, pictures and last but not
least, articles of writing. These forms of presenting data are specifically chosen
solely for the reason of the direct highlights on the important points.
The sources
are not the solitary factors to be calculated as in the presence of good
sources, there will be also the presence of bad sources. The reliability of the
sources is tested by multiple sources, observations, logics, professionalized
people.
2.1
Background
Research
2.1.1
Athlete’s
Foot Disease
Athlete foot is a disease which causes
scaling, flaking, and itch of affected areas [2], causing the feet to emit
unpleasant smells and rots slowly. It is caused by a fungus belonging to a
biological family called the Trichophyton. [1] This kind of fungus will grow on
the skin and cause cracks and nasty looks on the affected areas.
It is a communicable disease caused by a
parasite fungus in the genus Trichophyton, either Trichophyton Rubrum or Trichophyton
Mentagrophytes. It is typically transmitted in most environments where people
walk barefoot, such as showers, bath houses, and locker rooms. It can also be
transmitted by sharing footwear with an infected person, or less commonly, by
sharing towels with an infected person. This can be prevented by using your own
hygienic properties and not sharing with others. [1]
Promoted by wet, warm, humid conditions, and
with all the requirements met in the internal environment of a shoe, the prevention
of the athlete's foot can be done by keeping the feet in a dry condition,
changing socks often, and a be kept in a hygienic situation all the times.[1]
2.1.2
Shoe
Making Process
The shoe
making process is divided into two main categories- Parts Production and
Assembly Production.
The Parts Production is to prepare the
materials for assembly. Mainly focused on cutting and stitching, involving
mostly women, separate parts of the shoe are made and will be continued by the
assembly production.
The Assembly Production on the other hand
involves the assemblage of the shoe, which requires hammering, usage of glue
and heavy machine handling. This is where the shoe will be finalized and
packaged. [5]
2.1.3
Thermodynamics
(Heat Conduction/ Diffusion)
Under the electron microscope, heat is
defined as thousands of atoms vibrating with kinetic energy interacting with
one another, causing a chain of movement along, which is called conduction. [3]
Equilibriums are maintained in the laws of
nature. If there is an imbalance, nature will change it. When hot air is mixed
with cold air, hot air will rise will cold air will sink. This is called
diffusion where it is an exchange between two substances with different
concentration to balance out. Diffusion will not stop until both sides are
present with the same amount of inactive atoms and active atoms.
3.0
Application of Information
If unlimited
resource is used incorrectly, the goal will still not be achieved. With the
collected information, it is required to apply them correctly accordingly to
the situation for an effective response.
3.1
My
way
Different
situations have different types of interpretation and analysis of data. In the
personal project, it is common to encounter with critical situations such as
facing problems, decision-makings and analysis.
In my ways of
applying information, before applying any knowledge on the project, I would
first divide my actions into stages accordingly to the IB design cycle which
involves Investigate, Design, Plan, Create and Evaluate. These five processes
are extremely efficient especially when you are establishing your own project
as they highlight the things of what is needed to be paid attention to, acting
as a plan, only where it can be applied anywhere, any time.
In decision
making situations, I will first investigate the situation by collecting all the
information related to the situation. With me understanding and fully aware of
the situation now, I will start designing on what I am going to do with each of
the given options. After doing that, I will start planning on how am I going to
establish my designs of the two given option. Not only that, I will also plan
on what I am going to do after completing the design of each options.
With the IB
design cycle being a concept, I can manipulate it where evaluation comes before
the create process. After planning, I will emphasize and stress on the
consequences of making each option, then contrasting the options by their
advantages and disadvantages. Evaluating them, I will decide which advantages
are more in need to my project and which of the disadvantages is more fatal to
my project. Only after that, I will make a conclusion on which option I will
choose based on the size of the impacts the option will have on my project.
This is where I will proceed to carrying what I’ve plan and designed, taking
actions, creating the product.
The process of
solving problem is similar to decision makings as it follows the same concept.
The difference between them is that there are two evaluation process in here, one
for evaluating on which option to choose, and the other one in the end
reflecting on why did it went wrong and how so that experience will be achieved
and the lesson will be learnt.
3.2
What
I’ve Learnt
Due to the constant thoughts on how to apply the information
collected, the thoughts on collecting information had also changed where I am trained
to think critically and construct questions to get answers to cover different
views and perspectives.
For instance,
I would have my question constructed so that it covers the views from the
benefiter and the views of the worker. Answers are evaluated with the Area of
Interactions and impacts of the world where I will be able to see the effects
from different angles such as socially, politically, economically, morally,
ethically and health.
3.3
Contribution
of Criterion D to Personal Project
Application of
information had brought me many influences on mindsets, changing how a person
thinks and consider different perspectives. It had led me to many new ideas and
innovations and also confidence due to the understanding of the topic in a more
completed way.
From what I
had learnt in school, I gained the ability to apply my knowledge to real-life
situation while relating them to the AOI’s. While working and observing in the
factory, I had learnt that they produce by orders from companies, with a
pre-storage of raw materials. This not only decreases the cost of the shoes due
to bulk purchasing, it also allows the factory to produce shoes anytime.
However, a large amount of space will be needed for the storage of materials.
Using human
ingenuity, the stock can be reduced by getting the correct ration of the
different materials needed to manufacture a pair of shoes. This will avoid
excess materials being bought which will prevent accumulation of stock hence
decreasing inventory space.
Gaining the
trust of the workers is also a crucial factor in a successful business;
therefore, the safety of the workers must be noted. The factory had taken many
procedures such as masks and safety goggles while handling machines to make sure
that their workers are safe. However, the workers intake glue at a dangerous
rate as it is one of the main components in the shoe-making process thus
triggering breathing problems. The workers should be told to wear a mask all
the times, nevertheless, isolating the processes involving glue so that the
smell wouldn’t spread around the whole factory.
4.0
Achieving
the Goal
Everyone has
goals, everyone has targets, and however, what really matters is the process
itself. Different people has different
definition of what a successful outcome is, thus, it is not the outcome but the
process of acquiring the outcome itself that matters the most. One could die
trying to survive while one could just surrender. Both have the same outcome,
but deep inside, the one who tried died happily knowing that at least he made
an effort. His spirit will inspire others and serve as motivation to hang on,
which makes him literally immortal due to the remembrance of him and his
efforts.
4.1
My
Journey
My journey to my goals can be considered with
only little problems here and there. The biggest problem I had faced so far is
the unavailability for two fans to be inserted due to the shoe designs- one to
input air, one to extract. Further research was done and I found out that one
fan is already more than enough as it creates ventilation too.
My end product
is 70% successful; the 30% was the elimination of the secondary fan. It ended
well as it was well planned and executed as me being a man of precautions; I go
with the quote “Expect the unexpected,” where I have extra time prepared
specially for emergencies.
Besides of
that, I understand my topic fully before taking any action, and inquire my
sources of information when I am unsure. This reduces the risk of making any
unnecessary mistakes which will slow the progress down.
All of these
cannot be acquired without hard work as I will not be here without my process.
I started by overcoming myself and interacting with new people, inquiring about
the usage of the equipment in their shoe factory.
After being
denied by quite a number of people, with the determination, alas, I found a
shoe factory which approves to teach me the process in shoe making and aid with
the creation of my product.
With this, I had to train and prepare myself
so that I am ready to be independent and will be able to adapt to the new
environment of Ipoh, Perak. While being in the factory, it had taken me
practice and hard work to finally learn how to make a shoe, which leads to the
creation of the product itself.
4.2
My
Product
This is my product, a safety shoe with
ventilation specially made for factory use. Its ventilation works by the
concept of heat diffusion. Due to the higher density of the particles, the hot
air rises while the cold air sinks.
The explanation behind this is that air would
be thinner in the colder area whilst air would be thicker in the hotter area.
With the rules of diffusion of air, higher pressure will move to the lower
pressure area, causing heat to rise. Thus, when the low pressure becomes high,
the cold air travels down again.
With the constant input of cold air, it
creates a continuous exchange and escape of heat, causing ventilation inside
the shoe.
The shoe runs on a 9V battery for longer
durability. It is specially designed to be user interactive where the fan will
be automatically activated once the foot is in. This works by a push button
switch hidden in the base of the shoes, where once the foot is placed in,
pressure is transferred to the switch, which finishes the circuit in the shoe.
Looking inside
the shoe, no wires or electronics except for the fans will be seen. This is
because the circuits and wirings are all planned and organized well, hidden
within the base and in the cuttings of the shoe. This reduces the liability of
the circuit from being destroyed or damaged by the almighty foot. The
durability of the circuits is also increased due to the non-exposed environment
to water.
To allow more heat to escape the shoe at
once, small holes are made along the stitching of the shoes. With the number of
small holes in the shoe, heat can escape evenly and there will be no feeling of
heat in one part or uncomforted foot.
4.3
Discussion
with my supervisor
After finishing the product and returning
from Ipoh, I showed Ms. Ernee my completed shoe. I was happy to see the
delightfulness of her face when she saw it. With me and my supervisor having a
more independent relationship, she was impressed.
Together, we discussed together about how
successful is the product, and she agreed with my 70% scale. She said that
overall, the product is quite good, just that it had not met some of its
requirements. We also talked about the ways of presenting the product, which I
suggested by printing off the information about my product and accompanying it with
my shoes. My idea was accepted and the meeting was ended.
I feel lucky to have Ms. Ernee to be my supervisor;
she is always giving me support, giving me a sense of direction when I am loss.
Her confidence and trust in me had motivated me to push myself harder to do
better. I wouldn’t be here with a finished product and a smooth personal
progression without her, her help will be forever remembered and indescribable
amount of thankfulness.
5.0
Reflecting
the Outcome
I had reached the evaluation part of my
personal project. Throughout this journey, I had learnt many things that
couldn’t just be learned in the school’s classroom. The biggest achievement
that I obtained in the completion of this personal project is that I had
successfully established and experienced a full independent project of my own
interest.
This kind of opportunity is not easy to have
as not only it is just a given project, but it also serves as training for our
future lives. In the working world, in order to be outstanding, one must be
able to identify the problems majority of people are facing and be daring
enough to try out new concepts. The risk might be high but the outcome will be
greatly rewarding. The personal project had taught me how to carry out the
stages to a successful outcome organized and steady.
Not only that, but this personal project had
helped me understand more about the Area of Interactions. It is interesting to
see how humans had stressed themselves on initiating changes to improve their
living styles by creating new inventions or innovations, with either good or
bad influences and with these influences, it is even interesting to observe the
reactions of the other humans, agreeing to the change or disagreeing to the
change, how they are motivated to make their point. This is human ingenuity,
the behavior of human, the act of mankind.
By the completion of the personal project, I
had experience being involved in the society. I had learnt how to communicate
with different people in a different language efficiently as I had successfully
transferred my ideas to the workers in the factory using the Cantonese
language.
I had realized the importance of social and
communication skills in this world and saw how big the differences are when
compared to a well-connected person and a normal person. The well-connected one
will have less stress and maybe, better results due to his connections with his
project related contacts that will be able to help him, giving him more sources.
Throughout my personal project, I have been
observing and obtaining the skills of social communication. I had understood
how and what are the needs of setting up a business, where you will need to
establish a chain of contacts and other business in co-operation to support
your own business.
Different parts of the countries have also
different views and perspectives of human ingenuity. Although Ipoh and Kuala
Lumpur are both capitals of a state, people have different ways of
communication and culture among the society.
For instance, the lifestyle of Kuala Lumpur
sides to a more competitive life, each individual fighting for his/her own
space for survival. Ipoh however, prefers a more peaceful and ordinary life,
where it is more quiet. It is fascinating on how humans get influenced by the
majorities or social groups of other people with some similarities. If the
difference between the societies of different parts of the country is already
so big, how different are we from the people in other countries?
Humans, like me, different from other species
present on earth, this personal project had highlighted that our determination
is the key of transformation and evolution to our quality of living; I had
faced quite a number of problems in the process of accomplishing this personal
project yet with some thinking and hard work, overcame them by solving and at
the same time, learning from it.
Most of all, I had understood that nothing
can be achieved easily without hard work, that the amount of time and effort
you put in is directly proportional to the results of your work.
Overall, I
would rate myself a 6 out of 7 for the completion of the product as the
products fulfilled mostly of the specifications except for the number of fans
present in a shoe. From my planning and organization, the process of the
personal project went quite smoothly too, and credits to that, the deadline was
met.
Bibliography
1. "Athlete's Foot Explained." Athlete's Foot.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Athletes-foot/Pages/Introduction.aspx>.
2. "Athlete's Foot-Medications." WebMD. WebMD,
n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/athletes-foot-medications>.
3. "Heat Transfer." Heat Transfer. N.p., n.d. Web.
21 Feb. 2013. <http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/heatra.html>.
4. "Human Ingenuity." Human Ingenuity. N.p., n.d.
Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <https://sites.google.com/a/baliis.net/human-ingenuity/home>.
5. "Shoe Making- How Shoes Are Made." Shoe Making
Process. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.teonline.com/knowledge-centre/shoe-making-how-shoes-made.html>.
