(sorry if this is in the wrong section, feel free to move)
Hi I'm new here and would like to ask for your help.
This year I'm going into my Final year at university, studying product design.
We have to do a final year project and I'm currently starting my research for this.
I do quite a bit of hill walking/camping/expeditions and I'd like to design something to do with the 'outdoors'
So I was wondering if any of you have:
* problems you would like a solution to
* ideas for something you think could be interesting to develop
any suggestions ideas, advice most welcome.
Thankyou in advance
Robert
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 on a personal level - a lightweight sleeping bag and combined sleeping mat / matress for under 1 kg that fits small in a racksack- that really would be a challenge robert
p.s look at alpkit.com - they do competitions and show what designs people have come up with onj their website
david
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what about an all in one solo tent , sleeping bag and mat thats bigger than a normal bivy with the hood loop , feels more like a micro tent- maybe something slightly inflatable that would not weight too much and could be easily be carried in addition to pack - as a product designer are you more interested in the basic design / concept or using current technology / materials / processes etc
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Thankyou very much for the quick responses. you know i actually like the idea of an all in one tent. Its given me something to think about and start researching at least. as a product designer its all of the above that you've mentioned. I will be spending almost the entire year working on this project. I cant really design something purely conceptual. I'm required to make a fully working prototype, the product would be made from the appropriate materials.
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robert
i am a university graphics / illustrator lecturer very much interested in general design - i would be interested in your progress and might be able to help in someway although i have very limited knowledge of product design
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Thanks David... Will definately keep you up to date with progress if I decide to go down this route. ----- more areas to think about people?
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 You know those pocket survival kits (AKA a tin of useless junk), something like that except actually useful.
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 Adventure Medical in the US already make it Ben. Plus a few places in the States do their own good take on the perfect kit, like Hoods Woods for instance.  Welcome Robert, here to the OM forum, by the way.
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| Edited: 11/08/08 22:25 |
There is nothing actually essentially wrong with much of the bits contained within the standard tobacco style army survival tin kits anyway. Many of the Pro survival schools operating today, like Trueways here in the UK, actually teach their basic courses relying upon the basic contents of such tin kits you know; and would not do so but for the fact they have proven to be real lifesaving kits, in extremes of true survival situations being experienced the world over.
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| Edited: 11/08/08 22:24 |
robert
something that i dicussed yesterday on one of the forums but an electic heated sleeping bag where you can regulate the heat - or something in the sleeping bag that you add to form a chemical reaction to make warmer think msr ration kits in usa -but somthing that can be contunially heated up noy disposed of or some form of additional ultra light cover (a sliight obsession of mine) - something very simple and light that will keep you extra warm- modern day waterbottle - something that fits along the seam of a sleeping bag and works for say 8 hours - heat tape in a roll or something - i don't know just thinking aloud or maybe a simple heating device in the tent to regualte the heat in the tent etc etc
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MRE rations - as in Meals Ready to Eat, there David.
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yes sorry trevor, didn't check that thanks
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 robert something that i dicussed yesterday on one of the forums but an electic heated sleeping bag where you can regulate the heat - or something in the sleeping bag that you add to form a chemical reaction to make warmer think msr ration kits in usa -but somthing that can be contunially heated up noy disposed of or some form of additional ultra light cover (a sliight obsession of mine) - something very simple and light that will keep you extra warm- modern day waterbottle - something that fits along the seam of a sleeping bag and works for say 8 hours - heat tape in a roll or something - i don't know just thinking aloud or maybe a simple heating device in the tent to regualte the heat in the tent etc etc
Berghaus brought out a jacket that had a heating element in it a few years ago.
It bombed.
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well you never know, i suppose with a jacket you are moving around so getting hot, that seems abit pointless to me - but laying static in a tent for a few hours is a different matter - what you want is cental heating in a tent - home comforts etc etc
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Weight comes into it though David if you're backpacking. High quality down can't be beaten on the weight to warmth factor.
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point taken
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