Walker Engineering http://www.wengineering.org Engineering, Management, Technology Consulting Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:58:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Top 10 Best Places for Donuts http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/top-10-best-places-for-donuts/ http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/top-10-best-places-for-donuts/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:55:20 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=81 BonAppettit

By Andrew Knowlton

Photograph by [...]]]> Every culture has fried dough—German Berliners, Italian zeppole, French beignets, and Indian balushahi—but none can top the gut-busting pleasure of the American donut. It’s the latest iconic food to undergo a renaissance; here are our picks for the best classic and newfangled donut purveyors across the country.

BonAppettit

By Andrew Knowlton

Photograph by Sian Kennedy

March 2010

  • Voodoo Doughnut
    Portland, Oregon
    What Dalí was to art, Voodoo is to donuts. Among their masterpieces are the Dirty Snowball (chocolate cake donut with a pink marshmallow glaze) and the Memphis Mafia (chocolate chips, banana, and peanut butter).22 SW Third Avenue; 503-241-4704; voodoodoughnut.com

  • Randy’s Donuts
    Los Angeles
    Los Angeles has donuts on just about every corner, but you can’t beat this legendary stop near LAX. Look for the huge donut atop the building (a 1952 landmark). The buttermilk and crumb raised donuts are crowd-pleasers.805 West Manchester Avenue, Inglewood; 310-645-4707; randys-donuts.com
  • Dynamo Donuts
    San Francisco
    At this counter in the Mission District, long lines form early for Four Barrel coffee (roasted nearby) and inventive donuts including lemon-Sichuan, apricot-cardamom, and the excellent caramel de sel. 2760 24th Street; 415-920-1978; dynamodonut.com
  • Bouchon Bakery
    Yountville, California
    On weekends, donut disciples head to Thomas Keller’s casual spot for pastry chef Richard Capizzi’s treats, including jelly donuts with seasonal preserves and the brioche donut topped with chocolate mini balls. 6528 Washington Street; 707-944-2253; bouchonbakery.com
  • Dat Donuts
    Chicago
    Every donut at this South Side joint is made by hand. Purists will like the raised glazed donuts (available in a supersize version as well), while cream-filled-center devotees must have the Boston cream. 8249 South Cottage Grove Avenue; 773-723-1002
  • Kane’s Donuts
    Saugus, Massachusetts
    In business since 1955, this no-frills Beantown institution is located 20 minutes from downtown. Favorites include honey-dipped and powdered-sugared varieties, and a huge coffee roll.120 Lincoln Avenue; 781-233-8499; kanesdonuts.com
  • The Donut Stop
    St. Louis
    A big roadside sign announces this white stand-alone shop straight out of Homer Simpson’s dreams: Glass cases are filled with glazed donuts, fried pies, fritters, and custard-filled rounds. 1101 Lemay Ferry Road; 314-631-3333; thedonutstopinc.net
  • Doughnut Plant
    New York
    The artisanal donut boom can be traced to Mark Isreal’s Lower East Side place. The classic glazed and tres leches cake donuts are perfection. Even the jellies in the trademarked jelly-filled square donuts are house-made. 379 Grand Street; 212-505-3700; doughnutplant.com
  • Round Rock Donuts
    Round Rock, Texas
    It opens at 4:00 a.m. and charges only $0.55 each for cake donuts in flavors like applesauce, blueberry, and chocolate. You can also go fancy—a cherry bismarck (jelly-filled) costs $0.75.106 West Liberty Street; 512-255-3629; roundrockdonuts.com
  • Mighty-O Donuts
    Seattle
    Dairy- and egg-free. Trans-fat and cholesterol-free. Here, the ethereal sugar rings (in flavors like lemon poppy seed, spiced cake with maple glaze, and chocolate iced with peanuts) are all that—and organic to boot. 2110 North 55th Street; 206-547-0335; mightyo.com
]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/top-10-best-places-for-donuts/feed/ 0 The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/the-eight-irresistible-principles-of-fun/ http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/the-eight-irresistible-principles-of-fun/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:31:15 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=78

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]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/the-eight-irresistible-principles-of-fun/feed/ 0 MIT Machine Shop Videos http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/mit-machine-shop-videos/ http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/mit-machine-shop-videos/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:21:22 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=76 Thes are a great series of instructional MIT videos on “Machining Skills for Prototype Development.” Quite a nice little introduction to basic machine shop skills.

MIT TechTV — Machine Shop 1

]]>
Logo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Image via Wikipedia

Thes are a great series of instructional MIT videos on “Machining Skills for Prototype Development.” Quite a nice little introduction to basic machine shop skills.

MIT TechTV — Machine Shop 1

]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2010/02/mit-machine-shop-videos/feed/ 0 More Robots – The Big Picture http://www.wengineering.org/2010/01/more-robots-the-big-picture/ http://www.wengineering.org/2010/01/more-robots-the-big-picture/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:11:04 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=72 http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/08/more_robots.html

Scientists, students and corporations continue their work around the world in the field of robotics, persistently improving and redefining their capabilities, interfaces and roles in society. Unmanned vehicles fly above war zones, telerobotics give humans a broader virtual presence and humanoid robots gain more parity with humans, refining their movements and responses. Collected [...]]]>

Taken at the Georgia Institute of Technology C...
Image via Wikipedia

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/08/more_robots.html

Scientists, students and corporations continue their work around the world in the field of robotics, persistently improving and redefining their capabilities, interfaces and roles in society. Unmanned vehicles fly above war zones, telerobotics give humans a broader virtual presence and humanoid robots gain more parity with humans, refining their movements and responses. Collected here are a handful of recent photographs of robotics in use around the world.

Related articles
]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2010/01/more-robots-the-big-picture/feed/ 0 Environment may be why women don’t like computer science http://www.wengineering.org/2009/12/environment-may-be-why-women-dont-like-computer-science-2/ http://www.wengineering.org/2009/12/environment-may-be-why-women-dont-like-computer-science-2/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:53:27 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=67 This was an interesting piece from the University of Washington about the environmental factors which subtract female students from Computer Science and I would suggest Engineering as well.

Joel Schwarz joels@u.washington.edu

Photo by Sapna Cheryan

Just the appearance of science fiction memorabilia, computer game boxes and junk food in a classroom or workplace is [...]]]>

Logo for University of Washington.
Image via Wikipedia

This was an interesting piece from the University of Washington about the environmental factors which subtract female students from Computer Science and I would suggest Engineering as well.

Joel Schwarz joels@u.washington.edu

Photo by Sapna Cheryan

Just the appearance of science fiction memorabilia, computer game boxes and junk food in a classroom or workplace is enough to create an environment that makes computer science an unattractive field to many women.

In real estate, it’s location, location, location. And when it comes to why girls and women shy away from careers in computer science, a key reason is environment, environment, environment.The stereotype of computer scientists as nerds who stay up all night coding and have no social life may be driving women away from the field, according to a new study published this month. This stereotype can be brought to mind based only on the appearance of the environment in a classroom or an office.

“When people think of computer science the image that immediately pops into many of their minds is of the computer geek surrounded by such things as computer games, science fiction memorabilia and junk food,” said Sapna Cheryan, a University of Washington assistant professor of psychology and the study’s lead author. “That stereotype doesn’t appeal to many women who don’t like the portrait of masculinity that it evokes.”

Such objects help create what Cheryan calls ambient belonging, or the feeling that you fit or don’t fit in somewhere.

“It is the sense you get right away when you walk into a room. You look at the objects and make an instant appraisal of how you would fit with the objects and the people who are typically found in that environment. You also make a judgment of ‘I like it here’ or ‘I don’t belong here,’” she said

Cheryan set up four experiments involving more than 250 female and male students who were not studying computer science to look at possible reasons why the proportion of women in the field is dropping while the proportion of women in such disciplines as biology, mathematics and chemistry is increasing.

In the first experiment, students entered a small classroom that either contained objects stereotypically associated with computer science such as Star Trek posters, video game boxes and Coke cans, or non-stereotypical items such as nature posters, art, a dictionary and coffee mugs. The students were told to ignore these objects because the room was being shared with another class. After spending several moments in the classroom, the students filled out questionnaires that asked about their attitude toward computer science.

Women exposed to the stereotypical setup expressed less interest in computer science than those who saw the non-stereotypical objects. Men placed in the same situations did not show a similar drop in interest in computer science. Cheryan said this study suggests that a student’s choice of classes or a major can be influenced by the appearance of classrooms, halls and offices.

The other three experiments which asked student to imagine stereotypical and non-stereotypical objects in various environments, found that:

• When women were given the choice of joining one of two all-female teams at a company, and the only difference between the teams was the objects found in the teams’ workrooms, 82 percent of the women picked the team with the non-stereotypical workroom.

• The stereotypical and non-stereotypical objects were the determining factor for both women and men when they were given the choice of taking similar jobs at one of two companies that had workforces evenly split by gender. Both genders had a preference for the job in non-stereotypical work environment, but women’s preferences for the non-stereotypical environment were significantly stronger than men’s. Women also felt less of a sense of ambient belonging in the stereotypical work environment than men.

• After being questioned about their attitudes toward a Web design company, males and females were asked to choose between identical job offers from two such companies. The only difference between the firms was the objects in each company’s workplace. Women were more likely to accept an offer with the non-stereotypical company while men had the opposite preference. The more women perceived the stereotypical environment as masculine, the less interested they were in that company.

“These studies suggest objects such as science fiction books and Star Trek posters communicate whether or not a person belongs in an environment. “Instead of trying to change the women who do not relate to the stereotype, our research suggests that changing the image of computer science so that more women feel they fit in the field will go a long way to recruiting them into computer science,” said Cheryan.

“We want to attract more people to computer science. The stereotype is not as alienating to men as women, but it still affects them as well. A lot of men may also be choosing to not enter the field because of the stereotype. We need to broaden the image of the field so both women and men feel more welcome. In workplaces and universities we can do this by changing the way offices, hallways and labs look. The media can also play a role by updating the image of computer science. It would be nice for computer scientists in movies and television to be typical people, not only computer geeks.”

Co-authors of the research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, are psychologists Victoria Plaut of the University of Georgia; Paul Davis of the University of British Columbia, Okanagan; and Claude Steele of Columbia University.

###

For more information, contact Cheryan at 206-543-5688 or scheryan@u.washington.edu

]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2009/12/environment-may-be-why-women-dont-like-computer-science-2/feed/ 1 You Have to Be Able to See the Screen http://www.wengineering.org/2009/12/you-have-to-be-able-to-see-the-screen/ http://www.wengineering.org/2009/12/you-have-to-be-able-to-see-the-screen/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:12:28 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=55 I was interested in extending my “computer” glasses, the ubiquitous reading glasses of yesterday set for the focal length for computer screens and I wondered what everyone else was finding now that computer screens are finally commonplace.  I ran across this article “To Work on the Web, You Have to Be Able to See the [...]]]> I was interested in extending my “computer” glasses, the ubiquitous reading glasses of yesterday set for the focal length for computer screens and I wondered what everyone else was finding now that computer screens are finally commonplace.  I ran across this article “To Work on the Web, You Have to Be Able to See the Screen“.  I was grateful to find another person who has done the same research and has also ordered glasses off the Internet.

Related articles

Please go to the original article where there are great comments, additional posts, and important related advertisements.  This archive copy is only in the event the blog pulls down the original article.  Really, the actual article is much better.

To Work On the Web, You Have to Be Able to See the Screen

October 20th, 2009 (9:00am) Charles Moore

I’ve finally got computer glasses, after years of gradually increasing difficulty focusing at mid-range between distance and close-up vision. My optometrist first suggested bifocals back in ‘02, but I resisted. In hindsight, this was not my wisest decision. My reasoning wasn’t vanity; I was getting along reasonably happily with single vision lenses, and didn’t want to complicate my life.

gogframes

However, difficulty reading my computer screen went critical last spring when I downsized from a 17″ PowerBook to a 13″ unibody MacBook. I love the MacBook’s bright, sharp LED backlit display, but it’s smaller both in resolution and physical dimensions than my old machine. Happily, the computer glasses make reading the new display easier, clearer and more squint- and strain-free than the 17″ display with my old glasses. As expected, I find it tedious to have to switch spectacles when I’m not at the computer or reading, but having just turned 58, I guess making some concession to age is inevitable.

Computer Glasses

Computer glasses have prescription lenses allowing you to focus without strain on a computer screen, which is farther away than you would normally hold reading material (or should be, anyway — at least 20 to 26 inches from the user’s eyes is the standard recommended distance). A “task-specific” analog would be piano glasses for musicians. Regular bifocals aren’t really that helpful for computer work, although some folks find the transition area between reading and distance views with progressive bifocals provides some mid-range support that works for them. My new lenses are bifocals, but with only mid-range in the upper plane with the lower part of the lens for regular reading and other close work (a variant known as “occupational bifocal”), so I still need single vision regular glasses for distance work — watching TV, driving and just normal seeing.

Another option is single-vision mid-range lenses — pure “computer glasses,” but eyeglass-wearers will need another pair of specs., since both distant objects and reading materials closer than the computer screen will be blurred.

A “do-all” solution is trifocal glasses with three lens planes combining an  upper segment for distance vision, a lower/bottom one for close work, and  a third one for mid-range or screen distance in between. The downside of trifocal lenses is limited continuity of vision and peripheral distortion greater than with bifocals or single vision lenses. A trifocal variant is occupational “readables” with a relatively larger center zone for mid-range computer distance and proportionately smaller lower and upper zones for reading/close work and focusing at about 10 feet for “room-type vision” respectively. However, “readables” are not intended for driving and such because they don’t support true distance focus.

With multi-focal lenses there’s also the choice between Progressive Addition Lenses (PAL) which eliminate the hard lines between the two or three segments, or conventional multifocals with lines. I like clear distinctions so went with regular lined bifocals, but that’s personal preference. Your eye specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist) can consult and advise on which is best for you. My optometrist uses single vision computer glasses himself.

By around age forty or so, ability to focus on close objects begins diminishing (a phenomenon known clinically as “presbyopia”). Most forty-plus folks require vision correction for reading or performing other near tasks. I fudged it for 18 years after that using a “poor man’s bifocals” mode: holding reading materials close and peering over the top of my distance lenses.

Even younger users who spend a lot of time in front of computer screens may find greater comfort and fewer eyestrain issues by wearing computer glasses for screen viewing. Reportedly, growing evidence indicates that the stress focusing on mid-range or near objects over long periods can induce an effect “accommodative spasms” which may in turn result in increased or premature short-sightedness. Wearing computer glasses decreases accommodative effort and can help prevent or delay vision deterioration.

Computer Vision Syndrome

The growing number of people having trouble in this context is large enough that a new category of visual disorder called “computer vision syndrome” (CVS) has been described referring to computer-related vision problems, replacing the vaguer “eyestrain.” The most common CVS symptoms include headaches, visual focusing difficulties, burning, tired, aching, or dry eyes, double or blurred vision, light sensitivity, and neck and shoulder pain.

Aside from visual correction, other strategies that can help minimize and alleviate CVS include lowering light levels in computer workstation environments; getting anti-reflective and or Ultraviolet (UV) coatings on eyeglass lenses to reduce fatiguing glare and blue component light; and taking regular breaks from staring at the screen. Lens tints provide enhanced comfort for some users, although I don’t like them personally. Workplace environmental humidity can play a role as well.

Having a proper chair at correct height to support ergonomic posture with back straight and shoulders back, and using a laptop stand with an external keyboard and pointing device when working with portable machines at your desk to elevate the display to a higher viewing level help minimize eye and neck strain. Getting a bigger monitor can be beneficial too, even for laptops pulling desktop substitute duty, and monitors should be situated directly in front of the user — not at an angle or off to one side, at roughly arm’s length from your eyes.

One inhibition to getting computer glasses may be cost, especially in this recession. Prescription eyeglasses acquired through tradition channels tend to be expensive, but there are alternatives. I got my new specs from Goggles4U.com. They have nice light titanium frames, anti-scratch and UV coatings and prescription lenses, all for the grand total of $63.99 delivered to my door here in Nova Scotia, arriving from Pakistan in a charmingly hand-stitched and addressed cloth bag with wax seals, and including a hard case, cleaning cloth, and a handy-dandy little screwdriver tool for maintenance.

gogcoll1

Do you suffer with Computer Vision Syndrome? Have you tried computer glasses?

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]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2009/12/you-have-to-be-able-to-see-the-screen/feed/ 0 This Day in Tech http://www.wengineering.org/2009/11/this-day-in-tech/ http://www.wengineering.org/2009/11/this-day-in-tech/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:22:36 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=53 Wired has a great engineering and technology list appropriate to the day called This Day in Tech.  Check out the site and see a plethora of information from a variety of past years and experiences.

]]> Wired has a great engineering and technology list appropriate to the day called This Day in Tech.  Check out the site and see a plethora of information from a variety of past years and experiences.

]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2009/11/this-day-in-tech/feed/ 0 Engineering Resources @ Engineering.com http://www.wengineering.org/2009/09/engineering-resources-engineering-com/ http://www.wengineering.org/2009/09/engineering-resources-engineering-com/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:50:51 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=45 Today I was using Engineering.com which has a lot of free tools, an extensive engineering library, directories, and as a result is a online destination for engineers.  If nothing else, browse the library, and don’t miss the article on the hovercraft as fall is approaching and as an engineer you don’t expect to use [...]]]> Today I was using Engineering.com which has a lot of free tools, an extensive engineering library, directories, and as a result is a online destination for engineers.  If nothing else, browse the library, and don’t miss the article on the hovercraft as fall is approaching and as an engineer you don’t expect to use your leaf blower for leaves.  Now do you?   Sometimes I wonder if we share enough as a discipline so I though I would mention this one resource for you to look at and bookmark.

From the site:

ENGINEERING.com also offers hosted and deployed engineering software and services to manufacturers, design consultants and engineering students around the world. In addition ENGINEERING.com offers the following resources to the engineering community: Free file sharing, ENGINEERING.com Collaboration Suite, News,Careers Section, Library, Software,Education, and Directories.

]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2009/09/engineering-resources-engineering-com/feed/ 0 UofW Computer Science & Engineering Distinguished Lecturer Series http://www.wengineering.org/2009/08/uofw-computer-science-engineering-distinguished-lecturer-series/ http://www.wengineering.org/2009/08/uofw-computer-science-engineering-distinguished-lecturer-series/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:27:02 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/2009/08/uofw-computer-science-engineering-distinguished-lecturer-series/ CSE Distinguished Lecturer Series

Thursday, 10/01/2009, 3:30 p.m. in the Allen Center Atrium Charles Simonyi, Intentional Software Return to the Final Frontier Tuesday, 10/06/2009, 3:30 p.m. in the Allen Center [...]]]> The public is invited!  I believe we are going to attend some of these events.  Call us if you are interested in getting together in Seattle at one of these.

CSE Distinguished Lecturer Series

]]> http://www.wengineering.org/2009/08/uofw-computer-science-engineering-distinguished-lecturer-series/feed/ 0 What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? http://www.wengineering.org/2009/08/what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up/ http://www.wengineering.org/2009/08/what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:44 +0000 John http://www.wengineering.org/?p=38 I ran across an updated career search feature for Careers After College from the Princeton Review, and although you have to register (but can deselect the usual suspects that will email you everything) you can get to a short list of questions to identify a range of careers.  The point to taking the quiz isn’t [...]]]> I ran across an updated career search feature for Careers After College from the Princeton Review, and although you have to register (but can deselect the usual suspects that will email you everything) you can get to a short list of questions to identify a range of careers.  The point to taking the quiz isn’t to give you a definitive answer, but a short list of possible careers that you can research or think about.  Especially with the number of career changes we are all going to experience increasing over time.

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