BreezeBlog

It's been a busy week here ordering components for the first production run and finalising small details of the design.

Monday was quite hectic getting quotes and placing orders for numerous small fixtures and fittings and also thinking about artwork on the product.

Someday I may do a write-up of how many of any given component you have to buy before you get a discount! In the meantime, it seems I may have cornered the German rust-proof marine- grade cross-thread screw market. Shades of Catch 22's Milo Minderbinder? Well, maybe not quite on that scale.

If it's Tuesday then it must be fabrics! This is a really interesting topic and I'll be returning to it in a future post.

Wednesday saw me driving down to the New Forest to approve the final changes to the plastics tool. Who says you need to go to New England to see autumnal foliage? Just one of the perks of working with BEC at New Milton!

We'd asked BEC to make some changes to the tool, making it easier for the assembly team to do their job and also to toughen-up the product. Looking at the first-off samples we asked for a couple of tiny changes and by Thursday Neil (pictured below) was back on the phone ready to do the first production run!

In this phase of bringing the SleepBreeze personal cooler to fruition - where we are moving from the design stage into production, co-ordinating everyones' efforts is the key. Safe to say my mobile phone has taken a bashing this week. Quite literally at times! And it looks like in the coming 3 weeks, as the components start to arrive at the factory for assembly, life will get a little busier!

Have a great weekend, Andy

I was saddened this week to learn of the recent death of Air-Vice Marshal Peter Howard. Peter Howard was the commanding officer of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine when I joined its Thermal Physiology and Survival Section in the mid 1980s.

The physiological research carried out at the IAM was widely recognised as world class. Not only did it support the role of RAF Strike Command but many advancements in the safety of civilian air travel, too. Anyone who has ever travelled by air will have benefited from the work done by the IAM's scientists. The personal cooler we've been developing draws on the science undertaken at the RAF IAM.

I count myself as having been extremely fortunate to have trained there and, subsequently, being invited back to work there, eventually becoming their expert on microclimate (personal) cooling. My sympathies go to Peter Howard's family.

For a fascinating history of the RAF IAM I can recommend "Into Thin Air" by Gibson and Harrison.

Publisher: Robert Hale Ltd (Feb 1984)
ISBN-10: 070901290X
ISBN-13: 978-0709012900

And for a shorter history covering the years 1946-2000...click here

In between getting production underway of the SleepBreeze personal cooler I've taken time out to put some ideas down on the STAR-TIDES Appropedia site.

This is a work in progress, and quite a task. But ya got to start somewhere! So, I've started off on familiar territory and taken a look at refugee shelter habitability - part of the Household Infrastructure package.

Any comments welcomed!

Some time ago I put a post on the BreezeBlog about the problems faced by London Underground passengers during heat waves.

Obviously it was good news that a long-term solution was being tested with a view to rolling it out if the trial proved successful.

Well, it seems that the collapse of Metronet means this is one scheme that is now "under review".

So, no doubt the summer of 2008 will see the same problems as ever for commuters.

TfL has some tips on using the tube in the heat.....

"We know the Tube can be uncomfortable in hot weather. Here are a few tips, which will help to take the edge off the heat and minimise delays:

"Always carry a bottle of water with you.
Please don't board a train if you feel unwell.
If you begin to feel unwell please get off at the next stop and seek help from our staff.
Please avoid pulling the passenger alarm between stations."

Sound advice, no doubt. We'd add a few obvious things to this list:

Remove coats and suit jackets. This will help sweat evaporation, keeping you cooler.

Use one of the ubiquitous copies of the Metro newspaper lying around as a fan.

Where possible open the side and end windows of the compartment to allow "fresh" air into the carriage.

www.sleepbreeze.co.uk

Those interested in the STAR-TIDES project may be interested in seeing some photos from this week's event at The Pentagon.

From my perspective one of the many positive things coming out of this project is the involvement of college students who get to think about the challenges facing refugee populations. How much better to get young people thinking and educated about the practicalities of providing practical aid than, say, a Fun-Run charity event!

We were delighted to have the SleepBreeze personal cooler on display, to be associated with, and continue our support for the TIDES project.