Modeling a Solar Powered "Edutainment Center" in my Study/Sunroom

The term edutainment is recent word combining the ideas of entertainment and education.  It has been suggested that the first forms of edutainment were parables and fables.  The actual word edutainment was first used by the Walt Disney Company as early as 1948.  The word itself can be attached to various modern day learning modules.  Education-Entertainment is a blend of basic communication theories and fundamental entertainment pedagogy.  In media, the term can be applied to early games such as The Seven Cities of Gold released in 1984 for the Atari 400/800 with version a version released for the Apple II.  An episode appeared on TV in the sitcom Happy Days that resulted in a dramatic increase in the demand for library cards.  Radio is another source of edutainment in the media.  The academic world has used this in the form of presentations, class skits, etc. to keep the attention of tired students. For me, infomercials are a form of edutainment.  At any rate, for my purposes, a way to present solar shed projects and products is by building what I dub an "Edutainment Center."  For me, the product below is a great device to include in a solar system containing an "edutainment center."

The Modern Part of the Solar Shed 101 Project

      I am trying to apply effectiveness in design and scientific modeling to my project.  The solar shed is one way to do this for me.  It seems that an investment in building outdoor solar structures at this time could be of benefit to a lot of homeowners and especially those people approaching retirement.  Modeling and design of these structures could be an opportunity for students.  The business model of these devices appears to be very rewarding at this time.  My strategy is to pick five books from my library each quarter and study them.  I am trying to organize around small spaces (shed) and therefore I'm looking for books that apply and hoping that they have gone electronic.  The 'hybrid' solar shed can serve also as a power supply for the electronic book reader and a place to utilize it.

The Classical Part of the Shed as a Power Supply for My Studio/Office/Study

The home-based solar structures project identifies the snap & grow greenhouse(search greenhouse at link below) as the classical component of the hybrid shed.  I don't exactly know the history of the green house, but I found a link that includes the history of sheds. Take a look at the Green Sheds link at this site as well as the Backyard retreat link to get ideas of a different kind of outdoor structure. Imagine solar panels as well as skylights on the finished structure.  The polycarbonite  panels in snap & grow greenhouse afford little attenuation of the solar radiation (below UV range of course) and therefore they are a great "shelter" and storage area for the solar briefcase(search briefcase at link below) and the solar generator(search generator at image link below).  These items combined with the portable office equipment and decor provide a great solar system for the self sufficient portion of the hybrid.

Back to Basics at Home with Sunlight

Long ago the word edutainment crept into our vocabulary.  This was a time when entertainment-centers were popular.  It was at a time when CD's first were announced and were an immediate success.   Next came the internet along with all of its e-possibilities and great expectations for learning and business. Phones, radio, TV, and stereos integrated with the internet and the e-lifestyle is continuing to progress with great new i-ware. I'm in the process of creating an edutainment center in my home-study with portable solar-power and "all-in-one" electronics.  

I am planning to build a "modern" greenhouse in my backyard and need to combine this with a "hybrid-modern" solar shed to generate electricity for revenue as well as generating the electricity for the edutainment center.  I am currently in the process of estimating how much home equity and revenue these structures will produce.  I know that the value/cost ratio of solar structures is pretty good.  Also, there are great incentives to rejuvenate with sunlight. Recently, I've produced "science project models" of solar systems to power a small scale edutainment center consisting of my graphing calculators and solar-electric kits.  I created a game controller for my TI-84 in 2007 as a science project design and have added a solar power supply to it in 2010.  Now, I've  become interested in extending these concepts to the backyard by combining the idea of classical gardening and modern gardening into this entertainment and educational center.

We tried to grow small apple trees in our garden years ago but they disappeared rapidly.  The modern genetically produced honey crisp apple is now available to the gardener.  I plan to start these seedling trees in the protection of the greenhouse and to eventually surround them in the adjacent garden with a solar powered electric fence.  So, truly, the idea of a "modern victory garden" combating the finacial woes that face us is truely within our reach. Combining the power of photosynthesis with the power of photovoltaics is a positive step for education and the environment.

Just imagine the possibility of lighting your gardens with free solar energy and powering your pond/waterfall as well as mowing your lawn and backyard putting green with a solar-powered robotic lawnmower while your read your e-books under a solar-powered beach or patio umbrella or take a solar shower.  All this is possible with todays technology and products.  And it's good for the environment! You could even park your solar-powered golf cart in or near your modern photovoltaic sun-roofed carport and use it as a wheelbarrow  for your modern backyard garden when not golfing.

Sunlight has been the basic power source since the beginning of time.  Only recently have we realized that it is an instant source of power that can transform our backyards into positive energy and cash flow enterprises. 

Solar Electric Systems

Imagine automating your garden-work and powering the equipment with free electricity from the sun.  Combine this automatic watering system  with a solar generators and imagine automating indoor and outdoor garden work with free electric power.  The link below shows an example of an automatic watering system.

Solar Systems

A solar panel dedicated to a certain function meets can serve as a system based on free energy.  Examples of these are solar spotlights, flashlights, and fountains.  Click on the item below to check out a solar fountain.

Solar Panels

A solar system can be defined as a dedicated or general purpose device that includes a solar panel,solar circuit, and an electric circuit.  It could be a dedicated device such as a calculator or radio, or a general charging device for modern battery powered electronics.  Solar apparel is beginning to include these systems.  Check out the product link below for some ideas.

Modern Solar Gardener

We now have new ways to measure environmental conditions in our backyards and our gardens.  The list of measurements includes sunlight as well as moisture and other growing conditions.  The sensor shown below can easily hook up to a netbook computer through  the USB connection and let one find good places to do photosynthesis and photovoltaics.  So get some ideas by clicking on this link.

Powering your Smart Phone with Sunlight

Sunlight is a natural resource available to anyone.  It is a form of electricity and both are forms of energy.  Devices are available now that can convert sunlight into electricity during the day, store it, and make it available for electronics.  They have connectors called tips that allow one to connect them to many different phones as well as other electric devices.

Learn, Commit, and Do an Outdoor Project

The internet is a great resource for doing problem-solving activities. So let's rejuvenate our dream of a better environment and "sharpen the saw" to do outdoor projects that will add to our prosperity and take us to a better future.
I focused on this vision last fall and committed to learning about an industry that can benefit the consumer and her/his environment. It is a "win/win" situation for the homeowner as well as builders and providers of this emerging technology.
I am now in the process of doing some weekend outdoor projects with the help of some friends and am becoming proactive in the areas of concern that can help to restore that dream of a better day

Think small with a Big Idea

A greenhouse is a form of a shed. It is an ideal structure for the backyard farmer. A portable and practical solar-powered office can be constructed with very little energy needs. Perhaps it is time to plant a modern victory garden to combat the energy, financial, and housing problems that face us today. This structure could also house your portable solar panels when impending storms are possible. Heating a small space, such as a shed or greenhouse during times of need, is very simple. Check out the device below by clicking on it for those times when you are stranded without heat.

As I was reading The Universal Traveler, the idea came to me that this is the time for the Electronic Cottage, predicted by a chapter of the same name in Alvin Toffler's The Third Wave. According to Toffler's book, copyrighted in 1980, there were three great social changes in history: farming society, industrial society, and electronic or information society. The third wave has an important similarity to the first, which is getting back to a lifestyle at home. Pop stars of the time had already alluded to getting back to the farm and saying "goodbye to the yellow brick road." Perhaps the time of the backyard farmer has arrived again with a little help from the instant physics provided by the devices that can harvest pure sunlight. One can even design and plan a "barn-like, 2-story shed" for his/her backyard. I am designing a modern one to take advantage of providing energy for an indoor and surrounding outdoor garden and pond.

Organizing Around Small Spaces ("A little bit of Everything is a Lot")

My library is currently spread throughout our home with books virtually everywhere. The e-reader is a device to convert the library into a space that can fit in ones hand. I am beginning this process. Modern electronics is providing the technology to do this. And more than this, these devices can be powered with free energy.

There are many good book genres centered around the concept of "everything." One of my favorites is "The Everything" series. One can search for almost any topic and the books can be found for a small price at the local outlet store. I am currently reading The Everything Organize your Home book that contains some interesting chapters. One is entitled "Organize your Office" and another "Organize the Outdoors." This chapter has a section on organizing a shed. I have decided to organize my shed around the concepts of portable(making the space a general one) and solar (free energy).

A new device is available for "Our Pad"(Solar Shed) that can include your library as well as a bookstore for ebooks. It also includes a brand new way to work with office software and it is an internet or idevice. So check out this great new invention and try searching for portable and solar on the link below. I am currently reading a book entitled The Ten Day MBA and hope to purchase it soon in electronic form.

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From Science Project to Business Project

A shed is an ideal place to have a workshop, why not a solar one? Charging alkaline batteries is possible with commercially available chargers. I developed a science project design around a smart solar system to charge a AA battery. The system would have the appropriate switches, micro-controller, and smart measuring system to do this. I could apply my portable office/study equipment to the task. Just as science projects were an academic need beginning in the 1950's brought on by events of the time, I believe the events of our time foster the need for business projects in the educational environment.

Utilizing a greenhouse as a solar shed and a solar system in the form of a briefcase, I plan to power a commercially available alkaline battery charger with free energy and provide this as a service to the community. The analogy is of a classical greenhouse using photosynthesis to harvest energy and sell plants and the modern photovoltaic driven greenhouse to house a system for harvesting and storing energy. The commercial recharging units are available from the oldest mail-order catalog shop (on ebates) as well as from a company called smarthomes on the internet.

I am currently exploring the benefits of combining the traditional solar shed with a modern green solar shed and will seek the help of expert planners for custom design. I am also exploring the benefits of operating my portable office in the task of what I call "The Business of Being A Student." I have written software for my TI-73 calculator to generate floor-plans. This is a very simple form of a smart drawing program to handle the interior designs for this protean money making structure.

Smart Home Link
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Money and Energy

An outdoor structure that can harvest and utilize energy is a good investment in time, money, and energy: all limited resources today.  Balancing energy flow and cash flow is certainly a strong possibility with these structures properly constructed.  The concept of equity with regard to a personal or business structure can be applied to the concept of a solar system employed with an outdoor project.  Home equity can be calculated in terms of (appraised value - amount owed on a mortgage or home equity line of credit.)  It has been said that solar structures can be worth more than one pays for them instantly.  We are in the process of studying this effect.

The fact that solar circuits can be used to generate electricity and power electric circuits as well as store electricity is a result of transistor technology just as the computer.  The cost of producing these solar cells and arrays has dropped from tens of thousands of dollars 30 years ago to a few dollars today.  The technology is advancing just as computer technology has advanced in the last few decades.  We are also doing a cash flow as well as energy flow study of the solar structure.

Solar Power   

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MyPad: A sunspot for Weekend Getaways

Years ago we had an planner design an addition to our home. It contained a sun room, playroom, music room, and dining room off of the side of our home. We have decided to reduce the plan to a sun room, attached to the house, but adjacent to the kitchen. Since it will be approachable from only the outside and it is in a sense to be a breakfast nook or outdoor kitchen but is really none of these, I called it "MyPad", a place for a weekend retreat and weekend projects. The connecting link between the house and this room is a garden window, a classical solar component, that we are converting into a modern one with to days' technology.

We plan to customize a small room plan and convert the porch into a sun-porch, that is, include solar arrays or shingles on the porch roof. The plan will include appliance shelves and provisions for a walk in pantry. All small appliances are to be energy efficient. A closet is included in this suite to allow the room to even be converted into a gym with portable equipment easily stored. Click on the picture below to find some convertible furniture.

The inside of this space is to be convertible. A key component will be a console/card/dining table to so that the area can serve as a work and play room. Portable electronics will allow the area to serve as a study, office, or studio, and more. A great new device has appeared that is perfect for a kitchen. With all-in-one electronic devices and energy efficient appliances, this room is planned to be a self-sufficient in terms of utilities.

Check out this shopping portal to fill your favorite room with great equipment. Please use our email(ekit101@gmail.com) if you choose to join and consider this to be friendly advice. Here is the signup link.

The Business of Being a Student of Solar Energy

This is a time when we all need to address the business of being students because of the housing, financial, and energy crises. The solar shed is an effective way to learn, commit, and start doing our part in addressing these issues. We are all fortunate to be able to rely upon experts in design of the classical greenhouse and garden shed as well as the advances over the last 30 years in solar energy technology to be able to act as consumers in a cost-effective manner.
As a starting point, consider going to my affiliate below for advice as well as great products to pursue this dream. Type greenhouse and then briefcase in the search box to find what I consider to be a starting point for collecting and utilizing immediate energy through photovoltaics as well as through established longer-range returns in the form of photosynthesis. Start immediately to harvest sunlight for your home-based electricity and electronic needs. Consider ways of enhancing these solar systems, and then proceed to the next phase of customizing the traditional garden or solar shed for these functions and more!

Portable Solar-Powered Showroom

By day, it is an area to collect free sunlight and convert it into stored electricity. By night, it is a showroom for small portable electronic appliances and machines. These are the benefits of moving to a solar-shed lifestyle. It is just another application for learning about ways to save on the electric bill, to commit to an investment in energy that has potential for a large ROI, and to operate an "electronic cottage" in a very cost-effective manner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxOTeiMMFg8



Modern technology gives us a space to showcase virtual electronic catalogs and great new products in an effective way. We can preview items for study within are office space, studio, or showroom.

Portable Solar-Powered Studio

I have an interest in electronic music. Many years ago I purchased an Arp Odyssey synthesizer and took lessons on it as well as piano lessons. This was at a time before microcomputers and sound cards. Synthesizers were actually analog computers based on the calculus of motion and change. Nevertheless, it was fun creating thunderstorm effects at Halloween and patching in all kinds of unique sounds. The Arp 2600 became popular with many of the music artists of the time. It has been revived in software form and is available today. This is a great application for an outdoor project.

In truth, my wife found my practicing annoying in our previous apartment; she would have been fine, however, had I pursued my passion in an outdoor living structure. Happily, our 2001 addition to our home functions as an outdoor structure since it was added to the southeastern face of our home using existing exterior French doors, which effectively block sound. Our addition has a separate entrance through another set of French doors to a surrounding patio. Three palladium-style windows and a library-loft with a large dormer complete the functioning of this space as a sunroom/shed. The modern concept of powering this studio application with free energy makes it much more interesting as a solar power supply for my studio.

Arp 2600 V for Mac,Win

Portable Solar-Powered Study

I have moved my study from a loft area to the sunniest spot in our home, the great room (gspace) as I call it. This was quite easy in that the same equipment I use in my portable-office is utilized for my portable-study. I have conducted a series of science projects in past years from my study. One of my past science projects was a game controller for my graphing calculators. The power supply was quite simple, an AA battery.

This year I am developing a solar system to provide power for the unit as well as sellable energy for recharging batteries. Most of the parts for the original controller as well as the solar system are available at the local mall. The solar system consists of a netbook computer with microcontroller, a smart metering sub-system consisting of a CBL and TI-73, my game-controller to serve as a analog voltage distributer, a set of 10 battery powered mini-lights, a solar energy kit, snap kit FM radio, an architecture kit(for modeling roof angles) and the outdoor structure. The input is free sunlight and the output is fm radio as well as electricity for solar powered smart battery chargers.

We will be displaying the science project online with a video. The format for the video will be able to be projected from a micro projector that could be included in a real rather than virtual science fair. This project will serve as a stepping stone for a modern portable solar powered greenhouse and power supply, our next io project.


TI-73 Explorer Graphing Calculator

Projects : Inside and Outdoors

I am currently moving my study to a sunny spot in our home. It is actually in part of our home that is a great room, bedroom, and library/balcony. The great room has large palladium style windows that face in a southern direction. It is the room where our computers reside and home theater is planned. At any rate, it is a good model for an outdoor structure, and it is "solar."

The plans I chose for my first modern outdoor structure came from a book entitled Sheds & Garages that I purchased at a local bookstore. The garden shed on page 170 appealed to me, and I sent away for the plans. I am currently in the process of studying the plans and hope to customize them. I developed a program for my TI-73 to draw floorplans for small structures and located software online to do this on my netbook. An indoor project of high priority is to convert my library to electronic media by purchasing e-books and operate the e-reader(s) with solar energy.

My goal is not only to design solar systems for the inside of my garden shed but also to customize the outside with modern technology. I have now located an online source that has a very similar plan in their outdoor projects section as well as many other interesting designs.

Portable Solar-Powered Office

Free energy is available for the picking with todays fantastic solar technology. There are portable devices available now that can charge your mobile smart phone as well as your netbook computer and ebook reader. Therefore pick a sunny spot for your home office and get started.

I have purchased one of these fantastic devices and am now beginning to explore the vast applications of the product. I use a LED lighted lap desk as my office furnture. I have a USB LED light source as my desk light. I am using electricity generated from my portable-solar battery to power my lighting and my phone. Tips for these solar power supplies are available for many devices.

My interests are focused on sun-powered devices and cost effective solutions to present day challanges. These small solar batteries have a big future in our world. These are key inventions for restoring balance in our small section of the "Electric Universe.

Here is a link to a great resource for solar gear.

Portable Solar

Many solar power supplies are becoming available today for all the cool gadgets and practical devices that the electronic age has given us.  Online catalog shopping on great shopping portals is becoming more and more important for our fast mobile lifestyle.  For some interesting products relating to these ideas, visit this online link and type in portable solar in the search box.

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