Indian Army uniforms for women in the future

I started off very ambitiously wanting to study war strategies countries had used in the past and how they had changed over time. While doing my research, I realized countries weren’t openly going to discuss present war strategies. The whole topic was extremely hush-hush. So I decided to look at another aspect of the military- weapons. I wanted to study weaponry dating from the early 1600s to our present scenario. But when I went up to people asking what they thought the future of weaponry was going to be, they all said “nuclear wars”. This is when I settled on my final subject of research. Uniforms! They had been changed over and over again; every country had a unique uniform, and nothing was kept under wraps, finding information was very easy.

Military uniforms have gone from very elaborate, bright and colorful to very utilitarian. They are now supposed to be distinctive so they are easily identifiable and stand for unity among its members.

  Ancient Roman Empire soldiers have been shown to wear a small linen under cloth, a tunic, sandals and a heavy metal amour. They carried with them either a sword or a spear.

 Uniforms became more flamboyant around the 16^th- 17^th centaury. It was now a way of distinguishing between different ranks and regiments. The officers wore a coat, waistcoat, stocking, breeches, scarves and a hat.

  Today, military uniforms are all about function, camouflage and are even used as a means of psychological warfare against the enemy.

When I presented this idea in class, people suggested I narrow down my field of research. Designing a universal uniform for all countires was going to be almost impossible. I picked the Indian army. Out of the many uniforms that the Indian Army uses, I chose their field uniform. It seemed like the uniform that everyone was familiar with and so when I changed it, people would know what I’m talking about.

India changed it’s uniform recently because it was too similar to the Pakistani uniform. Then some time ago, we had trouble with the Indian Army emblem having been leaked so people could buy it off the counter. But while I was talking to officers in the army, the men didn’t seem to have any issues with the current uniform and the women had lots. So I changed topics again. I decided I would take the current uniform and modify it to be more women-friendly.

There seemed to be many problems with the uniform. Some complained that the cloth was too thick, while others said the clothes were not curvy and hence looked really shabby on a woman’s body. Narendra and one other person said that they didn’t like men staring at their breast line where all the medals and indication of rank are usually pinned. Also the five button fly on the pants didn’t make sense for a woman. In the time I had, I was only able to make a few changes. I got the tailor to make the uniform more attuned to the female figure by getting rid of the square form of the shirt and giving it curves. Because a lot of these army officers believe that the uniform makes them look shabby.

I also got rid of the breast pockets because they would be useless to a woman anyway. I slightly pulled up the pants at the waist. A problem that I couldn’t find a solution to in the little time I had, was the shape of the pants. They are made for the male body and the women in this country are larger at the hips. So they have to buy pants that are much larger at the waist so that the hips don’t look funny, but in the process ruin the length and the fall. Another problem that was pointed out in class was that these women will have problems closing the buttons of the shirt when they are pregnant. One solution would be to keep extra pleats on the sides that can be unfolded to make the shirt larger. The other option is, that they let the shirt be open (as it is sometimes kept, since there is an inside t-shirt as well) and the pants could have elastic at the waist. I still need to figure out where the medals would go. Someone in class suggested that I put a sashe on the shoulder where things could be pinned up. There are several other problems that women in the army encounter and I found it extremely strange that they haven’t been dealt with yet. I am still working on the uniform and once I have everything right in this one, I would like to create a whole new one.

Mobile Commerce

My project looks at a different medium of payment by making use of the mobile. It is a mobile phone application and will be able to make payments through your mobile. There are various features of the application as can be seen on the dashboard. Using the phone camera, the qr code can be scanned which would be printed on the bill or on the screen of another phone and the user can make and receive payment. So the user can make direct payment using your mobile. The app will be linked to the bank account so it will have all the account information.

For example when you are in a restaurant and you get your bill. The bill will have all the standard information but along with this, the code will also be printed. You scan the code using the mobile phone camera and all the information in the bill will be displayed on the mobile phone screen. You can then just press pay on the screen and it will make the payment hence eliminating the use of money or credit card.

It can also generate a qr code which can be sent or scanned by the other user and can receive payment. There is also a bill payment option which can pay all the bills like water, electricity, phone etc.

It is a new and alternative method of payment and eliminates the use of the wallet

The Value of Handicrafts

Cottage industries, village industries, small scale industries, handicrafts and large scale industries are the various terms which are used for different types of production works, according to their size and production.

When a worker produces something with his simple tools, with the help of his family members only, then he is said to be running a cottage industry. The absence of big machines, electric power and hired labor are the features of cottage industries. In our villages, we se workers spinning and weaving cloth. This is the main cottage industry of our country. Pottery, wood-work, metal-work, leather-work, basket-making, cursing of sugarcane, etc., are some other important handicrafts of our country.

The importance of cottage industries is very great for rural as well as urban area. In villages, farmers can carry on their cottages industries side by side with their main occupation of agriculture. They are important for them as they provide opportunities for party-time employment. In urban areas also the poor can start some cottages industries with their own limited resources. They are indispensable for a poor country like India.

In cottage industries the question o the exploitation of workers does not arise. The worker and his family being both the employer and the employee themselves, get all the earning from their business. Even if in some cases hired labors are employed, the relations between them and the employer remain healthy.

Big machines are labor saving devices. They are not used in cottage industries. So, if they are encouraged, more and more people get employed. Besides this, they are good means for providing part-time employment.

The tendency towards centralization is inherent in large scale industries. This leads to over-crowing and congestion in the towns. Children and women are employed in big industries. Corruption becomes rampant. But handicrafts solve all these problems. They are mostly run in homes of the workers. So the housing problem does not arise, other social ills are also removed.

Further, the independence of the worker is maintained. The work can be begun and stopped according to his convenience. no rigid-routine is necessary. So in cottage industries the workers enjoy a marked sense of freedom.

Cottages industries have to face many difficulties. They cannot compete with large factories. As the products of the cottage industries are the result of the labor of the workers, their cost remains high in comparison with that of the mill-made goods. Workers are mostly poor. Sometime, they find it difficult to get raw material and the necessary tools for their work. So these difficulties come in the way of the growth of handicrafts.

Some suggestion for the development of cottage industry may now be made. The filed of production for cottage and large scale industries should be specified. The competition between these two spheres of production should be replaced by co-operation. Credit facilities should be provided. This will enable the workers to purchase raw materials and tools. Facilities for marketing finished goods should be provided. The Government should undertake research work for making simple and cheap machines. This will be very helpful for the progress of cottage industries.

The government has always recognized the importance of cottage industries. It established the Cottage Industries Board, All India Khadi Development Board, and other such agencies for the production of handicrafts. A large sum has always been allotted for their development in th various Five Years Plans of the country. As a result, much progress has been made in this direction. Let us hope much more would be done ofr this small scale industries in times to come.

Space Travel Final

Space Travel

Multiple Gravity Slingshot

This concept that I studied is the use of gravity slingshot to assist a spaceship in acceleration. If we could use this theory to make a spaceship use four to five planets of our solar system to use gravity assist and travel at the speed of light, it could make space travel much cheaper and faster to travel long distances in no time. The last assist has to come from the largest planet in our solar system which is Jupiter that would provide the final major assist.

What is a Gravity Sling Shot?

The Invention of Michael Minovitch’s theory of Gravity Propelled Interplanetary Space Travel was so radical it did not require and rocket fuel or any on-board energy generating system, but was capable of generating vehicle velocities for greater than the most advanced nuclear propulsion system, and was independent of the vehicle’s mass.

Gravitational slingshot is the use of the relative movement and gravity of a planet to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft, typically in order to save propellant, time, and expense. Gravity assistance can be used to accelerate, decelerate and/or re-direct the path of a spacecraft.

A gravitational slingshot is a slick way to pick up speed using a moving planet’s gravity.

Using a planet as large as Jupiter can send a ship at half the speed of light.

Flying Saucer

The myth that the flying saucer exists might be able to turn into reality. A saucer is a perfect spaceship to travel in space and if it can be assisted by Neutrinos then it can even travel at light speed. If the saucer is provided energy be the Neutrinos and their similar shapes can help the saucer replicate it then even the saucer can travel at light speed if spun around like those particles and led to any direction it has to go to. The base of the saucer receives the neutrinos that then spins around which activated the turbine. The turbine will also then start rotating which would spin the saucer just like the Neutrinos. The only flaw in this theory is that it cannot change directions once it’s moving.

The opening at the bottom shuts as it’s about to land. An object at such speed cannot be stopped that easily so if it is slowed down a bit by the time it reaches another planet, it can be stopped completely by using the ripple effect. It needs to find large water bodies like the ocean on Earth itself and then like the skipping of a stone on water, the saucer has to replicate the same motion and skip on the water to gradually slow down.

What are Light Speed Neutrinos Particles?

Antonio Ereditato, the leader of Neutrinos research team discovered that Neutrinos are charged particles that move faster than light. These are little disc like particles which when spun around really fast gets charged and runs at light speed at any direction it is lead to.

Neutrinos are particles that escaped from the sun and are buried underground on Earth.

Space Elevator

The Space Elevator concept is the same as the one that exists except my own interpretation of its visuals and for the space station that it will connect to. This I imagine existing in the next thirty to forty years.

What is a Space Elevator?

 Space elevator Technology was invented by Arthur C. Clarke. Its name pretty much explains how it works. A cable is strung between a launch point and a geostationary satellite in orbit, dangling all the way up from the ground through the atmosphere into space. Elevator cars will then ride up and down the cable, powered by ground-fired laser beams, and ferrying equipment and personnel into space without all the expense, fuss and risk of a rocket launch. When they become technically feasible, they'll make access to space about as simple and easy a task as driving a car, and they'll drop the costs of launching satellites by an extraordinary amount--completely transforming how we think about space travel.

Ion Motor Trains

I thought of an idea as to how space technology can also benefit the technology on Earth. Hence, a train that could use ion motors for acceleration that could help it accelerate ten times faster than it does today. However, ion propulsion is acceleration with patience so if the train was planted with multiple motors and if they were to be started after a certain intervals of time then it might not have to wait before it accelerates to its full potential. The back of the train contains the main ion motors where as the external ones for assist are on the sides.

What is an Ion Propulsion?

Rocket designers have been studying ion propulsion since the 1950s, and mention of the technology often turns up in works of science fiction.

Deep Space 1 is the first spacecraft to use it as a primary means of propulsion.

Instead of the fiery thrust produced by typical rockets, an ion engine emits only an eerie blue glow as electrically charged atoms of xenon are pushed out of the engine. Xenon is the same gas found in photo flash bulbs and lighthouse search lamps. Acceleration with patience In the engine, each xenon atom is stripped of an electron, leaving an electrically charged particle called an ion. Those ions are then jolted by electricity that is produced by the probe's solar panels and accelerated at high speeds as they shoot out from the engine. That produces thrust for the probe. The ions travel out into space at 68,000 miles (109,430 kilometers) per hour.

The thrust itself is amazingly light -- about the force felt by a sheet of paper on the palm of your hand.

It takes a while for it to accelerate so hence it's acceleration with patience.

But once ion propulsion gets going, nothing compares to its acceleration. Over the long haul, it can deliver 10 times as much thrust-per-pound of fuel as more traditional rockets.

Conclusion

There is no guarantee that all these ideas will work however I interpreted these concepts through 

mostly facts and some assumptions. I wish I had more time to work on my illustrations and do a little more research to be more precise. This was just my attempt to visualize the future in space travel.

Illustrations in progress

Explanations of my illustrations

Space Travel

Gravity Slingshot-

This concept that I studied is the use of gravity slingshot to assist a spaceship in acceleration. If we could use this theory to make a spaceship use four to five planets of our solar system to use gravity assist and travel at the speed of light, it could make space travel much cheaper and faster to travel long distances in no time. The last assist has to come from the largest planet in our solar system which is Jupiter that would provide the final major assist.

Flying Saucer-

The myth that the flying saucer exists might be able to turn into reality. A saucer is a perfect spaceship to travel in space and if it can be assisted by Neutrinos then it can even travel at light speed. If the saucer is provided energy be the Neutrinos and their similar shapes can help the saucer replicate it then even the saucer can travel at light speed if spun around like those particles and led to any direction it has to go to. The base of the saucer receives the neutrinos that then spins around which activated the turbine. The turbine will also then start rotating which would spin the saucer just like the Neutrinos. The only flaw in this theory is that it cannot change directions once it’s moving.

The opening at the bottom shuts as it’s about to land. An object at such speed cannot be stopped that easily so if it is slowed down a bit by the time it reaches another planet, it can be stopped completely by using the ripple effect. It needs to find large water bodies like the ocean on Earth itself and then like the skipping of a stone on water, the saucer has to replicate the same motion and skip on the water to gradually slow down.

Space Elevator

The Space Elevator concept is the same as the one that exists except my own interpretation of its visuals and for the space station that it will connect to. This I imagine existing in the next thirty to forty years.

Ion Motor Trains

I thought of an idea as to how space technology can also benefit the technology on Earth. Hence, a train that could use ion motors for acceleration that could help it accelerate ten times faster than it does today. However, ion propulsion is acceleration with patience so if the train was planted with multiple motors and if they were to be started after a certain intervals of time then it might not have to wait before it accelerates to its full potential. The back of the train contains the main ion motors where as the external ones for assist are on the sides.

Explanation of my Study

Space Travel

Space Travel has been NASA’S major concerns and it’s the biggest challenge they ever faced. It is only the future that holds any hope of seeing major space travels to unimaginable distances. My idea is to only look at existing ideas and theories and interpret new ideas and theories that could actually happen fifty to sixty years from now in space travel. It’s to find different methods and using them in different ways to make travelling in space faster and more efficient.

Gravity Sling Shot

The Invention of Michael Minovitch’s theory of Gravity Propelled Interplanetary Space Travel was so radical it did not require and rocket fuel or any on-board energy generating system, but was capable of generating vehicle velocities for greater than the most advanced nuclear propulsion system, and was independent of the vehicle’s mass.

Gravitational slingshot is the use of the relative movement and gravity of a planet to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft, typically in order to save propellant, time, and expense. Gravity assistance can be used to accelerate, decelerate and/or re-direct the path of a spacecraft.

A gravitational slingshot is a slick way to pick up speed using a moving planet’s gravity.

Using a planet as large as Jupiter can send a ship at half the speed of light.

Light Speed Neutrinos Particles

Antonio Ereditato, the leader of Neutrinos research team discovered that Neutrinos are charged particles that move faster than light. These are little disc like particles which when spun around really fast gets charged and runs at light speed at any direction it is lead to.

Neutrinos are particles that escaped from the sun and are buried underground on Earth.

Space Elevator

 Space elevator Technology was invented by Arthur C. Clarke. Its name pretty much explains how it works. A cable is strung between a launch point and a geostationary satellite in orbit, dangling all the way up from the ground through the atmosphere into space. Elevator cars will then ride up and down the cable, powered by ground-fired laser beams, and ferrying equipment and personnel into space without all the expense, fuss and risk of a rocket launch. When they become technically feasible, they'll make access to space about as simple and easy a task as driving a car, and they'll drop the costs of launching satellites by an extraordinary amount--completely transforming how we think about space travel.

Ion Propulsion

Rocket designers have been studying ion propulsion since the 1950s, and mention of the technology often turns up in works of science fiction.

Deep Space 1 is the first spacecraft to use it as a primary means of propulsion.

Instead of the fiery thrust produced by typical rockets, an ion engine emits only an eerie blue glow as electrically charged atoms of xenon are pushed out of the engine. Xenon is the same gas found in photo flash bulbs and lighthouse search lamps. Acceleration with patience In the engine, each xenon atom is stripped of an electron, leaving an electrically charged particle called an ion. Those ions are then jolted by electricity that is produced by the probe's solar panels and accelerated at high speeds as they shoot out from the engine. That produces thrust for the probe. The ions travel out into space at 68,000 miles (109,430 kilometers) per hour.

The thrust itself is amazingly light -- about the force felt by a sheet of paper on the palm of your hand.

It takes a while for it to accelerate so hence it's acceleration with patience.

But once ion propulsion gets going, nothing compares to its acceleration. Over the long haul, it can deliver 10 times as much thrust-per-pound of fuel as more traditional rockets.

Illustrator Manual

http://issuu.com/ananyasingh/docs/chapter_1_issuu

I had a course with Mr. Koshy in the starting of second year in which we had to build an Autism Village. That was the first time I interacted with Autistics and I got interested in it.

Autism is a developmental brain disorder which leads to impaired social interaction and communications skills. Most children with autism have a limited range of activities and interests and they have repetitive behaviour. There is no one definite method for all children because each child is different. It is not a disease or mental illness; it’s a developmental disability and typically appears in the first 3 years of life. It affects boys more than girls, though the exact cause is unknown. There are various therapies such as Behaviour, speech language, Applied behaviour analysis, occupational, physical, physio therapy that might help the child.

IMPAIRED SOCIAL INTERACTION/COMMUNICATION-RESTRICTED INTERESTS- REPITITIVE BEAHVIOUR.

I have created a manual that can be used both by parents and the child directly to learn Design softwares. I am focussing on Illustrator for now, and will move onto Flash and Photoshop.

WE NEED TO ACCOMODATE THIER TRAITS, NOT OVERCOME THEM.

The areas I’m trying to counter are:

Unusual distress when routine changes

Repeated words and body movements

 In most of the softwares we use, there is a stepwise pattern that we follow to create anything. Thus it focuses on the fact that they will be following the same steps again and again to create something hence will be comfortable.

Slow development of language or not at all (non verbal children)

Prefer to spend time alone

Since they aren’t able to communicate easily, they can use this as a medium to translate how they are feeling. They can draw out the pictures themselves in accordance to how they feel an object should look like and use that to communicate. So a personalised glossary can be made for each child which the parent can look up when they need to understand what the child is saying. Each child is different and hence has different needs.

This can help them communicate with other children as well; a different child might have a different drawing for the same word.

Shows little pretend or imaginative play

It can challenge this; some children might be able to enhance their creativity using these softwares as a tool. It could enhance their interest towards simplistic things such as colour as well.

Obsessive interest in a single topic or activity

If this becomes their area of interest, they can do wonders!

FEEDBACK-

Communication Deall:

www.communicatondeall.org

Head by Mrs. Prathibha Karath

(2-2.5 yrs age group)

ITS AN EARLY INTERVENTION CENTRE, not a special need school.

They have manuals for families of children with ASD. They deal with intervention across several domains such as motor, communication, cognitive and social skills are provided within a specific time frame.

AIMS AT INTERGRATION OF THESE CHILDREN IN REGULAR SCHOOLS SUBSEQUENT TO INTENSIVE PRESCHOOL INTERVENTION. Those who aren’t able to develop appropriate skills are then enrolled in special school after 3 years of intervention.

12 children per unit 1:3 ratio of staff to children.

Her response: She felt that it wouldn’t be needed in her institute since the children are too small to comprehend the software. Yet she felt technology was the right the right path.

Her suggestion: Creating a set of computer based books so that the child is comfortable answering questions and the teacher then knows that the child has understood the subject and can be promoted up to the next grade.

Creating a voice modulation software, which responds differently to different sounds created by the child. This is for those children who either whisper or scream and thus get used to their voice and know that screaming is wrong.

Prayas, Spastic Society of Karnataka:

Head by Mrs. Kavita Sharma

(5-18 yrs age group)

ENHANCING LEARNING, COMMUNICATION AND MEANINGFUL OCCUPATION, using indigenous technology based solution.

The project aims at EMPOWERING THE PARENT’S of enrolled individuals along with monthly workshops on awareness related to the existing useful technology based solutions.

2:5 ratio of staff is to children.

Her response: She loves the idea of it and think it’s a manual that can be published ad is willing to do so.

Her suggestion: Each chapter in the end should have a product that can provide them some kind of occupation if possible. The pages shouldn’t be too cluttered, less text more visuals.

Create an I-pad application that is indianised and hence is easily relatable for the Indian children.

Asha:

www.ashaforautism.com

Head by Mrs. Jayashree Ramesh

(3- 16 yrs age group)

PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS and hence integrate them successfully into the mainstream by training them to hold regular jobs.

Endeavour to render exceptional love, care, hope and educational assistance to children with special needs to help them develop and utilise their potential. To develop well informed and trained parents and families and create awareness in the community about the disability.

Her response: She thought it was a good idea since she tool feels that technology is what will be used in the future. She’s ready to try it out on her children once the manual is ready. Manual can be used for non verbal children to communicate easily.

Her suggestion: She got me in touch with Akshayee Shetty, a graphic designer by profession who has worked in this field for 8 yrs and is dealing in vocational training and is currently working at Bubbles.

Thanking,

Dr. Koshy, Mrs. Prathibha Karath, Mrs. Kavita Sharma, Mrs. Jayashree Ramesh, Akshayee Shetty, Mrs. Jaishri Iyer, Mrs. Suchitra Narayan, Alannah Dsouza, Mr. Narendra Raghunathan