Education for a Digital World Advice, Guidelines and Effective Practice from Around Globe, 2008a

2 – Virtual Design Studios
• allowing interaction with students located anywhere
across the globe and
• permitting free access to/by design professionals by
shared login and passwords
Figure 2.5 A general view at the entrance of a virtual design studio
A number of telephone systems are becoming available
which can be used to interact instantly between the designers.
Web phone and cell phones can be used to advantage.
A recent leap forward with Skype offering freeof-cost
one to one or a group telephone conferencing
opens up a new possibility. A number of staff members
in Africa are already employing it to converse with
counterparts in other design institutions. A recent Skype
advertisement proposes free business conference calls,
and goes as follows:
Talk to more people at once: Conference call the
easy way. Start a ten-person call or invite others
into a call you are already having. Perfect for business
and when you need to chat to a few friends at
once. Catch up on the latest news!
The new arrival, Iphone, advertised as “breaking the
mould”, is indeed a welcome addition in Africa and Asia
as elsewhere. Likewise, the onset of podcasting is being
felt through the Internet, both on PCs and Macs. Examples
of real dialogues are as follows:
Interaction with Julien in France
Professor: Bonjour Julien, Are you there?
Julien: Oui, Prof, I am here! You like my new design of
the kiddies’ potter’s wheel?
Professor: Ya, but does it suit the kids’ anthropometrics
and likes/dislikes?
Julien: But then, I must decide the type of design and
then select a group of kids (8–12 years) to measure
their dimensions and the pulling force to find if they
can pull-start the wheel or I shall have to use a battery
just like starting a car!
Figure 2.6 Design details contributed by Julien on the Potters’ Wheel from France
Virtual studios are likely to be more flexible than reallife
studios by permitting the following:
• any place and any time; 24/7 access
• completely safe and secure, since there no removable
items
• not requiring any more funds for updating and for
larger number of designers
Interaction with Sepopo in Botswana
Professor: Dumelang Sepopo, can I see your progress on
the coin sorter?
Sepopo: Yes, Prof (showing three models) I have to decide
which of these is the best to go ahead!
Professor: Don’t you think that the spiral slope design
would take less space compared to the linear slope
design?
Sepopo: So, that’s the best one because the third design
appears so complicated to me.
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