This project we had to choose a world problem and find a way to help fix it. We knew going into the project we would not be able to solve the problem, but we hoped we could help fix it somehow. We chose to aid cancer patients through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and their recovery process. We did some research and learned that in many cases patients lose weight because they can not keep food down. We created a drink that is full of anti-nausea ingredients and vitamins rich foods. We hope this drink can aid cancer patients through their recovery process.
CONCEPTS:
CARE: Care is an acronym it stands for Comfort, Aid, Relief, and Energize.
CANCER: Cancer is an uncontrollable growth of cells in the body. Cancer can spread in the blood system and lymphatic system. It can be removed by surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
CHEMOTHERAPY: Treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease-producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue.
RADIATION THERAPY: Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, is therapy using ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control or kill invasive cells. Radiation therapy may be curative in a number of types of cancer if they are localized to one area of the body.
ENGINEER DESIGN CYCLE:
1.Identify the need - Cancer
2.Research the Problem - We took three day researching cancer and problems patients have.
3.Develop possible solutions - We though about making a more conformable bed for patients. We did not come up with the drink until a couple of days later when we noticed someone has already made beds for cancer patients.
4.Select the most promising solution - We then changed our solution to the CARE drink.
5.Construct a prototype - The night before our presentation our group made drink that we brought to school.
6.Test and evaluate the prototype - I drank it during the presentation.
7.Communicate the design - We would like to make more drinks specialized for different types of cancer.
8.Redesign - Create more drinks.
9.Repeat - Start all over again.
REFLECTION:
This project by far has been my favorite one this year. I loved the independence given for this project. We were given very few guide lines for this project and we could have chosen any problem to help fix. Even though I loved this project I still think both my group and I could have improved. First off, my group could have spent less time on our phones. A way to fix this is put all our phones face down in the middle of the table so no one will be distracted by them. We could also have been less social with other groups. A way to stop that is designate one person all day to keep the group in check. Some things we did good was making sure everyone had a part in the project. For example, on the research phase everyone was searching something different and taking notes. Another thing we did good was finishing our work on time. We finished our presentation a day earlier so we were able to practice our presentation many times. This was helpful because our group looked very well rehearsed when it came to the presenting day. In the end, I would love to do this project again to help another world problem.