My point is not to use the OLPC to run an actual fusion reactor. Rather to create EMS/SCADA simulations for kids that discuss its use. Few US kids ever get any training in Nuclear Physics or electric power. Most research is classified. Yet their futures may be determined by this technology. I had students on Navajo reservation in US and Peace Corps who still can't take a physics class. Many Navajos live in nuclear tailings: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-navajo22nov22,0,7024230.story?page=1 But they have interest in it. That is why I created simple cartoons for kids to be introduced to it. OLPC should be used to expose students to complex ideas. http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/GeneMachine/34906 http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/GeneMachine/77493 http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/RangerRick/11273 With your knowledge could you create a nuclear cartoon for kids? Henry Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] cell 795-3680 office 505 827-2509
________________________________ From: Edward Cherlin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Mon 1/28/2008 10:27 PM To: Brown, Henry, DoIT Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [OLPC library] OLPC+Polywell Fusion power+EMS/SCADA = Off grid power for rural areas = Better healthcare See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywell On Jan 28, 2008 9:59 AM, Brown, Henry, DoIT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > OLPC + Fusion/electric power + EMS/SCADA = Off grid power for rural areas > > Could OLPC be used to monitor (EMS/SCADA) polywell fusion/electric power > generator for off-grid power? The suggestion is absurd. Why try to save a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars on the computers, particularly when electric power to run the plant's control system will not be a problem at all? Tiny keyboards and tiny screens cannot meet industry operational safety and ergonomic standards. > Small fusion reactor may allow off-grid electricity - Polywell Fusion > reactor The suggestion is also completely irrelevant. Bussard, the inventor, says, "...it will take 4-6 years and ca. 100-200 M$ to build the full-scale plant and demonstrate it." Assuming full funding, which does not appear likely. This demonstration plant is intended to show net power generation, but not to show power generation at a commercially viable level. It would then take 5-10 years more to design and build production plants, if all went well. Physicists are not at all in agreement about whether this type of reactor can achieve net power. "Controversies exist over whether the ions and electrons will thermalise and whether bremsstrahlung [braking radiation] losses will emit more energy in an unrecoverable form than can be produced by the fusion reaction." It should be noted that, contrary to widespread popular supposition, fusion power is not 100% clean and green, even though it is nowhere near as bad as sulfur and mercury from coal or radioactive waste from fission. Proposed fuels are toxic. Neutrons from the reactions will create radioactivity in the walls of the reactor. There will be short-lived radioactive waste products from the reactions themselves. "Please check your facts before posting nonsense to Usenet."--Beable van Polasm, alt.religion.kibology -- Edward Cherlin End Poverty at a Profit by teaching children business http://www.EarthTreasury.org/ "The best way to predict the future is to invent it."--Alan Kay ______________________________________________________________________ This inbound email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. ______________________________________________________________________ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, including all attachments is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited unless specifically provided under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of this message. -- This email has been scanned by the Sybari - Antigen Email System.
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