[00:55.93]JOHN:Erm... hello Professor, I'm John Wishart.
[00:58.49]I'm working on my entry for the Global Design Competition.
[01:02.58]My tutor said you might be able to help me with it.
[01:04.95]PROFESSOR:Ah, yes. I got a copy of your drawings.
[01:07.55]Come in and tell me about it.
[01:09.55]What sort of competition is it?
[01:11.21]JOHN:Well, It’s an international design competition and we have to come up with a new design for a typical domestic kitchen appliance.
[01:19.15]PROFESSOR:I see, and are there any special conditions?
[01:21.83]Does it have to save energy for example?
[01:24.43]JOHN:Actually that was the focus in last year's competition.
[01:27.22]This year's different.
[01:28.93]We have to adopt an innovative approach to existing technology, using it in a way that hasn't been thought of before.
[01:35.82]PROFESSOR:I see, that sounds tricky.
[01:37.80]And what kitchen appliance have you chosen?
[01:40.42]JOHN:Well, I decided to choose the dishwasher.
[01:43.90]PROFESSOR:Interesting, what made you choose that?
[01:46.24]JOHN:Well, they're an everyday kitchen appliance in most Australian houses but they're all pretty boring and almost identical to each other.
[01:53.99] I think some people will be prepared to pay a little extra for something that looks different.
[01:58.98]PROFESSOR:That's a nice idea.
[02:00.25]I see you've called your design ‘the Rockpool’; why is that?
[02:04.83]JOHN:Basically because it looks like the rock pools you find on a beach.
[02:08.83]The top is made of glass so that you can look down into it.
[02:12.77]PROFESSOR:And there's a stone at the bottom.
[02:14.47]Is that just for decoration?
[02:16.22]JOHN:Actually it does have a function.
[02:18.20] Instead of pushing a button, you turn the stone.
[02:21.61]PROFESSOR:So it's really just a novel way of starting the dishwasher.
[02:25.60]JOHN:That's right.
[02:26.78]PROFESSOR:It's a really nice design, but what makes it innovative?
[02:30.41]JOHN:Well, I decided to make a dishwasher that uses carbon dioxide.
[02:35.30]PROFESSOR:In place of water and detergent?
[02:37.60]How will you manage that?
[02:39.12]JOHN:The idea is to pressurise the carbon dioxide so that it becomes a liquid.
[02:43.80]The fluid is then released into the dishwasher where it cleans the dishes all by itself.
[02:48.81]PROFESSOR:Sounds like a brilliant idea!
[02:55.42]Your system will totally do away with the need for strong detergents.
[02:58.15]So what happens once the dishes are clean?
[03:06.24]JOHN:Well, to allow them to dry, the liquid carbon dioxide and the waste materials all go to an area called the holding chamber.
[03:06.47] That's where the liquid is depressurised and so it reverts to a gas.
[03:10.31]Then the oil and grease are separated out and sent to the waste system.
[03:14.37]PROFESSOR:It sounds like you've thought it all out very thoroughly.
[03:17.65]So, what happens to the carbon dioxide once the process is complete?
[03:21.86]Not wasted I hope.
[03:23.41]JOHN:Actually, that's where the real savings are made.
[03:26.43] The carbon dioxide is sent back to the cylinder and can be used again and again.
[03:31.98]PROFESSOR:What a terrific idea.
[03:33.81]Do you think it will ever be built?
[03:35.57]JOHN:Probably not, but that's OK.
[03:38.12]PROFESSOR:Well, I'm sure a lot of positive things will come out of your design.
[04:30.77]PROFESSOR:Now, you seem to have thought about everything so what exactly did you need me to help you with?
[04:35.15]JOHN:Well, my design has made it to the final stage of the competition and, in a few months' time, I have to give a presentation, and that’s the part I was hoping you could help me with.
[04:46.17]PROFESSOR:Right, well that should be easy enough.
[04:48.17]What have you managed to do so far?
[04:50.66]JOHN:Well, I've got detailed drawings to show how it will work and I've also written a 500-word paper on it.
[04:56.74]PROFESSOR:I see. Well, if you want to stand a good chance of winning you really need a model of the machine.
[05:02.20]JOHN:Yes, I thought I might but I'm having a few problems.
[05:05.42]PROFESSOR:What is the main difficulty so far?
[05:07.53]Let me guess—is it the materials?
[05:10.31]JOHN: Yes, I want it to look professional but everything that's top quality is also very expensive.
[05:16.27]PROFESSOR:Look, projects like this are very important to us.
[05:19.22]They really help lift our profile.
[05:21.89] So why don't you talk to the university about a grant?
[05:24.55]I can help you fill out the application forms if you like.
[05:27.76]JOHN:That would be great.
[05:28.87]PROFESSOR: You’d better show me this paper you've written as well.
[05:31.77]For a global competition such as this you need to make sure the technical details you've given are accurate and thorough.
[05:38.60]JOHN:That would be a great help.
[05:40.24]PROFESSOR:Is there anything else I can do?
[05:42.18]JOHN:Well, I'm really...
