[OLPC library] OLPC+Polywell Fusion power+EMS/SCADA = Off grid power for rural areas = Better healthcare

Mon Jan 28 12:59:50 EST 2008

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?

Small fusion reactor may allow off-grid  electricity - Polywell Fusion reactor 

Small fusion reactor developed for US Navy could be used in off grid power generation:
Fusion Reactor - Polywell Fusion Reactor - Santa Fe, NM 
First Fusion reactor to produce more electricity than it uses. Could reverse global warming, oil, nukes.
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/GeneMachine/34906
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/GeneMachine/77493
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/Robert_Bussard__1928_2007_Physicist_known_for_pursuits_into_fus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywell
Decentralize Electric Power Grids
I worked managing the power grid in CO, AZ and NM.
http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/Change/power_generation.htm
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2003/04/07/story2.html
Centralized power grids are based on fossil fuel economics. Power grids were created to distribute power over long distances to share costs, improve reliability, and reduce energy costs. 
Fossil fuels are burned at great distance from cities and high power transmisiion lines move the power losing 10-20% in resistance. 
Utility grids have largely been built by local utilities in pieces. Utilities grids interconnect to meet FERC guidelines for reliability.
Centralized power has many problems. Recent power corruption scandals in 2001 California power market caused Governor Gray Davis to be replaced. SW Electric utility cartels inflated prices by shutting down plants on hot days.
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/RangerRick/11273
Another scenario is the decentralization of power production using the pre-existing gas turbine model. These peak load power plants can deliver power locally to areas requiring power. Gradual replacement of large power grids with small local grids running clean fusion systems may be an example. Other alternative solar or wind power would need to compete for these local markets. 
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/GeneMachine/34906
Recent articles have ignored power grid management problems. I have managed EMS/SCADA systems for power grids in Southwest US.
This game shows how power grids work.
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Grid-Rio-Grande-Games/dp/B0007YDBLE
Game Description
The object of the game is to supply the most cities with power. Players must acquire the raw materials, like coal, oil, garbage, uranium, fusion to power their plants (except for the highly valuable renewable energy wind/solar plants), making it a constant struggle to upgrade your plants for maximum efficiency while still retaining enough wealth to quickly expand your network to get the cheapest routes
A Utility Power Control center is used to manage a multistate power grid.
Power operators monitor changing power requirements and adjust power plants accordingly.
A series of smaller power grids in cities powered locally by fusion power plants could eventually replace the larger grids.
The fossil cost model would be replaced by a fusion cost model.
Fossil electric generators could shed power into carbon sequestration in low power periods.
A series of small fusion reactors could come online as peak load was required.
Utility control rooms would be replaced by automated small grid systems balancing loads locally.
References:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/jan05/2407
http://www.sgi.com/company_info/newsroom/press_releases/2004/april/entergy.html
http://science-community.sciam.com/thread.jspa?threadID=300005637&messageID=300017361
http://cdiac2.esd.ornl.gov/cseqposter_web_pdf1.pdf

Henry Brown
henry.brown at state.nm.us
cell 795-3680
office 505 827-2509

________________________________

From: arjunsarwal at gmail.com on behalf of Arjun Sarwal
Sent: Fri 1/25/2008 4:23 PM
To: library at lists.laptop.org; devel at lists.laptop.org
Subject: 'OLPC-Health' takes off !!

Hi all,

There has been a lot of interest from various groups to develop/explore medical applications around the XO laptop. While a number of people/groups have already undertaken efforts in a number of areas, there are also many more people interested in volunteering and helping out. 

While people have put in great efforts into many projects, our efforts would be much more effective once we get a little organized amongst ourselves so that we can co-ordinate on our projects, avoid duplication of efforts, and discuss with people with field experience to comment and feedback on our efforts.

The reach of our efforts and projects is promising and the potential to impact kids and communities around the world is huge --  all this is possible due to the scale and reach of XO deployments.

One can broadly break down efforts into the following three areas -

(1) "Content" 
Creating a Library/repository of information that would be shipped on the XO laptop as part of the default software on it. This would be a ready reference for preliminary diagnosis of diseases and a reference for symptoms. This would also include general information on an array of topics such as hygiene, nutrition, balanced diets, etc. 

(2) "Hardware"
Developing and using hardware peripherals that connect to the XO laptop. These include, but are not limited to the build-in camera (with the possibility of add-on optical elements; an EKG; and a pulse oxymeter.

(3) "Software"
Developing software that asks the user a series of questions and helps in a preliminary diagnosis. Links to useful websites and online portals. 

David Greisen, Seth Woodworth, Pascal Scheffers, Benjamin Schwartz are some of the people that have been working on "Content"

Ian Daniher, Rafael Ortiz, IMSA OLPC chapter participants (Scott Swanson, Kevin, April Hope) are some of the people working on "Hardware"

Please add onto this list and let everyone know what you've been working upon.

David Greisen and Mika Matsuzaki are co-ordinating efforts on the "content" related projects. 
Ian Daniher and Kevin(IMSA) are co-ordinating efforts on "hardware" projects
We still need volunteers to co-ordinate efforts on the "software" projects

Apart from that, we need to setup an advisory board comprising of Doctors, field workers, medical professionals etc. to guide the efforts in all three areas.

How you can start participating in the "OLPC Health" efforts --

(1) Send an email to library mailing list[1] with a short introduction of yourself.

If you'd like to head/undertake projects, please put up project proposals and let all know that you're looking for participants/volunteers/developers

If you'd like to volunteer in projects, please mention your area of experience and/or what areas you'd be interested to volunteer in.

(2) Categorize the list of volunteers on the wiki page http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Health and add your name into the appropriate category. Please create other categories if content, hardware, software don't seem to represent the efforts very well.

(3) Help the "OLPC Health" team connect with field workers, MDs , Doctors, Physicians towards the formation of an advisory group

(4)  There is a conference call that we have on the 10th of February. Please propose agenda items! 
For people in Boston/Cambridge area -- please help  me organize the call/meeting !

That was a long email! Thank you for your patience in reading through it.

best,
Arjun Sarwal

ps - please avoid ccing the devel mailing list further. Let's continue this discussion only on the library mailing list[1]. 
pps - join library mailing list[1]

[1] Library mailing list - http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/library

---
Arjun Sarwal
<arjun at laptop.org>

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