48 planet of the arts / december 1997 THE INSTITUTE Magnetic Johnston Resonates Ambition by Harald Gravelsins ow do you give 20 tonnes of medical technology a friendly, sleek appearance when it measures seven feet in height and seven feet in width? This was Robert Johnston’s summer project. Johnston’s challenge was to “reskin” magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. Johnston, a fourth year student in the School of Design, began the project by researching what MRI technology is about and what the competition is doing. He had much more general preparation, of course, in the industrial design programme at Emily Carr Institute. This included redesigning the exterior form of a toaster, a classic exercise for students at the Institute. Images made by way of magnetic resonance are an alternative to x-rays for providing doctors with diagnostic images of internal organs and the structures of the human body. Rather than getting a dose of radiation, the patient is placed within the magnetic fields cre- ated by huge magnets. From browsing the internet, Johnston was assured that patients are not at risk that their tooth fillings will be yanked from their mouths by MRI machines. Metallic pins and plates attached to bone fractures do pose a danger. Similarly, an MRI machine will give any unfortunate soul with a metallic penile implant the yank of his life. Johnston claims he had no problem himself breezing through the precautionary metal detector at the entrance to Vancouver General Hospital’s MRI machine. VGH was one of the participants in the research phase of the project along with the University of Beijing, Canada’s National Research Council, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and the University of B.C. The client that financed the project was Millenium Technology. Millenium is a Vancouver-based medical and pharmaceutical products manufacturing company. The self-developmental importance of the project to Johnston arose from his having to apply industrial design skills in a real-life context where quality and cost are factors determining the success or rom Toasters to NRI’ failure of a product offered into a competitive situation with high financial stakes. The cost of MRI machines has been declining from the typical $5 million price tag they carried until a couple of years ago. The effec- tiveness and relative safety of MRI machines have created widespread institutional demand for the technology to the point that hospitals no longer are considered adequately equipped if they lack their own MRI scanner. In the current era of ballooning health care costs and reductions in funding from governments, the attractiveness of devel- oping cheaper MRI technology is evident. The technological aspects of Millenium’s MRI prototype were a job for medical engineers and computer programmers. The design requirements Johnston had to fulfill were working out a structural package that conformed to the functional parameters of the updated Millenium technology, that reflected the quality purchasers expect from a multi-million dollar acquisition, and that was comfortable to patients experiencing the trauma of being diagnosed for extremely serious illnesses and injuries. In short, the designer’s role was to reconcile economy of means and technological change with two sets of qualitative concerns: those of the sophisticated purchaser and those of the freaked-out patient. Johnston carried out his endeavour using the latest computer modelling software, including Ashlar Vellum and Alias Wavefront. He was supervised in his efforts by Brian Keane, the technical assistant in Emily Carr’s industrial design programme. Johnston relates, “I was under the protective wing of the Institute at all times — and under their roof. Brian was nearby to help at multiple times.” Johnston completed a prototype for a reconfigured MRI scanner in time for the Fourth Annual Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference, held in August at Canada Place in Vancouver. Millenium Technology concluded the biggest deal of the conference, a $5 million licensing agreement with a Singapore firm to market the product. While the Millenium MRI scanner will be produced locally (probably in Richmond) Asia is one of the primary areas in which the company expects to market its product. COMPUTER-RENDERED ILLUSTRATION BY ROB JOHNSTON Johnston soon will be leaving behind him the days of redesigning toasters — he will be graduating from Emily Carr in five months. Having had a bite of running with decision-makers who juggle tech- nology, finance, marketing and consumer-product interface, Johnston is eager to cross the threshold of graduation and to develop a career in the industrial design field. He comments, “It was an incredible experience taking such a large project from the conception stage to the prototype phase and now, hopefully, to the point that it starts coming off the assembly line. I'm looking forward to more work of this sort.” The California job market is a likely stopping off point for the Fraser Valley native. But he expects to steer his career back to the Vancouver area shortly afterwards and to make his contribution to a_ brilliantly designed future for British Columbia. coy by Xanthan Gum Dig! The scene swung! Even during the lengthy inter- mission between the mad poets with their humble words, all sloopy and slappy, and the live musical won- ders, we grooved to the fine tunes of Billie Holiday and Johnny Cash. I wandered over to the coffee bar. Denise and Jen were serving up their “Special” coffees. Oh, so many choices... and each so sweetly, madly “Special”. Now, with my coffee in hand, I slouched into a comfy couch, and waited... waited. Then the music makers From right to left:, local Beatles cover group Fiona Tyler, Craig Stewart, and Jonathan Lander. Expect more lounge events starting in January. Javaland blew in, and Mr. Cash went quiet with anticipation. Among other acts: Craig on Guitar, Rena on “various modes of percussion” and Lincoln on digery-doo made for some brilliantly far-out renditions of familiar tunes. For a second or two a sober feeling fell on us when they left the stage. Who could top that act? Out of the shadows, came a man with a banjo. His clothes were unfamiliar, but we knew the face well. Security- Joe had a seat and treated us to the finest folk music around. After his encore I smelled the word “cleanup” and blew. ©! Discourse -.continued from page 44 to make that kind of money! Together we can say: ’You have taken human and natural resources — remember?” We want to make a place where human rights are more important than having a couple million in the bank. Where’s this all going, you ask? We have a starting point, which is, yeah, you got it — DISCOURSE! Cutbacks are happening. So I’m scared. So I’m get- ting active and finding out, because that’s how my working class single- mother taught me to free my inner child and deal with my problems. Not by being a workaholic and making such copious amounts of cash that I can say, “Screw the poor people, I worked hard for this, and I’m finally safe from it all...” only to find that you’re never safe. The air you breathe gives you can- cer. The price for a life-saving operation requires you to be in a higher tax- bracket. Let’s not let it come to that. We need to be warriors and find ways to use our skills and our minds and learn from the people around us. I’m going to go talk to these people who have made it their job to work in this insane environment to find out what they think. That’s right, I’m going to talk to the faculty, administration, and the support staff, as well as anyone else | know who’s interested: students (past or present) or whomever. If anyone has anything to say about this I'm more than interested. I can be reached at kmcdougl@eciad.bc.ca. I’d love to hear from you. ey Working Groups ...continued from page 49 Life Drawing One of Emily Carr Institute’s most popular student-run groups is drop-in Life Drawing. And according to orga- nizer Markian Kyba, these days “it’s packed to the gills.” Markian estimates that over 200 different people have attended Life Drawing in this past semester alone. At least 30 people usually show up at the beginning of the session, so late- comers often have to leave empty- handed due to lack of space in the room. This year the sessions have been extended to 4 hours in order to accom- modate more people arriving at half- time, since some people leaving early. A new twist this year is that art-makers who work in 3D can bring clay or other materials to work sculpturally from the live model. In the works is a Life Drawing exhibit which will be curated in the Student Lounge space next semester. Upcoming highlights include a diversi- fication of models, including Emily Carr alumna/performance artist Naomi Singer modelling/performing in cos- tume, as well as a pregnant female model. Life Drawing sessions are held every Thursday in room 447 at 5:30pm. Contact Markian Kyba, Joshua Beckett, or Nicola Sampson via their student mailboxes. Ol 48 plonet of the orts / december 1997 THE INSTITUTE Magnetic Johnston Resonates Ambition rom Toasters to MRI's by Harald Gravelsins ow do you give 20 tonnes of medical technology 3 friendly, eck appearance whe it measures seven feet in eight and seven feet in width? This was Robert Johnstons summer projet. obstons challenge was to skin” magnetic resonance imaging (MRI technology Johnston, fourth year student inthe Schoo of Design began the project by researching what MRI technology is about and what the competition is doing. He had much more general preparation, of ours, in the industrial desig programme at Emily Carr Insitute ‘This include redesigning the exterior form of a toaster, a classic exercise for students atthe Institute. Images made by way of magnetic resonance are an alternative to xcrays for providing doctors with diagnostic images of internal an getting 8 ‘ose of radiation, the patient i placed within the magnetic elds cre aed by huge magnets From browsing the interne, Johnston was assured that patients ‘organs and the structure of the human body athe are not at rsk that their tooth filings wil be yanked from their ‘mouths by MRI machines. Metallic pins and plates attached to bone fractures do pose a danger. Similarly an MRI machine wil give any ‘unfortunate soul with a metalic penile implant the yank of his ie Johnston claims he had no problem h precautionary metal detector atthe ent Hospitals MRI machine. VGH was one ofthe pat research phase of the project along wit (Canadss National Research Council the Bish Columbia Insitute of Technolog. and the Universit of B.C. The client that anced the project was Millenium Technology Millenium i Vancouver-based nslfreezing through the nee to Vancouver General pants in the the University of Being, ‘medical and pharmaceutical produets manvfacturing company. The self-developmental importance of the project to Johnston arose fom his having to apply industrial design skis in a reali ‘context where qualtyand cost are factors determining the succes oF flue ofa product fered into a competitive situation with high financial stakes. The cost of MRI machines hs been declining from the typical $5 milion price tag they caried until» couple of years ago The ee tiveness and relative safety of MRI machines have created widespread institutional demand fo the technology tothe point that hospitals no ately equipped if they lack their own MRI scanne. In the eurent era of ballooning health cae costs and longer are considered adeq reductions in Funding fom governments, the attractiveness of deve ‘oping cheaper MRI technology is evident. The technological aspects of Millenium’s MRI prototype were @ job for medical engineers and computer programmers. The design requirements Johnston had to fulfill were working ou structural package that conformed tothe functional parameters ofthe updated Millenium technology, that rested the quality purchasers expect fiom a multi-million dolar acquisition, and that was comfortable to patients experiencing the trauma of being diagnosed for extremely serious illeses and injures, In short, the designers role was to reconcile economy of means and technological change with two sets of qualitative concerns: those ‘ofthe sophisticated purchaser and those ofthe freaked-out patient. Johnston carried out his endeavour using the latest computer ‘modeling software, including Achar Vellum and Alas Wavefront. He ‘was supervised in his efforts by Brian Keane the echnical assistant in Emily Carr’ industrial design programme. Johnston relates, “Iwas under the protective wing ofthe Institute at all times ~ and under their oof Brian was nearby to help at multiple times Johnston completed a prototype fora reconfigured MRI scanner in time for the Fourth Annual Chinese Entrepreneurs Conference, held in August at Canada Place in Vancouver Millenium Technology concluded the biggest dea of the conference, a $5 milion licensing agreement with a Singapore frm to market the product, While the Millenium MRI seanner will be produced locally (probably in Richmond) Asia is one of the primary ares in which the company expects to market its product. Johnston soon willbe leaving behind him the days of redesigning toasters ~ he will be graduating fom Emily Carr in fve months Having hada bite of running with decision-makers who juggle tech nology, finance, marketing and consumer-product interface, Johnston is eager to cross the threshold of graduation and to develop career in the industrial design field, He comments eas an Incredible experience taking such a large projec from the conception stage to the prototype phase and now, hopefully, tothe point that it stars coming off the assembly line. Ym looking forward to more work ofthis sort The California job market is likly stopping off point for the Fraser Valley native. But he expects to steer his career back to the Vancouver area shortly afterwards and to make his contribution toa bilan designed fture for British Columbia, by Xanthan Gum Dig! The scene swung! Even during the lengthy int mission between the mad poets with the humble ‘words all soopy and sappy and the lve musica won Johnny Cash. wandered over to the coe bar, Denise and Jen were serving up thee “Special” coffees. Oh, 50 many coer. an each so sweety madly “Speci Now; with my coffee hand, Lslouched into a comfy couch, and waited..wited, Then the misc makers Javaland rom ght to left oa Betas cover group Fona Tyler, Craig Stewart and Jonathan Lander Blew in, and Me Cash went quiet with ntcipati ‘Among other acts: Craig on Guitar, Rena on “various modes of percussion” and Lincoln on digery-doo made for some brant fot renditions of familiar tunes Fora second or two a sober feng fll on us ders, we grooved tthe fine tunes of Bile Holiday and whe ofthe shadows, came a man with a banjo, His clothes Joe had seat and treated ust the finest folk music around. After his encore I smiled the word “cleanup” and blew, requires Expect more lounge events tring in January to go tak & the faculty left the stage. Who could top that act? Out ar, but we knew the ace well. Security Discourse to make that kind of money! Together wwe can ay="You have taken human and natural resources ~ remember?” We ant 19 make a place where human rights are more important than having 2 couple milion in the bank ‘Where’ this ll going, you ask? We have a starting point, whichis, yeah ‘you got it= DISCOURSE! happening. So I'm scared. So Pm get. ting active and finding out, because thats how my working clas single mother taught me to free my inner child and deal with my problems. Not bybeinga workahoicand making such copious amount of cash that lean ay, | Screw the poor people, | worked hard for this, and 1m finally safe from i all.” only to ind that youre never safe “The air you breathe gives you can cer The price foraifesving operation 0 be in a higher tax bracket Let's not tit come to that We need to be warriors and find mays to use our skills and our minds and learn from the people around us these people who have ‘made i thie ob to work in this insane ‘environment to find out what they think. That’ right, m going to talk to | C administation, support staff as well as anyone eh | know who's intrested: students (pas ‘or present) oF whomever. anyone has anything to sy about this 'm more than interested. an be reached at kihedougl@ecadibeca. 1d | love to hear from you. 1 Working Groups Life Drawing ‘One of Emily Car insite popular student-run groups i dopsin Life Drawing. And according 0 ong nizer Makin Kybo, these days “its packed to the gils” Markian estimates that over 200 diferen attended Life Drawing, atbacks are people have n this past At east 30 people usually show up at the beginning ‘comers often have to leave empty handed due to lick of space in the This year the sessions have been ‘extended to 4 hours in onder to accom rmodate more people arsiving at hal time, since some peopl eving ery, A row Swat this your is that artmakers ‘who work in 3D can bing cay of other ‘material to work sculptural fom the Inthe ks it a Life Drawing Tm going | cahibit which will be cursed in the Student Lounge space next semester, Upcoming highlights include a dives Fiation of models, including. Emily 1nd the | Singer médaling/performing in cos ume, as well as a pregnant female Life Drawing sesions ate held every Thursday in room 447 at 5:30pm, ‘Gomtact Markin Ky oshua Becket, ‘or Nicola Sampson via their student matbores. ©)