Dominic p d Prestifilippo Philadelphia, PA Phone: 619.630.9404 Email: dprestifilippo@uarts.edu Portfolio: www.dominicp.com
Service Toolkit and Deployment Strategy Remás – A non-profit dedicated to community development, financial literacy and social change ▪▪ Improved access to more convenient remittance methods while promoting banking among the immigrant community ▪▪ Made use of technologies this current demographic already embraces ▪▪ Has multiple points of entry to help bring in users ▪▪ Built trust within the community, a key component uncovered by our research
Many Immigrants Prefer Face-to-Face Transactions When Remitting
Initial Situation Service Toolkit and Deployment Strategy
1 US
Poverty ▪▪ Remás’ research in El Salvador and found stark differences in wealth between families with people remitting and families without.
The Remás Way ▪▪ The proposed solution, Remás, would collect a small amount from each remitter and use that to support community development projects.
Initial Situation Social Change
Collect Fee For Development Fund
Kiosk Use
Customer Input on Projects
Support Local Organizations
Percentage of Foreign-Born Immigrants Living in the US in 2000*
Referals
*Source: U.S. Census 1990 and 2000 *Fuente: Censo de U. S. 1990 y 2000
Financial Literacy Print Outreach to Information Unbanked
Lower Cost Remittances Install Kiosks
Intermediary between banks and customers
Other 46.3% China 4.7%
Remittance Fee Comparison Site
Philippines 4.2%
Bodegas Text Message Help Taylor Blasts Bank Programs
Joint Remás/Bank Information Sessions
India 4.0%
Partner with Relevant Entities
Credit Community Immigrant Unions Based Banks Friendly Banks
Bodegas Disseminate Community Resources
The Remás Concept Paper ▪▪ Remás has a broad spectrum of goals.
Mexico 23.7%
Vietnam 3.0 Korea 2.2% Canada 2.3%
Cuba 2.7% El Salvador 2.7% Dominican Republic 2.3%
U.S. has Mostly Mexican Immigrants ▪▪ Though the long term goal is for Remás to be available to all immigrants nationwide, we chose to begin our focus on the Mexican community.
Transfer Agent
MONEY
Location
Most Common Method
1
Your Account
Online
Buyable Electronic Money
US
U.S.A.
Bank
$
Phone
Online
Physical
ikobo paypal xoom.com wire transfer mango money western union safe send
Current Options your options/susRemittance opciones:
Initial Situation
Service Toolkit and Deployment Strategy`
*
*
in
Mexico
Mexico
1000
*
* ur ur ho ora ho ora 1 1h 2 h 2
* y da a 1 dí 1
Cargos contra Hora remitente $300 a México, utilizando una cuenta bancaria
$
ys da ías 7 d 3- -7 3
ATM
* *
La Cuenta
Internet
Fees versus Time when remitting $300 to Mexico using a bank account
s nt ta ea nutetos s n in tá mi inu n m sta
US$10
US$20
US$30
US$40
débito
Tarjeta de Débito
Transferencia Agente
DINERO
Lugar
El método más común
account details, but $7 for credit/debit card plus $5$300 for a Cargos contra Hora remitente the transaction. US$30 México, utilizando una cuenta bancaria Paypal charges 1% fee for international transfers so US$20 fee varies with amount. * a checking account which has a SafeSend requires * * US$10 minimum fee of $9/month. * * Ikobo charges $29.52 initially to mail * the debit card to the receiver. a a a ra as e utos dí or for not loading dí Mango Money aho$5 fee $500 án incharges h 1 t 1 7 n month 2 m or more taper on their card, plus $2+2% atm fee for3s in international withdrawals. Wire transfers initiated from Wachovia require an account be open at least 10 days prior to making the transfer.
Teléfono
Internet
Física
fees*depend on payment method, $5 for bank * Xoom.com US$40
Banco
$
Process Research Service Toolkit and Deployment Strategy
Mexican Market in Philadelphia ▪▪ In the market in South Philly we observed remittances happening and found out what is required to send money.
Imposing and Intense Structures ▪▪ At banks we got a sense for the fear that can be instilled by the “official-ness” of their power. ▪▪ We also discovered what is required to open a bank account and send money using wire transfers.
Human Research
Focus Group Discussion of Wants and Needs ▪▪ We held four focus groups where we learned how the local immigrants get their information, use technology and what they thought could be improved with the current remitting options.
A Local Bodega Owner ▪▪ Talking with local bodega owners who offered money transfer services we learned why stores offer the service and what some of the differences are between them besides the price.
Synthesis of Data Urban Focus Group
women (42%)
(58%)
Service Toolkit and Deployment Strategy (0%) no competencia
do remit (100%)
(75%)
erested in a (100%) account if it ed cheaper remittances
(0%)
a computer (67%) e to accesss the internet
(33%)
%)
%)
)
%)
na si
)
(100%)
no tienen una computadora en casa para acceder a Internet
(58%)
do remit no competencia
(75%)
no están are interested in a interesados en account una if it bank cuenta bancaria offeredsicheaper se ofrece más remittances barato remesas (100%)
no están interesados en una cuenta bancaria si se ofrece más barato remesas (0%)
no tienen una computadora do haveen a computer no tienen una at home to accesss computadora en casa para acceder the internet casa para acceder a Internet (67%)
a Internet
(33%)
67%
67% 78%
(0%)
Like living close to Public Transportation Me gusta vivir cerca de Transporte Público
Like to Hang Age of Urban Focus Groupout with Edad del Grupo Temático Urban friends in their spare time
no tiene una do have a no tiene una cuenta bancaria bank account cuenta bancaria (25%)
44%
44% 20 - 29
Like to Hang out with friends in their spare time Me gusta salir con amigos en su tiempo libre Like to Read Books Al igual que a Leer libros Get their Information from Friends and Family Obtener su información de Amigos y la Familia
Age of Suburban Focus Group Edad del Grupo Temático Suburban
Me gusta salir con amigos en su tiempo libre Like to Read Books Al igual que a Leer libros
67%
Get their Information from Friends and Family Obtener su información Amigos la Familia 30de - 39 40 -y50
Questionnaire Statistics
20 - 29
30 - 39
User Portrait
▪▪ Compiling the new informaiton to make it more visual and accessible really helped refine our focus within the project. Age of Urban Focus Group Edad del Grupo Temático Urban
Age of Suburban Focus Group Edad del Grupo Temático Suburban Number of Participants úmero de participantes
%)
no competencia
no están interesados en una cuenta bancaria si se ofrece más barato remesas
Number of Participants Número de participantes
%)
(42%)
Urban Focus Group Urbano Grupo Temático women hombre
Number of Participants úmero de participantes
%)
hombre
78%
no tiene una cuenta bancaria
Like living close to Public Transportation Me gusta vivir cerca de Transporte Público
Number of Participants Número de participantes
do have a (25%) ank account
%)
67%
hombre
MBER
NOVE
40 - 50
2010
M M tion
Inspec 1
tio Inspec prefer to live near SS ▪▪ The immigrants have strong ties to their families, and 2 NSPA Y TRA L H T N people from not only the same country, but from their home MO state. n
▪▪ Most of the immigrants carried cash and used public transportation. ▪▪ Though many immigrant families did not have computers, they did watch a lot of television and many used cell phones to communicate.
Roadmap
Our Deliverable ▪▪ We provided Remás with a guide for developing his non-profit to offer a system of tools that would be welcoming and comprehensive while building and maintaining trust.
Modular Cargo System United States Peace Corps - Malawi ▪▪ Designed an open-source protocol for a bike rack augmentation system utilizing locally available materials and techniques ▪▪ Re-appropriated existing mechanisms to improve bicycle load capacity and handling in a country where bicycles are the main means of transport ▪▪ Open source nature and simplicity of the design affords easy replication ▪▪ High return on investment with major improvements in functionality and adaptability ▪▪ Collaborated with locals to design and build
Side-Mounted Crated Improves Both Load Capacity and Handling
Situation Bike Cargo System
Bicycle Section of the Market
Local Transporter
▪▪ Bicycles are a way of life though there is little access to proper tools or formal techniques.
▪▪ The bicycle is one of the main means for transporting cargo such as bottle crates, logs, and even people.
▪▪ Many villages only have a market once a week, so to get a bike repaired can take a lot of time, affecting transport to school and work.
▪▪ The incredible loads make the bikes quite unstable.
Proposal
Panniers ▪▪ Many touring bikes use a low-hanging saddle bag system to maintain stability while increasing their load capacity.
Lower Center of Gravity ▪▪ Sketches of how adding hooks would allow the current load to be lowered thereby increaseing the handling performance while also increasing the load capacity.
Idea Refinement Bike Cargo System
Side View Cut-Away
Dangerous Outward Facing Hooks
People Ride as Well â–Şâ–Ş Since the racks often carry people it was decided to turn the carrier hooks inward, to make it less dangerous.
Final Deliverable
Augmented Rack Mock-up View 1 ▪▪ Enabling a simple means to attach the bottle crates make them an easy carrier for other items as well.
Augmented Rack Mock-up View 2 ▪▪ The top of the rack is now open again for other large loads to be easily tied down to. ▪▪ Requires only three meters of rebar and fifteen centimeters of flatstock.
D.I.Y. Emergency Candle United States Peace Corps – Malawi ▪▪ Designed and developed a portable emergency lighting tool utilizing 100% local and recycled materials to address the volunteer’s need for a reliable emergency light source ▪▪ Virtually non-existent access to electricity makes light a precious resource for volunteers living in uncertain curcumstances ▪▪ Compact, self-contained design makes transport and use easy while providing ample burn time
Light is a Precious Resource; Especially to Volunteers Unfamiliar to Life Without Electricity
Situation Emergency Candle
In the Village ▪▪ Less than 10% of the country has access to electricity. ▪▪ Over 90% of the population lives in rural villages. ▪▪ Only one main paved highway means transportation is regularly unreliable and becomes even worse during the rainy season.
Candle Light ▪▪ Candles and lanterns are the primary source of light at night, for volunteers, because the quality and availability of batteries and flashlights was so low.
Initial Prototype
Initial Model ▪▪ As a continuously reusable light source, it attracted me as an initial model
Plastic Lamp ▪▪ The available materials could not withstand even the low levels of heat produced by the flame.
Resources Emergency Candle
Surplus Candle Wax
Secondary Prototype Design
▪▪ As the primary source of light for volunteers, there was a surplus of re-usable candle wax available.
▪▪ This second design blended the light source and the ignition source to create a compact contained designed.
▪▪ This wax would often just get thrown away.
▪▪ With the surplus of wax, and matches to be both the wick and the ignition source, a matchbox made the perfect candle mold.
Final Deliverable
Wax melting ▪▪ For the initial prototype extra energy was spent to melt the surplus wax to pour into the form. ▪▪ Subsequent candles could easily make use of cooking fires to melt the surplus wax without using excess energy.
Self-Contained Design ▪▪ Using a matchbox helped the candle resist breakage as well as provide a source of fire to ignite the candle.
Good Day Door Intervention The University of the Arts ▪▪ Designed as a public installation to call attention to the small daily decisions we make ▪▪ Since physical action reinforces learning, we offered a chance for physical reinforcement of only the positive decisions ▪▪ The design intentionally changes the nature of the task from merely a decision to taking action toward a better day ▪▪ The project was designed, built and implemented within a tight deadline and budget
Reframing Perspectives to Support Positive Decisions
Development Good Day Door
Initial Sketch ▪▪ After a few ideation sketches to push the idea it was the initial concept that won out.
Fabrication ▪▪ The woodgrain finish was kept to preserve the natural and genuine aspects of the door. ▪▪ The top was left open to the sun to allow the sun to illuminate the sign in the lintel.
Implementation
Positioned on a Busy Walkway ▪▪ The finished doorway was positioned along a primary commuter route to ensure a high volume of traffic. ▪▪ The fact that many of the pedestrians used this street as their daily route to work meant that they would noticed the change and thus the choice we provided.
Enjoyment ▪▪ The overwhelming percentage of reactions to our intervention were positive
Luviri Library Restructuring Luviri Community Day Secondary School – Luviri, Malawi ▪▪ Designed a storage solution and protocol to accomodate the flow of newly-donated library books ▪▪ Consolidation of all books improved access and tracking ▪▪ New shelf labels and enhanced organization simplified searching and upkeep
Easier Access to Books Enables Better Learning
Development Library Restructuring
Luviri Community Day School Plan View With Library Changes New Library Headmaster’s Office
Form One Classroom
Staff Room Form Three Classroom
Old Book Closets
Form Four Classroom
Form Two Classroom
Old System ▪▪ Previously the school made use of closets located in different buildings to keep the books. ▪▪ The closets were locked and only the student librarian could request a key from the faculty. ▪▪ Tracking the books was haphazard at best and many books were stolen.
Mr. Banda, the Carpenter ▪▪ Collaborated with the local carpenter, Mr. Banda, to ensure proper sizing, fabrication and installation.
Implementation
New Organization ▪▪ With a wealth of newly donated books only adding to the strained library situation, it was a timely implementation of the new system.
Students Enjoying Their Library Book ▪▪ With the new system there was less time tracking down books, which translated to more time to study
Jaunty Market Bag United States Peace Corps – Malawi ▪▪ The design incorporated adaptability and expandability enabling it to transition between the city and village use easily ▪▪ Repurposing local materials and techniques makes the volunteer less of a target for criminal activity ▪▪ Addresses the lack of re-usable grocery bags, while adding functionality to make the market journey more effective
Preparation for a Trip to the Market
Situation Jaunty Market Bag
Loose Bottles ▪▪ The bottle deposit system used in Malawi made it necessary to keep track of one’s bottles.
Bags at the Market ▪▪ In the market there is a huge variety of plastic bags to hold any size of object one may be purchasing.
Ideation
Evolution of Ideas from Carry-all to Market Specific ▪▪ The focus began on a carry-all type bag. ▪▪ The idea evolved to be situationally optimized.
Development Jaunty Market Bag
Chitenje ▪▪ As a material that is already used for anything from carrying children to covering food, it was the obvious choice.
Mr. Nkhata, the Tailor ▪▪ Sourced and collaborated with a local tailor in order to ensure proper development.
Final Deliverable
Full ▪▪ The bag is optimized to carry the normal requirements for a market trip, such as a loaf of bread, some vegetables and a few bottles as well as one’s personal effects.
Pockets ▪▪ The bottle loops were sized to hold either beer or soda bottles. ▪▪ The pockets were sized to fit the most common phones and keys used by volunteers.
Final Deliverable Jaunty Market Bag
The Final Deliverable in Use
Detail
Beverage Bottles Phone
Keys
USB Drive
Plastic Bag
Money
or
A Diagram of Functionality
Chitumbuka Language Manual United States Peace Corps – Malawi ▪▪ Created a quick reference guide for volunteers in the field ▪▪ An excellent supplement to the dated 1950’s Chitumbuka/ Chitonga dictionary ▪▪ Contains a wide breadth of information to, not only, help new Peace Corps volunteers begin their language training, but also help experienced volunteers continue to grow their skills ▪▪ Loma Linda University School of Public Health uses the manual for their research and development projects
Addressing the Need for Better Language Training Material
Human Research Chitumbuka Language Manual
Initial Notes ▪▪ Only reference material was a dated 1950’s dictionary. ▪▪ Language workbook was a poor translation from Chichewa. ▪▪ Initial information was gathered from language training notes.
Volunteers ▪▪ Worked with volunteers to find content most broadly relevant, such as important verbs and nouns.
Human Research
Fellow Luviri Teachers ▪▪ Teamed up with local teachers to help find translations for important words and phrases.
Trainers ▪▪ Peace Corps trainers helped formalize the work to be as broadly applicable as possible.
Field Testing Chitumbuka Language Manual
First Iteration ▪▪ Re-compiled notes into a more referable and accessable way.
Second Iteration ▪▪ Updated previous versions to be include edited information and am ore clean look.
Final Deliverable
Table of Contents ▪▪ Usability was a key component of the design.
Subject Prefixes and Tense Markers ▪▪ The language manual is more than just a dictionary, it includes information on tenses, grammar structure and common phrases.
Cesna Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Georgia Institute of Technology ▪▪ Designed and manufactured a UAV within rigorous parameters and budget ▪▪ Personally responsible for fuselage design and fabrication of the aircraft ▪▪ Head of the refill pump and fuselage manufactuing teams, within a 16 member group, during the year-long project with
Anticipation at the Culmination of a Year-Long Team Effort
Development Cesna UAV
An Array of Configurations was Considered â–Şâ–Ş Although our team considered many options we chose a traditional style to thoroughly meet the rfp.
Final CAD Model
Implementation
Fuselage Fabrication ▪▪ We chose balsa wood re-infornced fiberglass for the fuselage due to its strength, durability and ease of fabrication. ▪▪ Shaped foam provided the form for us to insert the supports and lay the fiberglass.
Preparing for the Competition Flight ▪▪ The request for proposal required that we fly multiple laps of a designated course: One lap fully loaded, one where we deploy the payload, then we must refill and redeploy.
Short Take Off & Landing Transport Design Georgia Institute of Technology ▪▪ Developed concept and detailed design for an innovative long-range short take off & landing transport ▪▪ Personally responsible for the development of all stability and control systems as a member of the five person team ▪▪ Utilized developing technologies, such as blown circulation control wings and carbon composite materials to meet project performance goals
Cruise 7,000nmi 40,000 ft
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00
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c De
24,000 ft
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im
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t
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tt o
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24
to
Loiter 30min @ Low Altitude
0 ft Startup Taxi
Landing 2,600ft
Takeoff 5,000ft
Boeing C-17 Globetrotter III
45,000 ft
Cruise 2,500nmi
Whitestar Halley
40,000 ft
0 ft
Cruise 7,000nmi
Takeoff 5,000ft
Takeoff 7,600ft
Landing 3,500ft
Flight Plan Comparison of the Current Long Range Transport Versus Our Newly Designed Long Range STOL Transport
Landing 2,600ft
Requirements STOL Transport
stre
line line am r e am st
e e mlin mlin str ea str ea Engine AirEngine Air
Engine AirEngine Air
ce
ce
T
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b ur u
len
Classic Classic Wing Wing
len
b ur u
Circulation Circulation ControlControl Wing Wing
Circulation Control Wing ▪▪ A circulation control wing utilizes the Coanda Effect to maintain airflow attachment at high speeds and larger angles of attack increasing the rate of climb capabilities allowing the plane to get to cruise altitude faster. ▪▪ With a circulation control wing it is possible to get a pressure coefficient of an order of magnitude greater than with a classic wing creating more lift enabling shorter take-off and landing capabilities.
Final Deliverable
Largest Load Variation â–Şâ–Ş This design can accomodate up to 155 troops, four trucks, and two tanks in a variety of configurations.
Teaching
Secondary School Teacher Luviri Community Day Secondary School - Luviri, Malawi ▪▪ Taught math and physical science to students ranging from ages 11 to 21. ▪▪ Promoted creative thinking and an interest in learning ▪▪ Privately-tutored distance learning students ▪▪ One of five teachers at the school
A Secondary School Education is a Privilege in a Country as Poor as Malawi
Class Luviri CDSS
Senior Math Class ▪▪ Classes were structured towards the exit exams. ▪▪ Developed many new examples to compensate for the poorly written textbooks.
Senior Math Class ▪▪ Textbooks were scarce so written notes became their textbooks.
Teaching
Form 4 Graduation ▪▪ Secondary school graduation is valued in villages, because even some of the teachers did not graduate. ▪▪ Malawi recently revised their school structure to address their low graduation rates.
Multiple Headmasters ▪▪ Needed to collaborate with multiple headmasters throughout
Interactive Science Workshop Luviri and Nkhamenya Community Day Secondary Schools ▪▪ Created an event for students and teachers to generate interest in math and science ▪▪ Used locally sourced materials so that the participants can reproduce the experiments at home ▪▪ Made it both fun and a learning experience
Many Students Were Excited to Participate and Learn
Luviri CDSS Science Workshop
Students Learn About Energy Transfer ▪▪ Participation was crucial in allowing the students to develop an understanding of what was happening in the experiments.
Having Fun with the Tin-can Telephone ▪▪ Many of the experiments, though commonplace in the US, were completely new to them.
Nkhamenya CDSS
Trying to Outmuscle Molecular Science ▪▪ Including students in the demonstrations helped build trust and legitimacy in the experiment.
Students Learn of Soundwaves with Bells ▪▪ In groups students tied different objects on strings and rang them like a bell to see which worked better.
CampSky National Summer Camp United States Peace Corps and Malawi Ministry of Education ▪▪ Offered diverse and meaningful course curriculum and events to secondary school Juniors ranging in age from 15 to 20, as well as for secondary school teachers ▪▪ Emphasized vocational training, creative thinking and sustainable community service ▪▪ Provided a safe and healthy learning environment ▪▪ Empowered and inspire participants to value education and improve their communities
Classes Focused on Topics Which Were Less Familiar to Students In Order to Help Expand Their Pespective
Logistics CampSky
Registration ▪▪ With almost a hundred participants from all ove the country, proper planning was essential.
Planning and Updates ▪▪ Nightly debriefing and many impromptu meetings were necessary to ensure the programming was running smoothly.
Curriculum
Seperate Lodging ▪▪ Properly planned lodging was critical not only to keep the males and females separate but to keep the students separate from the Malawian counterparts as well.
Nsima and More ▪▪ Planning and sourcing a balanced diet was difficult in a country with little variety in their crops. ▪▪ Re-using resources, such as incorporating the goat meat from the science class’ disection was one way we maintained the budget.
Curriculum CampSky
Basic Computing ▪▪ Many Malawians do not understand the basic desktop metaphor so prevalent in desktop computing these days. ▪▪ Offering classes outside of the core curriculum helped the students see what other possibilities are available and which are the most interesting.
ANAMED ▪▪ Action for Natural Medicine is a small group that helps locals learn to use locally available resources to treat common medical issues.
Curriculum
ESCOM
Excitement
▪▪ The power company field trip, seen above, was a great experience because many of the students had never even had access to electricity.
▪▪ Though the students were expected to be awake by seven, they were often up and dressed by five, singing and dancing with excitement.
▪▪ We brought the students to a number of businesses, including local government offices, to show them other potential options for their future.
▪▪ Many students had never been outside of their villages so this was a perspective shifting trip for them.