Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Paper Centrifuge

gizmodo.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 133 posts

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#31

Post by readhn »

witty_username wrote: post #26
readhn wrote: post #25

its a nice toy, for kids to learn science. but really, what are we - stuck in the stone age? Its year 2017, there is no reason why those people should not have access to the advanced technology we enjoy today in the west. make a pathetic paper centrifuge and give ourselves a pat on the back, really? What have we become?

That's because borders stop them from accessing much greater wages. Even if you find the situation bad, these researchers helped improve the situation.

i understand that they do what they have to do.

but lets not kid ourselves that this is some kind of solution that those people deserve. its an interesting student project, sure, if all equipment fails - there is a way to get your hematocrit count manually.

How would most of us feel if we came into an office for a blood draw and saw this toy? At the same time when there are machines widely available that will do complete CBC and other panels of blood tests on a single vacutainer tube in under 3 minutes?

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#32

Post by the_watcher »

readhn wrote: post #25

its a nice toy, for kids to learn science. but really, what are we - stuck in the stone age? Its year 2017, there is no reason why those people should not have access to the advanced technology we enjoy today in the west. make a pathetic paper centrifuge and give ourselves a pat on the back, really? What have we become?

> Its year 2017, there is no reason why those people should not have access to the advanced technology we enjoy today in the west.

Unfortunately, we live in the reality in which not everyone has access to the same technology as the West. Some scientists and researchers should absolutely work on problems assuming that we'll be able to get the optimal solution to everyone. But that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be others trying to work within the reality that acknowledges that this isn't the case.

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#33

Post by the_watcher »

readhn wrote: post #31
witty_username wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because borders stop them from accessing much greater wages. Even if you find the situation bad, these researchers helped improve the situation.

i understand that they do what they have to do. but lets not kid ourselves that this is some kind of solution that those people deserve. its an interesting student project, sure, if all equipment fails - there is a way to get your hematocrit count manually. How would most of us feel if we came into an office for a blood draw and saw this toy? At the same time when there are machines widely available that will do comp…

If you lived somewhere in which neither were available, you'd want the one that could actually be delivered in time to make an impact.

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#35

Post by readhn »

hxegon wrote: post #30
readhn wrote: post #27

whats next? a fake life size cut out image of a doctor with a smartphone attached to it for a speaker? its sad that people have to die because they don't have access to the technology that's not that expensive and readily available in the "developed countries". And now we have to come up with some pathetic paper gizmos to justify our actions? Are we really that developed? Seems to me that we are going backwards...

I'm not really sure what you are trying to say here. If you have a better solution to centrifuge availability than a 20c one made out of paper, please enlighten us.

yes i have a better solution - kill one of those multibillion military projects and redirect the money to buy lifesaving medical equipment to the places that need it. equip research facilities with equipment and provide local training.

paper centrifuge? its like a slap on the face.

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#36

Post by shuntress »

dekhn wrote: post #16
chriswarbo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not? The videos show the devices being operated with one handle fixed against a wall/door. In that situation, nothing flying off the disc will go towards the operator. You could also enclosing it in a box or operate it inside a hole in the ground.

"nothing flying off the disk will go towards the operator". What about other people? As you say, you can enclose it in a box, but that means making a glovebox, which increases cost significantly.

Or just a big cardboard box and a glove+sleeve.

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#37

Post by lightedman »

adrianN wrote: post #9
juanviP wrote: post #7

Really? Didnt anyone used to do this when you were a kid? http://www.makeandtakes.com/diy-paper-spinner

I can't remember using it to centrifuge blood samples, but maybe your childhood was different from mine.

We used it to demonstrate centrifugal forces in elementary school by spinning one and putting drops of food coloring in the center. They were made of lightly-waxed parchment paper so you could see a trail it left behind as it got flung off.

I'm just surprised it took this long. That particular lesson was... 26 years ago for me.

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#38

Post by readhn »

witty_username wrote: post #29
readhn wrote: post #27

whats next? a fake life size cut out image of a doctor with a smartphone attached to it for a speaker? its sad that people have to die because they don't have access to the technology that's not that expensive and readily available in the "developed countries". And now we have to come up with some pathetic paper gizmos to justify our actions? Are we really that developed? Seems to me that we are going backwards...

Justify what actions? How does this make the West go backward? The researches are helping to improve the situation. If you are so concerned, you can go donate to charities that distribute vaccines.

What actions? We keep voting for the government that chooses to fund programs that kill people instead of saving lives.

Iraq - Iran - 1 million dead Vietnam - up to 4 million dead Afghanistan - up to 1.5 million dead

+ trillions of dollars we spent to support all of this.

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#39

Post by hx87 »

readhn wrote: post #35
hxegon wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not really sure what you are trying to say here. If you have a better solution to centrifuge availability than a 20c one made out of paper, please enlighten us.

yes i have a better solution - kill one of those multibillion military projects and redirect the money to buy lifesaving medical equipment to the places that need it. equip research facilities with equipment and provide local training. paper centrifuge? its like a slap on the face.

> kill one of those multibillion military projects and redirect the money

And how are the inventors supposed to do that?

Re: Paper Centrifuge

#40

Post by readhn »

hx87 wrote: post #39
readhn wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes i have a better solution - kill one of those multibillion military projects and redirect the money to buy lifesaving medical equipment to the places that need it. equip research facilities with equipment and provide local training. paper centrifuge? its like a slap on the face.

> kill one of those multibillion military projects and redirect the money And how are the inventors supposed to do that?

we, the citizens who vote are supposed to do that.
Post reply on HN