For immediate release. Free to publish. For more information email frank.ocollins@ucadia.com
 
 
July 7 2005 (free for publication)
  
  Will things change for the better for Africa because of the Live 8 worldwide concerts? Maybe, with 1.5 billion worldwide TV audience. What about the long term?  
  This is not the first crisis for Africa, nor will be the last unless something more fundamental changes than just wiping out debt. What is needed more than rock and roll are fresh new ideas.  
  For example, if new ideas could be found to solve the water and power needs of Africa through cheap and smart technology, then this would go a long way further to helping solve poverty in Africa than wiping the debt of corporations.  
  Similarly, if new ideas on faster and easier forms of education such as symbolic learning, then the quality and level of education of children in Africa would rise. If Africans are more educated, then issues such as Aids, corruption, and civil strife can be eventually overcome.  
  These are just two example areas raised by Frank O'Collins, a Sydney based futurist and author of ucadia-future life concepts web site. O'Collins has written to the 144 most influential people in the world to let them know about the ideas listed on his web site.  
  "We keep thinking in macro terms when it comes to the problems of Africa", O'Collins said. "When it is in thinking differently at the micro level where the real improvements to solving poverty can be made".  
  O'Collins gave some example ideas of new thinking towards technology and ideas that could have world changing benefits.  
  The fuel crisis- make cheaper more efficient cars  
  The scarcity of fuel is not going away. Hydrid fuel methods are still not cheap enough to manufacture. Yet, using existing technology, the standard motor car can be drastically simplified and improved by using the air directly compressed by the pistons to drive the wheels of the car, using narrowing tubes for the compressed air applied to a minature bucket/blade system around each wheel of the car.  
  Without the need for a crank shaft and heavy mechanics, cars are lighter. The whole tube structure could be premoulded. Not only would the compressed air method of driving the wheels be vastly more fuel efficient, but would also mean a car with less maintenance.  
  Build cars that cost $1000 to make and use less fuel and the fuel crisis is solved.  
  The education crisis- make learning and communication symbolic  
  Education is in crisis in many developed countries of the world. There are real skills shortages emerging as real-world education levels actually have dropped in certain higher-technical areas.  
  The answer may rest not with the knowledge, but with the method of transmission. Symbols and visual icons are recognized thousands of times faster by the brain than individual words. For example, symbols such as McDonals, Ford and GM are universally known.  
  Kids are much more visual orientated in todays society. The medium of words is no longer enough to get through. Visual is the key.  
  Mass city transit crisis- water powered trains  
  Finaly, O'Collins provided a third example of thinking differently to solve a world problem- mass transit in cities.  
  Mass transport has become one of the biggest problems for modern massive cities. The cost of public transport just keeps getting higher.  
  In contrast, O'Collins introduced the idea of water-tight carriages which effectively are pushed in flooded tunnels by the power of the water.  
  No screeching of metal on metal, no electrical flashes and smell, no jolts and rattles of underground rail cars. The water trains would be pushed by the power of the water and diverted into culverts for passengers and then return to the flow.  
     
     
 

 

  
 

Copyright © UCADIA (UCADIA Books Pty Ltd) 2005. All Rights Reserved