Hypertech Magazine
Emerging TechnologyIn Vitro Fertilization
Virtual RealitySolar Roads
Technology Applications for Business, Industry, Education
Volume M 07September - December 2015
Ethical ImplicationsNation Building
What’s Next?
InSIdE THIS ISSSuE
01 MM Infote Class Photo
02 Forward by Professor Grey
03 Emergeing Technology Reports
03.a In Vitro Fertilization Astor, Franklin Jr. Manrique, Erika Therese Padlan, Jody James
03.b Virtual Reality Biglang-awa, Julieta Choco, Analee Co, Carl Jensen
03.c Solar Roads Posadas, Rachelle Racelis, Charles Vinzon Robles, Andrew Carl
01 MM Infote Class Photo
02 Forward by Professor Grey
03 Emergeing Technology Reports
03.a In Vitro Fertilization Astor, Franklin Jr. Manrique, Erika Therese Padlan, Jody James
03.b Virtual Reality Biglang-awa, Julieta Choco, Analee Co, Carl Jensen
03.c Solar Roads Posadas, Rachelle Racelis, Charles Vinzon Robles, Andrew Carl
Information Technology for ManagersAteneo de Manila universityGraduate School of BusinessProfessor Gary A. Grey, MBM
FoREwoRd PRoFESSoR GREy
This issue of Hypertech E-magazine features 3 emerging technologies:
• VirtualReality • In-vitroFertilization • SolarPanelRoad
WhenFacebookpurchasedOculusRift,apioneerinVirtualReality,MarkZuckerbergcommentedinhisFacebookpage:
“Thisisreallyanewcommunicationplatform.Byfeelingtrulypresent,youcanshareunboundedspacesandexperienceswiththepeopleinyourlife.Imaginesharingnotjustmomentswithyourfriendsonline,butentireexperiencesandadventures.
Thesearejustsomeofthepotentialuses.Byworkingwithdevelopersandpartnersacrosstheindustry,togetherwecanbuildmanymore.Oneday,webelievethiskindofimmersive,augmentedrealitywillbecomeapartofdailylifeforbillionsofpeople.”
ThearticleonVirtualRealityprovidesinsightsonthewaythetechnologyevolvedtowardstheFacebookvisionofa“newcommunicationplatform.”
ThetechnologyofIn-vitroFertilization(IVF)looksintotheSWOTofthistechnologybywhichaneggisfertilizedbyspermoutsidethebody—it’sethicalramificationsandpotentialasamedicaltourismbusinessinthePhilippines.Theriseofthe“testtube”babyandthepossibilityofevolvinghumanstowards“superintelligence”throughaprocessofselectionofbest-of-breedembryosmingledwithadvancesinstemcellresearchstretchestheimaginationonthefutureofmankind.
Theworldisnowlookingtowardsmanyalternativeenergysourcesasthesolutiontowardscontrollingthenegativeeffectsofclimatechange.Whilemostliteratureonsolarenergyarebasedonsolarpanelsattachedinroofsofhousesandbuildings,thearticleonSolarPanelRoad,offersanotherwayofharnessingsolarenergy,throughbuildingsolarpanelsinroadsandhighways.
ThesethreetechnologiesareintheirstagesofinfancybutwhichcouldevolvealmostovernightinquantumjumpsastheyaresubjectedtotheLawofAcceleratingReturnsasinMoore’sLawandinMetcalfe’sLawonthenetworkeffect.
Hypertech MagazineIssueMM07September-December2015
GRouPonEVIRTuAl REAlITyTechnology description
1. what is VR?Haveyoureadabookandwonderedwhatitwasliketobeintheworldbeingdescribed?OrwatchedanNBAgameandthoughtaboutwhatitwasliketobeoneoftheplayersintheTVscreen?Ifthere’sonethingpeoplehaveincommon,it’shavingadream.Thesedreamscanbeaboutreachingacertainplace,beingacertainsomeone,orwitnessingacertainevent.Somearerealisticandsomearewell…far-fetched.Butregardlessoftheworlditbelongsto,wewouldsurelywantthatdreamtocometolifeandwhatbetterwaythantoactuallyexperienceit. VirtualReality(VR)bringsusclosertowardsthisonce-only-thought-of possibility. This technology breakstheboundariesbetweenfictionandreality.Aidedbyanartificialsensoryhardware,itallowsapersontointeractwithacomputer-simulatedworldusingthehumansensesoftouch,sight,smell,hearing,andtaste.Itprovidesanimmersiveexperiencetoavirtualworldnootherexistingtechnologycan.Communication,media,commerceandhealtharejustsomeofthefieldsthatcantakeadvantageofthepossibilitiesofVR.
2. VR TodayAlthoughVRhasbeenaroundfordecades,itwasonlyrecentlythatthetechnologyhasadvancedwellenoughforawiderdistribution.Fromgamingtopolitics,moreandmorepeoplearenowtappinginthepotentialofthisplatform.CNNwillbroadcastanupcomingUSpresidentialdebateinVR.TVtalkshowslikeConanuploadssegmentsoftheirshowinVRformat.TheinevitablegaminglandscapeisnowevolvingwithcompetitionbetweenOculusRiftandPlaystation(Sony)onthehorizon.
AccessibilityseemstobethethemeforVRtoday.Googlecameoutwitha“cardboard”conceptwhichencouragespeopletomaketheirownVRheadsetwithsimpleandaffordablematerialsyoucanbuyatyourlocalhardwarestore.Auser-ownedfulltouchscreensmartphonewillbeusedasthescreenwiththecontentretrievablefromyoureverydayappslikeYoutube.Therearealsoready-madeonesbeingsoldbydifferentmanufacturersfrom$12to$30.Samsung,ontheotherhand,willbecomingoutwithasimilarconceptwiththeirSamsungGearVRthatacts as an accessory to their latest smartphone line-up.Thiswillretailat$350.It’snoweasierthanevertoownaVRheadset.
Oneplus,amobilephonebrand,recentlylaunchedtheirlatestphonemodelinvirtualreality.Unlike
mosttypeoflaunchesthatinvolveanopenspaceandalotofpeople,thisonefeelsmorepersonal.You’llfindyourselfwiththefounderofthecompanytalkingtoyouwhilewalkingyouthroughtheiroffice.You’llthenbeinaroomlisteningto3otherpeopletalkabouttheirexperienceswiththenewphone.Afterwardshe’llbringyoutotheirconferenceroomtolistentotheirengineertalkaboutthephone’sdesignviavideoconferencecall.Inthisset-up,youfeellikeaVIP.
TakingVRupanotch,agroupofengineersinUtahdesignedanewwayofexperiencingthetechnologybymixingitwithphysicaleffectsandenvironments.TheycallitTheVoid.Thiscanbeplayedingroupsmakingithighlyengagingasitisinteractive.Sinceitusesvirtualreality,onlytheimaginationisthelimitmakingitaventurewithsomuchroomforgrowth.TheteambehindTheVoidplanstobringtheir“VirtualEntertainmentCenters”acrosstheglobe.Noplaceintheworldhasprovidedanexperiencelikethis.
3. SwoT Analysis a.Strengths
i.Unparalleled Experience
VirtualRealityprovidesanimmersiveexperience
thatcapitalizesonthehumandreamandexperience.Onlyinourdreamscanwetransporttoafarawaygalaxybattlinggiantrobotsandactuallyfeellikedoingso.Itbringsinanexperiencelikeyou’reinacertainplacewhenyou’reactuallyinanother.Thefeelingfromthatkindofexperienceisverypowerfulandunlikeanyother.Imaginewatchingabasketballgamefromcourtsidewhilesittinginyourownlivingroom.Howconvenient.
ii. Accessibility
TheavailabilityofVRcontentandhardwareisgrowingbytheday.Thereisalreadyanonlinestore(NeutronGadgets.ph)inthePhilippinesthatcarriesVRheadsetssoit’seasyforsomeonetogethis/herhandsonthislocally.Content-wise,thereareseveralofitthatcanbeaccessedviaYoutube.TheseVRvideosarecategorizedas“360”inthesite.
iii. Affordability
VRhasrecentlybeenmadeaffordablethankstothelikesofGoogleCardboardandSamsungGearVR.ThetechnologicaladvancementofsmartphonesandthefactthatitisalreadyalmostanecessityhasallowedVRtobetreatedasmerelyanaccessorytothephone.Gonearethedaysyouwillhavetobuyacompletelyseparategadgetjusttoexperienceit.ItisnolongeranexpensiveideatoentertheworldofVR.
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
iv. Massive Potential
AlthoughVRisstillinitsearlystages,itiseasytoseehowthistechnologycanbeappliedtooureverydaylife.There’sjustsomanylimitationsintherealworldthatthevirtualworldcanmakepossible.
b. Weaknesses
i. Unfavorable History
Unfortunately,historyisnotonthesideofVR.It’satechnologythathasbeenaroundfordecadesasevidencedbythefailureofNintendo’sVirtualBoy20yearsago.Althoughthefailurecouldbeaccountedtoseveralfactorslikethesteeppriceandnon-deliveryofatruevirtualrealityexperiencewhichisbeingaddressedbythelatestofferings,it’satestamentonhowthemarketisnoteasytopenetrate.
ii. Young Platform
VRisstillconsideredtobeinitsearlystagesandthere’sstillalotofworktodo.MarkZuckerberg,whoisthefounderofFacebookthatboughtOculusfor$2B,addressedthecrowdattheOculusConnectConference last September 2015: “This is going togrowslowly.Ifyouthinkaboutthearrivalofcomputersorsmartphones,thefirstunitsshippeddidnotshiptensofmillionsintheirfirstyear.Buttheyprovedanideaandmadeitreal.”Itwillstilltakedecadesbeforewerealizethefullpotentialofthis platform.
iii. Possible Psychological Effects
Givenitsyoungnature,thelongtermeffectsareyettobeseen.Itcannotbediscountedthatsuchanimmersiveexperiencecouldbringinsomenegativepsychologicaleffectsontheperson.Eveninnon-VRgamingenvironments,therehavebeencasesofsocialisolationwhereinapersonwouldratherinteractwiththevirtualworldratherthantherealworld.VRcouldpossiblyincreasethelikelihoodofapersontosufferfromthisasthetechnologytransportstheuserto an alternate reality. Desensitization is another possibilityasthepersoncouldn’tanymoretelltherealconsequencesbroughtaboutbyhis/heractionsoutsidethevirtualworld.Otherseverecasesleadstodepressionandsocialisolation iv. Possible Physical Effects
Aswithmanyotherthingsinlife,virtualrealityisnotforeveryone,especiallythosewhosuffermotionsickness.Thehead-mounteddisplayswillneverfeelnaturalandcouldcausephysicaldiscomfortafteraprolongeduse.Thereshouldbeacertainlevelofresponsibilityandawarenessonthepartoftheusersincehe/shewillbevulnerabletoaccidentsandotherdangersgiventhatallormostofhis/hersenseswillbeimmersedinthemachine.
c. Opportunities
i. Overwhelming Support
TechcompanieslikeGoogle,Sony,Samsung,HTC,Intel,HPandFacebookareinvestinginthistechnologywhichshowstremendousconfidenceandpromisetothefutureoftherevolutionaryplatform.Filmmakersarealsoconsideringadoptingthetechnology for their future releases.
ii. Public Attention
WithsomanyeyesontheVRtechnologyrightnow,itisexpectedtoblossomlikeneverbefore.ItwasfrontandcenterinCES2015.TherearenewsandarticlesaboutVRpoppingupeveryday.Peoplearejusttalkingaboutit.Ifthetechnologyprovesitself,publicclamorisnotfarbehind.
iii. Flexibility
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
AlthoughVRprovideshighmarketpotentialinthegamingfield,othersectorslikebusiness,media,education,andhealthareexpectedtoleverageinthistechnology.Itcouldprovidethesefieldsaboostintheproductsandservicesthatwerenotpossiblebefore.ThisplatformcanbethenextPCifdoneright.
iv. Open Source
Razer,aperipheralscompany,announcedanopensourcedevelopmentkitforVRinCES2015.Thiswouldallowmorecontenttobemadeavailableforthis platform. d. Threats
i. Misuse
There are going to be concerns on the power of virtualrealitybeingputinthewronghands.TheadultfilmindustryisalreadylookingatproducingpornographyinVR.Anotherconcernisthepossibilityofacriminalactbeingcommittedinthevirtualworldoralsoknownas“virtualcrime”.Thoughnotreal,avirtualdeathand/orinjurybroughtaboutbythisactcouldcausedistressandotheremotionstothereceivingpartyintherealworld.
ii. Augmented Reality (AR)
Asomewhatsimilartechnologythatisalsomakingwavestodayisaugmentedreality(alsoknownasmixedreality).UnlikeVR,thismixesrealitywithvirtualbyhavingvirtualobjectsinteractwithrealworldobjects.MicrosoftrecentlyunveiledtheirlatestARproductcalledHololens,whichwillbeavailabletosoftwaredevelopersinearly2016.Imaginefightingrobotsthatweresuddenlypoppingoutfromthewallsofyourlivingroom.NASAandAutodeskarereportedlyalreadyworkingonthistechnology.
VR Applications
1. Architecture
Traditionalarchitecturecanshowphysicalrooms,butwalkthrutheclientinexperienceisdifferent.ThisishowVRcanbesousefulinthefieldofarchitecture.Notallpeoplecanunderstand2Dlayoutsorrenderings.Usingthistechnology,walkingthruaspaceandexperiencewouldhelpnotjustdesignersbutunitbuyersaswellinthecaseofourcompany,DMCIHomes.Foreveryprojects,weneedtodoaphysicalmock-uptoletprospectivebuyershaveanideaofwhattheyaregoingtopurchase.ThrutheuseofVRtechnology,constructioncostwill be lower. Some points to highlight:
a.Reducedcostandrisks b.Replacephysicalmodelunit c.ExperiencefromhumanPOV d.Lowerproductioncostthruless drawingrevisions e.Moreinnovations f.Canbeusedmultipletimesandto multipleprojects
2. Engineering
“UseofVRinengineeringcouldrevolutionizedevelopment.”ThiswasthestatementofFordMotorswhofirstusedVRindevelopingtheircardesignsinceyear2000.Ford’simmersionlabletdesignerswalkaroundthecarusingVRheadsetwhileotheremployees are watching them on big screen to see howtheyfeel.FordusesVRtoexaminetheentireexteriorandinteriordesign,aswellastodrillrightdowntohowaparticularelementlookssuchasadashboardorupholstery.OthervalueofVRinEngineering:
a.Lowerproductdesigntimes/prototyping b.Increasedquality c.Reducedrisk d.Betterinnovations e. Better acceptability f.Costsavings g.Engineerscanworkononecargloballyat the same time.
3. Marketing
Visualizingproductsusingimmersionwillgivepeopleadifferentwayofthinkingabouttheproduct.It’sgoingtoallowfordifferentbrandexperiences.ValueofVRinmarketingarefollows:a. Powerfulexperiencesb. Better customer engagementc. Recordandanalyzecustomerd. Virtualshowroom,noneedforbigspacee. Infinitevirtualspacef. Can generate remote sales
4. Training
VirtualRealityhasbeenadoptedbythemilitary,theseincludeallthreeservicesarmy,navyandairforce.VRisparticularlyhelpfulforthemenin uniform training in combat situations or other dangeroustaskwheretheyneedtolearnhowtoreactoncertainsituations.AVRsituationsimulationallowsthemtodosowithouttheriskofdeathorseriousinjury.Militaryusesofvirtualreality:
a.Flightsimulation b.Battlefieldsimulation c.Medictraining(battlefield) d.Vehiclesimulation e. Virtual boot camp f. Mission planning g.Rescuehostage h.Disasterevacuation i.Controlledscenarios
5. Medical Field
VirtualRealityprovideanewapproachtoresearchandeducationinmedicine.Experimentingmedicalresearchwithvirtualpatientswillbeareality.With the simulation of the entire physiology of the humanbody,theeffectsofvariousillnessesororganreplacementwillbevisible.Forlearningstudentslearningtooperate,virtualrealitywillbeabestformoftraining.Theywillabletooperate,commitsomemistakesbutwithoutriskinganyone.OtherusesofVRinmedicine: a.Dangeroussurgeryisperformedwithout harming anyone
b.Canproviderealtimefeedbackintraining c.Anatomycanbeviewedonvariousangles d.Simulationforsurgery
i.Freedomtofail ii.Controlledtraining iii.Repeatability/Availability
Cost-Benefit Analysis1. TotalCostofOwnership(TCO)–CapitalInvestment,HiddenCosts
TheofficialpriceofOculusVirtualRealityheadsetwhichwillstillbelaunchedinQuarter1of2016willbeUS$350.APCpowerfulenoughisneededtoruntheVRheadset.TheroughestimatefortheminimumrecommendedPCspecificationisUS$650brokendownto$300forNvidiaGTX970/AMD290equivalentorgreater,$200forInteli5-4590equivalentorgreater(QuadCoreprocessor),$50for8GB+RAMand$100forcompatibleHDMI1.3videooutput-onvideocard,2xUSB3.0ports-onmotherboardandWindows7SP1ornewer.TobuildafunctionalcomputertheestimatedtotalcostofcomputerperipheralsisUS$500brokendownto$100forthemotherboard,$60forcase,$250formonitor,$50forkeyboardandmouseand$50for550wattpowersupply.TotalcosttoownandfullyusedanOculusRiftwouldbeUS$1,500.
2. DirectandIndirect/StrategicBenefits
a. VirtualEnvironment(VE)canallowthetraineestointeractphysicallywiththevirtualscenario.Forexample,traineescanassemble/disassemblethedifferentcomponentsfromavirtualmachineasitwouldbedoneinthereallife.Startupandtrainingcostsarecut.Ineveryprojectimplementationonlyonevisualtrainingtoolshallbeused.
b. VRdefinitionprovideshome-ownersandbuilders,architects,designers,andrelatedmanufacturersandsupplierswiththeinnovativeconceptofthree-dimensionalgraphicdesignsasreal
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
timeanimation.Itwillallowonetowalkaroundtheoutsideandthroughtheinsideoftheirhomebeforeitisactuallybuilt.Repaircostsnotinaccordancewithcustomer’sspecificationcanbeeliminated.Salesrevenuefromarchitecturalworktendstomultiplyasvcrcanbeavailableglobally.
c. Costoftransportationwillbelessandofficebuildingrentalswillbesavedasworkingfromhomewillbecommon.Thereductionofcompany’soverheadcouldbeconvertedtoemployeesadditionalbenefits.
d. Hospitalefficiencywillshootup.Virtualconsultationsandroboticoperationscouldlowerthecost of health insurance. 3. FinancialAnalysis(ROI,PaybackPeriod,ReturnonAssets,ReturnonEquity,etc.)FacebookcompanyboughttheOculusRiftproductfromOculusVR,LLCinMarch25,2014.TheproductwillbesoldtothepublicbyFacebookonthe1stquarterof2016.ThelatestfinancialstatementsofFacebookbeforethesalesofOculusRiftarebelowwhichwillbethebasisofsalesestimatesforOculusRift.
a. FinancialStatementAnalysis
2014 has higher net margin percentage than in 2013 but in terms of operation - 2013 has a higher rate ofreturnthanin2014.Year2012toolowreturnisanoutoftrendresultof2008to2011adjustmentofsharebasedcompensation.b. RatioAnalysis
TherewasatremendousincreaseinIncomegrowthfrom2012to2013becauseoftheoutoftrendadjustmentasmentionedintheanalysisofresultsofoperation.Alsoin2012thefederaltaxcreditforresearchanddevelopmentactivitieshadexpired.
CurrentAssetsaregoodenoughtocoverthecurrentliabilitiesby10.7times.Anaverageof10.7ratiowasmaintainedforthelatest3yearperiod.AsDebttototalAssetisonly0.1xthenEquitytoTotalAssetsmustbe0.9x.SinceEquityishigherthanDebtitisgoodthatFacebookpartialpaymenttoOculusLLCisFacebooksharesofstockasEarningsperShareislow. c. ReturnonInvestment
OculusVR,LLCdevelopedtheproductandraisedUS$16MoffundingbeforeFacebookpurchasedOculusRiftforUS$2B.ThereturnoftheinvestmentwhichisUS$1.984B($2Bless$16M)overUS$16Mcostofinvestmentx100givesOculusVR12400%ROI.
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
OnthepartofFacebook-thereturnfrominvestmentofUS$2Bwillbeformorethanayear.UntiltherearerevenuesassociatedtotheacquisitionofoculusriftthenROIincreases.Basedon2014revenueofUS$12,466Mtheportiongeneratedfromadvertising(US$3,590M)isassumedassociatedtotheusersofoculusrift.Using58%asthelatestgrowthratetheestimated1styearrevenueforoculusriftisestimatedatUS$9,003M.Theplanfortheproductis10years.Usingthecompoundedrate-theestimatedfuturevalueofUS$9,003Mafter10yearsat58%interestrateisUS$873B. d. PaybackPeriod
Theestimated$9Brevenueon2016isoverFacebook’sinvestmentof$2B.Thus,paybackperiodislessthanayear.Tohavetheexactnumberofmonths–theestimated1styear’srevenueof$9Bisconvertedtothemonthlyaverageof$750M.The3rdmonthpaybacktoequatetothebalancefortotalinvestmentof$2Bwillalreadybelessthan$750M.Theexactnumberofmonthstohavetheinvestmentbackis2.67.
a. InternalRateofReturn
Outofthetotal$2BpurchasetheinitialcashoutofFacebookis$400M+23.1Msharesofstockduringyear2014.ItwasneverstatedwhenwasthebalancewaspaidtoOculusLLC.Itisassumedthatthereisnopaymenton2015.Usingtheestimatedsalesrevenuefor2016of$9BthentheIRRwouldbe357%.
Ethical ImplicationsThe ethical theory of Utilitarianism has a great impactonbusinesssector.ThedevelopmentofVRwill result to an increase of labor unemployment. Transportation,cinema,educationandtourismtonamefewindustrieswilldecreaseitsservices.
TherearehighlevelsofviolenceortrainingexercisesforthemilitaryinwhichsoldiersengageinsimulatedcombatscenarioswhichincludekillinginVRgames.Desensitisationarisewherethepersonisnolongeraffectedbyextremeactsofbehavioursuch
asviolenceandfailstoshowavirtueofempathyorcompassion as a result.
Someone may commit a criminal act is a potential situationinavirtualenvironment.Inanaturallawethicaltheory,whowillbepunishedwhenoneoftheparticipantsinavirtualenvironmentbecomesinjuredortraumatisedduetothecriminalactofanotherperson?Whereisjustice?
Itispossiblethatsomeresearchersplacetheirownadvancementabovetheinterestsofaparticularpatient.Someotherresearchersmaybeundulypaternalisticespeciallywhenmakingdecisionsabout patients who because of mental impairment or illnessareunabletogivetheirinformedconsentandviolatestheirright.
nation-Building ImplicationsWiththeelectionscomingsoon,VRcanbeusedtogetmorepeopleinvolved,especiallytheyouth,andhelpthembemoreinformedaboutthecandidatesandnationalissues.TheUnitedStateswillbebroadcastingtheirupcomingpresidentialdebatesinvirtualreality.Theexperienceof“beingthere”shouldputmorepeoplegluedintheirseats. EducationwilldefinitelybenefitfromVR.Theideaofhavingvirtualclassroomsandimmersivewaysoflearningwhatwereonceonlywritteninbooksarecompelling.AccordingtoVR/AR-basedknowledgetransfersolutionscompanyEonReality,“Interactive3Dsolutionshavebeenshowntoincreasestudents’attentionlevelsby92%andincreasetestscoresby35%–whileatthesametimecreatinganewlevelofengagementforstudentsandstaff.”Foracountryoftenstruckbytyphoonscausingsuspensionofclasses,thisisdefinitelyaviableoption. Ifmorethingscanbedonewithlesstravelthenitcouldeasethetrafficcongestioninthecountry.Thehighwaysandtransportsystemscanbelefttobeusedbythosewhoneeditmore.Therewillbeanincreasedefficiencywithhowthingsoperate.
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
ReferencesSherr,I.(2015,September25).Facebook’sOculusvirtual-realitydivision:Let’snotgocrazywiththehype-CNET.RetrievedOctober1,2015,fromhttp://www.cnet.com/news/facebooks-oculus-virtual-reality-division-lets-not-go-crazy-with-the-hype/
Siede,C.(2015,September25).CNNtostreamtheDemocraticdebateinvirtualreality,forsomereason.RetrievedOctober1,2015,fromhttp://www.avclub.com/article/cnn-stream-democratic-debate-virtual-reality-some--225921
InsideTheVoid:Anexclusivelookatthefutureofvirtualreality.(2015,September2).RetrievedOctober2,2015,fromhttp://www.techinsider.io/inside-the-virtual-reality-theme-park-the-void-2015-9
P.,E.,&B.,A.(2015,September26).WhatAretheDisadvantagesofVirtualReality?RetrievedOctober2,2015,fromhttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-disadvantages-of-virtual-reality.htm
Edwards,B.(2015,August21).UnravelingTheEnigmaOfNintendo’sVirtualBoy,20YearsLater.RetrievedOctober2,2015,fromhttp://www.fastcompany.com/3050016/unraveling-the-enigma-of-nintendos-virtual-boy-20-years-later
Walker,P.(2015,June19).Virtualrealitycanbringanewdimensiontobusiness.RetrievedOctober2,2015,fromhttp://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2015/jun/19/virtual-reality-business-entertainment-oculus
Scherba,A.(2015,April16).MovingBeyondComputers:TheBiggestOpportunitiesInVirtualReality.RetrievedOctober2,2015,fromhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2015/04/16/moving-beyond-computers-the-biggest-opportunities-in-virtual-reality/
VirtualRealityandEthicalIssues.(n.d.).RetrievedOctober3,2015,fromhttp://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality/ethical-issues.html
Education.(n.d.).RetrievedOctober4,2015,fromhttp://www.eonreality.com/education/
King,L.(2014,May3).Ford,WhereVirtualRealityIsAlreadyManufacturingReality.RetrievedOctober6,2015,fromhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/leoking/2014/05/03/ford-where-virtual-reality-is-already-manufacturing-reality/
Chacos,B.(2015,May28).OculusRift’s$1,500totalcost:Diggingintothetruthbehindtheinsanenumber.RetrievedOctober6,2015,fromhttp://www.pcworld.com/article/2927836/oculus-rifts-1-500-total-cost-digging-into-the-truth-behind-the-insane-number.html
Rodriguez,J.,Gutierrez,T.,Sanchez,E.,&Aguinaga,I.(n.d.).TrainingofProceduralTasksThroughtheUseofVirtualRealityandDirectAids.RetrievedOctober5,2015,fromhttp://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/36377.pdf
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Howvirtualrealitycouldaffectyourbusiness.(2015,May12).RetrievedOctober6,2015,fromhttp://cib.rbs.com/insight/articles/virtual-reality.html
Gilbert,B.(2015,August18).It’sgoingtobeatleast5yearsbeforevirtualrealitygoesmainstream.RetrievedOctober6,2015,fromhttp://www.techinsider.io/virtual-reality-on-gartner-hype-cycle-2015-8
Robertson,A.(2015,January8).Slowdownthevirtualrealityhype.We’restillwaitingforthegoodstuff.RetrievedOctober6,2015,fromhttp://www.theverge.com/2015/1/8/7514337/ces-2015-state-of-virtual-reality
Franzen,C.(2015,October6).Microsoft’sAugmentedRealityHoloLensWillBeAvailableInEarly2016.RetrievedOctober7,2015,fromhttp://www.popsci.com/microsoft-hololens-augmented-reality-coming-early-2016-3000-dollars
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/22/facebook-oculus-rift-acquisition-virtual-reality
https://www.google.com.ph/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=pZIUVvakA8OM8Qfd-4DICQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=when+did+facebook+bought+oculus
GRouPTwoIn VITRo FERTIlIzATIonTechnology descriptionInVitroFertilizationorIVFisaformofAssistedReproductiveTechnologyandisdeemedthemosteffective.Itinvolvesobtainingeggcellsfromthemother,withorwithoutstimulatingtheovaries,andthenfertilizedbythefather’ssperminalaboratory.Thefertilizedeggs(embryos)arethenimplantedbackintothewoman’suterus.Thecouple’sowneggandspermcellsmaybeusedintheprocess,orinsomecases,donorsareusedinordertoincreasethechancesofasuccessfulpregnancy.Insomecountries,ifitisallowed,“gestationalcarriers”orsurrogatesmayalsobeused.Thisisespeciallyhelpfulincaseswhere the mother is not physically capable of carryingherchild.
IVFhashelpedcoupleswithinfertilityproblemssuch as:
• Lowspermcount• Reducedqualityofeggsduetoage(inwomen)• BlockedFallopianTubes• Ovulationdisorders• Endometriosis• UterineFibroids• Impairedspermproduction• GeneticDisorders• UnexplainedInfertility• Fertilitypreservation-thisistrueforcancerpatientswhowillneedtoundergochemotherapyorradiation.
Withthegrowingrateofpeoplewantingchildrenlateroninlife,unhealthylifestyle,andpollutedenvironmentsaffectingpeople’shealth,IVFasamedicalindustryhasbeengrowingrapidlyaroundtheworld.Alongwiththisgrowth,anumberofmoralandethicalimplicationshavealsocomeup.
A.TechnicalEnvironment
TYPESOFIVF:Thereare3typesofIVFthatarebeingusedintheworldtoday.Allofthemfollowthesameprocedure,andtheonlydifferenceistheexposuretodrugsandhormoneswhichcanhelpinretrievingmorehealthyeggsfromthefemale.
1.STANDARD–Highdosesoffertilitydrugs/hormonetherapyaregiventothefemales.Theseforcetheovariestoover-produceeggssothatalotcanbeharvestedatatime.Thisincreasestherateof success since there are more eggs which can be fertilized.
However,takingthesedrugs/hormonesarephysicallyandmentallydemandingsincemoresideeffectsareexperiencedbythepatients.Thesesideeffectsaresimilartomenopausalsymptomsandsomedrugs(eg:Clomid)havealsobeenattributedtohigherriskofbirthdefects.ThisalsoincreasestheriskofOvarianHyperstimulationSyndromewhereintheovariesbecomeswollenandpainful.AnotherproblemwiththeconventionalwayofIVFisthedisposalofembryos.Sincemoreeggsaregatheredand(possibly)fertilized,dependingonthefemale’sageandphysicalcondition,onlyacertainnumberoftheembryoscanbeplacedinsidethe
womb.Thephysicianswouldalsotrytominimizetheriskofmultiples,andsowouldbelimitingthenumberofembryostransplanted.Insomecultures/countrieswhodonotallowdestructionofembryos(eg:thePhilippines),thedisposalorstoragewillbeaproblem.TheIVFfacilitiesmaystoretheseembryosforfutureuseoftheirclients.However,iftheclientsdonotwanttopayforthestorage,thenitbecomesacosttotheIVFfacility.
2.NATURALCYCLE- Inthistype,nostimulationoftheovariesisdone.Onlytheoneeggthat’spartofthenormalmenstrualcycleisused.Inthepast,thesuccessrateforthiskindofIVFwasverylow,butnowwiththehelpofnewdrugs(likegonadotropin-releasinghormone(GnRH)agonists)thechancesofsuccessaregreater.Today,somedrugsareusedtopreparetheeggforretrievalandtopreventpre-matureovulationwhichmakesthesuccessrateofnIVFhigher.Ontheotherhand,nIVFisnotgenerallyrecommendedforpatientswhoare38yearsandolder.
Theriskofamultiplepregnancy isgreatlyreducedsinceonlyoneembryoisimplanted.Thereisalsonounusedembryosthatneedtobedisposedorstored. 3.MINIMALSTIMULATION- Thistypefollowsthesameprocedureandsamedrugs/hormonesasthestandardIVF.Thedifference
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
isthatdosagesarekepttoaminimumandforashorterperiodoftime.Thismeanstherearelesssideeffectsexperiencesandlowerstheriskofovarianhyperstimulationsyndrome.AdisadvantageofthistypeofIVFisthatfewereggsarecollected.However,sincethepatientisnotsubjectedtohighdosagesofthedrugs,theydonothavetowaitlongtorepeattheIVFcyclesshouldthefirstonefail.
PROCEDURE:
STEP1:Consultation–ThecouplewhowantstoundergoIVFareinterviewedandtested.ThelaboratorycheckstheirmedicalhistoryandrunsstandardchecksforSTDs,possiblehealthrisks,hormones(forthefemales),spermcount(forthemale),etc.
Insomecountries,thephysicianmayalsoaskquestionsregardingthecircumstanceswhytheywanttoundergoIVF.Theyneedtoknowifthecoupleareindeedtogetherandbothpartiesaretherewillfully.TheycannotperformIVFonsurrogates.
STEP2:IVFWork-ups–Thefemalesareprescribedandgivenfertilitydrugsandhormonetherapytoyieldmaximumresults.Insteadofhavingjustonematureeggduringacycle,thewomenaregivenmedicationsoshewillhaveasmanymatureeggsaspossibletoincreasethesuccessrateoftheprocedure. Thewomenmayalsobegivenbirthcontrolpillsforanumberofdaysinordertocontrolthetimingofthecycle.Thisisimportantsothephysicianscanknowexactlywhentheeggsshouldbeharvested. A“Mock-Embryotransfer”mayalsobedone.Thisisapracticerunandhelpsthedoctortestthesizeandplacementofthecathetertobeusedduringtheprocedure.TheMockEmbryotransferalsohelpsthedoctorsmapablueprintonhowtheactualprocedureshouldgo. Duringthisstage,thewomenarealsomonitoredfrequentlytomakesurethatthescheduleisfollowedorifchangestomedication,dosage,ortimingisneeded.
STEP3:Eggretrieval–A“triggershot”isgiventothe female which helps the maturation of the follicles sothatovulationmaystart.Timingisveryimportantbecausetheeggsmustbeharvestedbeforeactualovulation.Thefolliclesmustbematureenoughandtheeggsaregatheredrightbeforetheyleavetheovariesandwhiletheyareinthefollicles.Allthematureeggsthatcanbecollectedwillbeharvestedby the physician.
Thepartner’sspermisideallycollectedonthedayoftheegg-retrieval,orearlier.Incasethespermiscollectedearlier,itwillbestoredinthelabandthawedoncetheeggshavebeenretrieved.Theprocessofretrievingtheeggstakesonly20-30minuteswiththehelpofanultrasoundtoguidetheneedleintotheovaries.
STEP4:Fertilization&Embryodevelopment–Fertilizationoftheeggswiththepartner’sspermmaybedonein2ways:
o ConventionalFertilization:Thehealthyspermisisolatedandjoinedwiththeeggcellinthelaboratoryandtheembryologistletsfertilizationoccur naturally.
Mostofthetime,thisisdonewhenthecauseofinfertilityisunknown,orincaseswhereinthefallopiantubesareblockedandfertilizationcannothappennaturallyinsidethewoman’sbody.
o IntracytoplasmicSpermInjection(ICSI):Thehealthyspermisagainisolatedandinserteddirectlyintotheeggcellusinganeedle.
Thisisfrequentlydoneincaseswhereinthemale’sspermcountandqualityislow.Thespermisweakandcannotpenetratetheeggcellsonitsown.
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
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Alltheharvestedeggcellsarefertilizedtoincreasetheoddsofsuccess.Insomecaseswhereinnewertechnologiesareused,onlythebestqualityegg-cellsarefertilizedtoreducetheriskofmultiplepregnancywhichcouldbehazardousforthemothers.
Theembryosarethenmonitoredcloselyforaround6days.Theywillbecheckedifthecellsaremultiplyingnormally,orifitishassloweddownornotmultipliedatall.Onlythosewhichhavedevelopedsuccessfullywillbeusedintheprocess.
STEP5:EmbryoTransfer–Thisisdonearound5to6daysafterfertilization.Thephysicianwillcheckthefinalstateoftheembryosandwillrecommendhowmanyembryosarerecommendedfortransfer.Factorssuchasageandmedicalhistorywillguidethephysicianonhis/herrecommendation.
theembryologistwillcheckthecatheterunderamicroscopetocheckiftheembryoisstillthere.Thisisbecausetheembryosareinvisibletothenakedeye.
STEP6:PregnancyTest-18daysafterEgg-retrieval,thewomanundergoesabloodtesttodetermineifsheispregnant.Abloodtestisusedbecausethisisproventobemoreaccuratethanaurinetest.Thewomanwillbeaskedtodothistestafteranother2-3days.Whenallthetestscomeoutpositive,avaginalultrasoundwillbedonetoconfirmthepregnancy.Severalmoreultrasoundsmaybedonealsotoconfirmifthereisaheartbeat.Onceallthetestscomeoutpositive,thentheprocedureisasuccess.
Olderpatientsmaynotberecommendedtotransfermultipleembryosasthisincreasesthelikelihoodofmultiples(twins,triplets,etc.).Forpatientswhomeetsomecriterion(womanisyoungerthan37yrsold,firsttimetoundergoIVForhashadasuccessfulIVFinthepast,hasagoodqualityblastocyst),electiveSingleEmbryoTransfer(e-SET)mayberecommended.Thisisthetransferofasingleembryoeventhoughtherearemanyavailable.Mostofthetime,thisisablastocyst-stageembryo.Blastocystis“athin-walledhollowstructureinearlyembryonicdevelopmentthatcontainsaclusterofcellscalledtheinnercellmassfromwhichtheembryoarises”(source:http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18258) Usingonlythebestqualityembryoissaidtoreducetheriskofhavingmultipleswhilemaintainingthesame chances of success. Duringthisprocedure,thephysicianwillinsertathincatheterandpushtheembryointotheuterus.Theprocedurewillbeguidedbyanabdominalsonogram.Afterthecatheterisslowlyremoved,
B.TrendsintheTechnology
Datingbacktothelate1800s,scientistsanddoctorshavebeenexperimentingwithAssistedReproductiveTechnologiestoaddressthegrowingnumberinfertilityratesacrosstheworld.Startingwithanimaltestings,theyslowlyprogressedtohumantestsandeventuallybecamesuccessfulamidfinancial,political,andculturalhurdles.
IVFMILESTONES:
1890s - ProfessorWalterHeapeoftheUniversityofCambridge,Englandreportedthefirstknowncaseofembryotransferonrabbits.
1932 - AldousHuxleypublishes“ABraveNewWorld”whichtellsofasocietymadeupoftesttubebabies.HealsorealisticallydescribedtheprocedureofIVFasweknowittoday.
1934 - GregoryPincus,aHarvardscientist,conductsIVFexperimentsonrabbitsand
saysitisalsopossibleforhumans.Heisdenouncedforhiswork.
1944 - Dr.JohnRockfromHarvardMedicalSchoolandMiriamMenkin,Pincus’assistantfertilizesfourova.Thisresultedaftertheyexposedtheeggsandspermcellsforalongerperiodoftime.Theydonotattempttoimplantonawomanbuttheexperimentgeneratesgreatinterest
1951 - Dr.LandrumShettlesduplicatestheexperimentatColumbia-PresybyterianHospital
1961 - ThefirstdocumentedretrievalofOocytesbylaparoscopywasdoneinFrance
1973 - ProfessorsCarlWoodandJohnLeetoninMelbourne,AustraliareportsthefirstIVFpregnancy.However,thisendedinamiscarriage.
1977 - BritishScientistRobertEdwardsandObstetricianPatrickSteptoeimplantsLesleyBrown’sinvitrofertilizedeggbackintoheruterus,andbecomes pregnant.
embryowasfrozenandthawedbeforetransferringtothe uterus.
1984 - FirstIVFbabythroughasurrogatemother was born in California1985 - Anabdominalultrasoundwasfirstusedtoguidehumanembryotransfer
1986 - MonashIVFreportsthefirstsuccessfulIVFbirthfromaspermdonorwhosespermductswereblocked(spermretrievalthroughoperation). - Birth of twins from frozen human eggs(OocyteCryopreservation)
1988 - First2birthsafter“epididymalspermaspiration”.Themenhadcongenitalabsenceofthevasdeferens(ductthatconnectsthetesticletourethra,forspermpassage).ProcedureiscalledMESA.
1990 - ScientistsGonen,JacobsonandCasperdiscoveredtheuseoforalcontraceptivestosynchronizethefolliclesandforcycleschedulinginthetheIVFprocess.
1992 - FirstpregnancyresultingfromIntracytoplasmicsperminjection(ICSI)wasreportedinBrussels,Belgium.
1997 - Firstcaseof“CytoplasmicTransfer”isreported.CytoplasmicTransferisanAssistedReproductiveTechnologywhereinthecytoplasmfromadonoreggisinjectedintoaneggwithcompromisedmitochondria.Thisisthenfertilizedbythepartner’sspermandimplantedbackintothewomb.Theresultisachildwiththegenesof3peopleinsteadofjust2.
1978 - LesleyBrowngivesbirthtothefirstIVFBaby,LouiseJoyBrown.
1983 - ThefirstIVFpregnancyofawomanwith noovarieswasreported.Donoreggswereusedtoachievethis,withthehelpofhormonetherapyforthedonor. - Firsthumanpregnancyusing“cryopreservation”whereintheeight-cell
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2004 - FirstlivebirthafterOrthotopictransplantation of CryopreservedOvarianTissue.
2007 - MildTreatmentStrategyforIVFwasintroduced.LowerdosageofdrugsandhormonetherapyaregiventopatientsatshorterperiodsoftimecomparedtoStandardIVFtreatment.
2008 - FirstreportedbirthoftwinsafterOocytecryopreservationandbilateralovariectomyfromaCancerpatient.
2015 - AUGMENTIVFtechnologyisbeingdevelopedandusedinsomecountries.Itisdoneusing“stemcell”fromawoman’simmatureeggstoreinvigoratethematureeggs,thereforeimprovingeggqualityandextendingfertilityinwomen.
**NEWBREAKTHROUGHSINIVF:
OvarianTissueFreezing(Ovariantissuecryopreservation)–isamethodof“Fertilitypreservation”,andismostcommonlydoneincancerpatientswhowillundergochemotherapy/radiation.Partsoforthewholeovaryisremovedviaalaparoscopy,andthenfrozenandstoredforfutureuse.Oncethepatientsarehealthyagain,thetissueistransplantedbacktothebody.Thetissuecontainsanabundanceofimmatureeggs,whichcanthenmatureoncetheyaretransplantedbacktothebody,orinvitro(outsidethebody).
Thistechnologyisstillconsideredexperimentalbuthasalreadyyielded30successfullivebirthsallovertheworld.Itisthebestoptionforcancerpatientswhonolongerhavetimetoundergoovarianstimulationforeggretrieval,fertilization,andembryo freezing.
Time-lapsephotographstomonitordevelopmentofEmbryos–ScientistshavediscoveredthatcloselymonitoringthedevelopingIVFembryosusingtimelapsephotoshelpedthemidentifywhichembryoswillmostlikelyyieldasuccessfulpregnancy.Normally,theIVFembryosarecheckedmanuallyeachdaybyembryologists,butthetime-lapsephotographsaredoneevery10minutesanddoesnotinterferewiththedevelopmentoftheembryo.Theyareaalsoabletolookmorecloselyintothedevelopment.
Theyareabletoidentifythetimewhereintheblastulafirstappearedtothemomentbeforetheembryo hatches from its shell. The blastula is the sac filledwithfluidintheembryo.Theyhavediscoveredthatifthisprocesstakeslongerthan6hours,thechancesoftheembryohavinganabnormalnumberofchromosomesishigher,thereforeincreasingtheriskofafailedpregnancy.Byidentifyingwhichembryosarethehealthiest,thesuccessrateofpregnancieswithIVFwillbesignificantlyincreased.
AUGMENTAutologousGermlineMitochondrialEnergyTransferIVF–ThisisarelativelynewtechnologythatinvolvesStemCell.Ithasbeendeemedbeneficialforwomenwithlowerqualityeggcells,specificallythoseovertheageof35.Mitochondriafromthewoman’simmatureeggcellisinjectedintothematureeggduringIVF,atthesametimeasthespermisinjected.Themitochondriafromtheimmatureeggreinvigoratesthecellson
thematureegg,andthisfuelsembryogrowth.Inessence,thematureeggsbecomeyoungagainwiththeinjectionofthemitochondriafromtheimmatureeggcells.Thisprocedurewillalsoreducetheriskofmultiplepregnancysincefewerembryosneedtobeimplanted.ThistechnologyisnotyetallowedintheUSAastheyrequirefurthertesting.
PGD(PreimplantationGeneticDiagnosis)–Thiswasfirstdevelopedinthe1980sintheUnitedKingdomandinitiallyrevolvedonlyarounddeterminingthegenderoftheIVFembryos.Today,itisusedtodeterminegeneticdefectsontheembryosbeforetheyareplacedonthemother’swomb.Sincethetestingisdonebeforepregnancy,itreducestheriskofhavingtoterminateordecidingto terminate a pregnancy when the embryo is seen tohavegeneticdefectsorhaveinheritedunfavorablegenesfromtheparents.ItisalsonowbeingusedsotheclientsundergoingIVF,canchoosethegenderoftheiroffspring.
SWOTANALYSISofIVFasawhole
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
TheProsofInVitroFertilization
1.IncreasestheOddsofPregnancy Ifyouandyourpartnerarehealthyandcapableofhavingchildrennaturally,invitrofertilization can be a way for you to increase the oddsofgettingpregnant.Withmonthlyscreeningsandattempts,invitrofertilizationcandramaticallyincreaseyourodds.Ifyouareworkingonascheduleandrequiregettingpregnantsoon,theninvitrofertilizationcanhelpyousavetime.
2.HelpsGetAroundFertilityProblems
Ifyouoryourpartnerarehavingtroubleduetofertilityproblems,theninvitrofertilizationcanhelp you bring about pregnancy. With a range of additionalsupporttestsandprocedures,invitrofertilization can be the last stage in ensuring that you can bring about a pregnancy naturally.
3.ReducestheNeedForSurgeryonWomen’sFallopianTubes
Anothergreatbenefitofinvitrofertilizationisthatitreplacespre-existingtechniquesforpregnancythatweresignificantlymoreharmful.Withinvitrofertilization,thereislessofaneedtoperformsurgeryonwomen’sfallopiantubes.Asinvitrofertilizationcontinuestoadvance,theprocedurewillbecomemoresuccessfulandlessinvasiveasaresult.TheConsofInVitroFertilization
1.IncreaseChancesofHavingTwins,Triplets,andGreater
Usinginvitrofertilizationdramaticallyincreasesthechancesofhavingmorethanjustonechildatatime.Atawhopping35%ofhavingtwins,invitrofertilizationincreasesthelikelihoodof complications that come from multiple births. Whilesomefamilieswouldwelcomehavingtwinsortriplets,othersstrugglewiththeresourcesavailabletoraiseasinglechild,letalonemorethenone.Therearealsotheincreasedmedicalbillsassociatedwithhavingmorethenonechild,aswellastheincreasedriskofsickness.
2. Costs a Great Deal of Money
Forthoseparentswhocannotconceiveachildthroughtraditionalmeans,thisrighttakesonapricetag.Witharound250to300hundredthousandpesosperpregnancyattempt,havingachildthroughinvitrofertilizationcancostafamilyalotofmoney.Somearguethatinvitrofertilizationasitnowstandsiswrongbecauseitonlyallowsrichpeopletohavechildren.
3.Pro-LifeOutrage
There are a number of prominent religious andsocialgroups,includingtheVatican,thatarestronglyagainsttheideaofinvitrofertilization.This is because the entire act is seen as inherently unnatural.Forsomethereasoningconcernsgoingagainstacreator’splan.Itisarguedthatifyoucannothavechildrennaturally,thenyouwerenevermeanttohavechildrenatall.Inaddition,thereisalineofargumentthatstatesthattherearestillunknownrisksassociatedwiththeprocedureandthatbydoingit,youputatriskthelifeoftheunbornchild.Finally,withthepotentialforusingunfertilizedeggsforanumberofreasons,manypro-lifepeopleseeinvitrofertilizationasapartofamasskilling,astherearealargenumberofeggsthatwillneverbefertilizedintopeople.
EstablishedinthePhilippinesin2012,KatoReproBiotechCenter,isastateoftheartfacilitybackedbyevidencebasedprotocols,superiortechnologyand20yearsofexperienceinassistedreproductivetechnology(ART)bytheKatoLadiesClinic(KLC)oftheTowakogroupinJapan.
Business/Industry/Education ApplicationsIVFhasveryperceivableimpliedapplicationstothemedicalandclinicalindustry,cateringprimarilytopatientsoffertilitydisordersandaidingdifficultconceptions. The application of this technology has sufficientlygrowninpracticeinthe1980s,andhasbeengainingculturalacceptanceindifferentpartsoftheworld.Business-wise,thishastranslatedintoalucrativepractice,giventhecostofIVFservicesworldwide.
There are currently 48.5 million couples with infertilityproblemsworldwide.Thisisduetovariousfactorslikeage,pollution,lifestyle,andothermedicalconditions.Withthisinmind,theIVFmarketisexpectedtogrowbyupto$21.6bytheyear2020,
withaCAGRof11.6%.AlongwiththisgrowthistheemergenceofnewtechniqueswhichincreasesthesuccessrateofIVF.Anexampleistheuseofstem-cellsfromthemother’simmatureeggcellstoreinvigoratethematureeggcells(AUGMENT),discussedabove.
Besidesitsuseasaidindirectconceptionproblemsduetobiomedicalfertilitydisorders,IVFhasapplicationsinstoringandlateruseofunfertilizedhumaneggs,particularlyforindividualswhowishtoensurehealthierfertilityinlatterstagesoftheirlives.Surrogacyisanotherusage,applicableinpartsoftheworldwherethepracticeislegallyallowed,andprovidespossibilitytoproduceoffspringthroughasurrogatemotherwhenthedonorsareunabletoundergothebiologicalpregnancycycle.
AcertaindegreeofmedicaltourismfosteredbyIVFasaclinicalpractice,andisprimarilycausedbytwofactors.LegalstatusofIVFasacommercialandmedicalapplicationcontinuestobehoundedbysocio-politicalandreligiousissues,andremainsillegalorbannedincertaincountries.Also,thereareobservedsignificantcostdifferencesoftreatmentinvariouscountrieswheretheseareavailable.
SWOTANALYSISofKatoReproBiotechCenter
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
AsidefromtheuseofIVFinhumans,ithasalsobeenusedintheagricultureindustry,mostespeciallyinthebreedingofcattle.Ithashelpedtobreedgeneticallysuperiorcattlethatcanproducemoremilk,reproducefaster,andlivelonger.Thesebreedscanalsobemodifiedtobemoreresistanttostressfulenvironments(eg:extremechangesintemperature,etc.)Theivf-cattlewillalsopasson
hersuperiorgenestoheroffspring,makingtheproceduremorecosteffective.
CoST-BEnEFIT AnAlySISFinancialHighlightsofKATOReproBiotechCenter(TowakoReproBioCellInc.):
In Php (‘000s)2014 2013 2012
Ratio Analysis2014 2013 2012
12 mos. 12 mos. 12 mos. 12 mos. 12 mos. 12 mos.
Revenues 130,379 74,205 17,853 Revenue Growth 567.47% 65.78% n.a.
COGS 79,317 66,555 40,211 Gross Income Margin 39.16% 10.31% -125.23%
Gross Profit 51,062 7,650 -22,358 Operating Profit Margin 19.07% 1.51% -199.49%
Other Income 87 645 91 Net Income Margin 14.36% 1.82% -198.98%
Operating Expenses 26,194 6,530 13,257 ROA 14.57% 1.19% -70.02%
Net Income 18,726 1,349 -35,524 ROE 1015.43% -7.22% 213.92%
Cash& Due from Banks 51,653 34,025 7,767 ROI -38.30% 1.35% 16.64%
Receivables 9,316 8,690 7,941 Cost margin 20.38% 5.78% 13.06%
Current Assets 63,979 45,039 17,783 Current Ratio 0.53 x 0.34 x 0.14 x
Fixed Assets 68,367 79,609 83,686 Debt-to-Equity 10.81 x -17.58 x -4.40 x
Total Assets 132,346 124,648 101,469 Days Receivable 26 days 43 days 162 days
Trade Payables 117,243 130,748 130,485 Days Payable 540 days 717 days 1184 days
Current Liabilities 121,139 132,167 131,337 Earnings per Share 0.06 0 -0.12
Total Liabilities 121,139 132,167 131,337 EBITDA 48,899 12,948 -26,448
Capital Stock 30,000 30,000 9,000 Net Cash After Operations 30,330 12,363 94,873
Deficits -18,793 -37,519 -38,868 Net Cash After Investing 17,628 5,258 2,111
Total Equity 11,207 -7,519 -29,868 Net Cash after Financing 17,628 26,258 11,111
RevenueGeneration/Profitability:
Towako’searningcapacitysignificantlyimprovedin2014astotalsaleshikedby76%toP130.38million.
Thiswasdrivenmostlybydomesticsales,whichroseby80%toP108.87million,comprisingbulkor84%of total sales in 2014.
Exportsaleslikewiseexhibitedgrowth,increasingby56%toP21.51millionin2014(16%oftotalsales).
Meanwhile,growthofcostofgoodssoldtemperedto19%in2014versusahigh66%growththeprioryearduetolowerdirectexpenses,laborcostsanddepreciationcosts.
Thisliftedgrossprofitmargintoastrong39.16%in2014,versus10.3%theprioryear.
OtherincomedroppedtoP87thousandin2014fromP645thousandin2013mainlyduetolowerone-offFXgains,thoughpartlyoffsetbyhigherinterestincomefromcashinbanks.
Thefirmhasahighcoststructure,typicalofastart-upcompany.Totalopex(operatingexpenses)morethantripledtoP26.19millionin2014fromP6.5milliontheprioryearmainlyonaccountofanincreaseindepreciationcosts,whichcomprisebulkor78%ofopex.
in Php (‘000s) 2014 % Inc / (Dec) 2013 % Inc / (Dec) 2012 %
Export Sales 21,509 16% 56% 13,789 19% 681% 1,766 10%
Domestic Sales 108,870 84% 80% 60,416 81% 276% 16,087 90%
Total Revenues 130,379 100% 76% 74,205 100% 316% 17,853 100%
COGS 79,317 19% 66,555 66% 40,211
Gross Profit 51,062 567% 7,650 66% -22,358
Gross Profit margin (%) 39.16% 10.31% -125.23%
Depreciationexpensefromthefirm’spropertyandequipmenthikedtoP20.49millionin2014fromP1.79milliontheprioryear.
ThecompanyhoweverhasminimalpersonnelexpensesamountingtoP1.28million(4.88%ofopex)in2014,a22%growthoverthepreviousyear’sP1.04million.
Notwithstandingtheincreaseinexpenses,operatingprofitmarginimprovedto19.07%in2014versusamarginal1.51%in2014spurredbyhighgrowthinsales.Asaresult,bottomlinestoodatP18.72millionin2014,asubstantialimprovementfromP1.35millionin2013andfromanetlossofP35.5millionin2012.ROAAstoodatastrong14.57%in2014fromonly
1.19%theprioryearwhilenetincomemarginimprovedto14.36%in2014versus1.82%in2013.Likewise,ROIhasbeenliftedto16.64%in2014from1.35%theprioryear.
Cashflow:
Towako’scashgenerationhasbeenhealthy,postingnetcashafteroperations(NCAO)ofP30.33millionin2014.Thishelpedfundtheadditionalmedical,transportationandofficeequipmentpurchasedin2014amountingtoP12.7million.NotethatthecompanyhasincreaseditscapitalstockbyP21millionin2013andP9millionin2012tohelpfunditsoperations.ThiscontributedinboostingitsendingcashbalancetoP51.65millionin2014,fromonlyP7.7millionbackin2012.
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
Giventhecompany’snetcashflowfromoperationsin2014,thecompanyshouldbeabletopaybackitsestimatedprojectcostofP168millionin5.54years.Conversely,ifwebaseitinitsaveragecashflowinthelast2years,paybackperiodwouldbearound7.87years.
FinancialCondition:
Thecompany’sbalancesheetexpandedbyaslight6%toP132.35millionin2014onhighercashreservesandreceivables,partlyoffsetbyadeclineinthenetbookvalueofitspropertyandequipment(duetoincreaseinaccumulateddepreciation),whichaccount for more than half of its asset base.
Towako’sliquidityhoweverremainstight,withcurrentratiobelow1x,at0.14xin2014and0.34xin2013giventhehighbalanceofthefirm’stradepayables(obligationstosuppliers,variousentitiesandgoodsproviders)asopposedtoitsliquidassets.
Thecompanydoesnothaveanydebtorexternalfinancingasassetgrowthhasmostlybeenfundedbycapital.
Notehoweverthatthefirm’ssolvencypositionisweakgiventhatitsequitybasehasbeendraggeddownbydeficitsfromlossesincurredinthepastwhichresultedinanegativeequitybalanceinthelast2 years.
Nonetheless,capitalinfusionofP21millionin2013,coupledwithareboundinprofitability,resultedinapositiveP11.21milliontotalequityin2014.
4.ETHICALIMPLICATIONS
Thenewreproductivetechnologieshaveprocreatedethicalalarms.Thesearecontroversialthathavefascinatedgreatattentionfrompublicandmedia.Individualsbecameconcernaswell.
Alotofconcernshavebeenraisedsuchas: 1.)Defininginitiationoflifeethically?
Despiteallthetalkabouttheever-increasingavailabilityofinvitrofertilizationtechniques,oneissueisalmostnevertakenintoconsiderationisthat,“whathappenstoallthoseextraembryos?”
OftensurplusembryosareinvolvedinprocessofIVFinordertoenhancethebestpossibilityofpregnancy .Whether they are laboratory artifacts ornotandwhenlifebeginsareopenquestions.Thismovesabigquestiononthe“sanctity-of-life”.Therefore,theologistsarguethatweshouldgivetheembryothe“benefitofthedoubt”andconsiderlifeattheverybeginningandhumansshouldbespatio-temporallycontinuouswiththeembryosandfetusestheyoncewere.Ifonlyahumanlifeinitiatesatfertilizationthenivfisexperimentationuponahumanbeingandshouldfollowthenormsofthattypeofresearch.Furthermore,discardedzygotesorembryoslostinunsuccessfulimplantations,atpresentaforeseenpossibilityofivf,wouldbehuman.
2.)Shouldolderwomenbeofferedinvitrofertilization?
Therearealotofobviousquestionsinstoreandagainstthisissue.Somepeopleareaskingifanolderwomancancopewithmotherhood?Whatwillbethepotentialhealthofthechild?WhentheInvitro
Estimated Project Cost: in ‘000s
Building Construction and Improvement 71,000
Machinery Equipment and Office Equipment 56,000
Pre-Operating Administrative Expenses 11,000
Working Capital 24,000
Other Costs (Medical gases piping and Scavenging system) 6,000
Total Investment 168,000
Payback period (based on average net cash after ops) 7.87 years
Payback period (based on 2014 net cash after ops) 5.54 years
Return on Investment (based on 2014 net income) 11.15%
fertilizationisrarelysuccessfulinolderwomenthenwhywearetakingarisk?Manysuchquestionsneedtobeansweredyet.Thechanceofsuccessfulinvitrofertilization(whichitselfcarriesrisks)inwomenagedover45-50isisolated.
3.)FetalReduction:Whichoneofyourchildrenwouldyoukill?
Fetalreduction”iscommonlyrequiredtoprotectalivebirth.Onestudymentionsthatifone“looksonlyatthestatistics,(4-5%oflivebirthsperonehundredfertilizationsinthemostsuccessfulprograms),onewouldhavetocalltheIVFprocedureaequallyefficientmethodofabortion,witha95to96%successrate.”
4.)ChromosomalandOtherCongenitalDefects
Pregnancyissomethingofa“hitandmiss”forallcouples.Ontheotherhand,comparedwithcoupleswhoconceiveinstinctively,forthosewhorequireIVF,thehitormissliesmoreheavilyagainstasuccessfuloutcomeateverystageoftheprocess,notjustduringconception.MovingawayfromGod’slawalwaysintroduceschaosinpeople’slives.Nowhereisthisbetterthaninthecaseofinvitrofertilization.ThroughouttheshorthistoryofassistedreproductiontherehasbeenaworrytomonitorthesafetyofthisimportanttechnologyItiswellestablishedthatinfantsconceivedfollowinginvitrofertilization(IVF)aremorelikelytobebornpreterm,oflowbirthweightandtobeatwinorhigherordermultiplethanspontaneouslyconceivedinfants.
5.)Turningchildrenintocommodities
Invitrofertilizationmoveschildrenintocommodities.Whowilljudgeaboutgivingbirthof
thechildreninthisworld,parentsarefreetodecidebutaretheyhavingtherightstoobstructthenaturalprocess?Whenacoupleisinfertile,dotheyhavetheright,withtheaidofscientists,tocircumventthenaturalprocessofgeneration?OrarethecreativepowerswhichpeoplesharewithGodlimitedinsuchawaythattheyshouldstopshortofinterferingwith natural processes such as the generation of newhumanbeings,eventhoughitisclearthatasubstitutemethodforthenaturalprocesscanbefound?Clearly,wehavetherighttomodifyourpersonal entity so that natural ctions are more aptly performed.
6.)Religion:ObjectiontoplayingGod
Technologiesofassistedreproductionsuchasinvitrofertilization(IVF)havebeencontroversialonreligiousgroundssinceitsbirth,however,withinIslam,Judaism,Confucianism,Hinduism,andmostformsofChristianity,adjustmentshavebeenmadetofacilitatethefertilityoftheiradherents.Catholicismremainstheonlymajorworldreligionthatunequivocallycondemnstheuseofivf.TheCatholicChurchconsidersinvitrofertilizationwrong because it separates human procreation fromconjugalunion.Intheprocess,couplesmakethemselvesthemastersofhumanlifeinsteadofitsstewards.Thestrongestprotestisontheuseofthesesupernumerary embryos in research which hamper thedivinityanddignityofhumanlife.
7.)Childrenonhold:Thecaseoffrozensupernumerary embryos
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
Oneoftheby-productsofthetypicalIVFtreatmentis the creation of supernumerary embryos. More embryosarebroughtintoexistencethancanbesafelyreplacedinthefirstcycle.Theremainingembryosarefrozentobeusedlaterifthefirsttrialprovesunsuccessfulorwhenthecouplewantsanotherchild.Ontheotherhand,notallembryosarereplacedandnotallparentsindicatewhatshouldbedonewiththem.Theaccumulationoffrozenembryoshasresultedinimpressivenumbersofembryosstockedinthefreezersofthelargefertilityclinics.Theexponentialgrowthoftheirnumberurgesontheethicalreflectiononthefateoftheseembryos.
Significantethicalandmoralissuessurroundingtheembryofreezingprocess.Theseincludethefollowing:
o Fateofthestoredembryosonthedeathofcouple‘orphaned’embryos.o Ownershipoftheembryosifthecoupledivorce.o Safety of embryo freezing.
5.NATIONBUILDINGIMPLICATIONS
ExpectedtofurtherdrivetheIVFmarket,themajorchallengeinAsia-PacificIVFmarketisaffordabilityofthesedevicesbythesmallsizedIVFclinics.Asia-PacificIVFdevicesandconsumablesmarketisexpectedtogrowatadoubledigitcompoundannualgrowthrate(CAGR)from2015to2020.
OurCountry,OurBusiness
Currently,onlyfivecenterarecapableofdoingIVFinthePhilippines.TheaveragecostofIVF(inU.S.dollars)isabout$14,000to$24,000intheU.S.,andabout$8,000to$12,000inSingapore.InthePhilippines,itstartsatP135,000,plusdoctor’sfee(whichcanrangefromP75,000toP400,000).ThiscostcoversjustonecycleofIVFanddoesnotincludemedications,ultrasound,andotherpossibleexpenses.
Withtheentryofmoreplayersofferinginvitrofertilization,thePhilippinesisatanadvantageouspositiontopromoteIVFforMedicalTourism.ThereareonlyfewcountriesthatofferIVFservicesinAsia.AmongthemarethecountriesmentionedaboveplusJapan,Taiwan,Indonesia,andMalaysia.IftheIVFcenterscankeeptheircostslowerthanthoseofferedinneighboringcountries,andincreasethestaff ’sexpertiseonthetechnology,aswellasgreatcustomerrelations(whichourcountryisalreadyknowfor),webelievethereisabigopportunitythatwecancapturealargeportionoftheASEANmarket.ThisisespeciallytimelygiventheASEANintegrationwhichopensdoorsalsoforprofessionalstoworkandstudybetweenmembercountries.HealthprofessionalsandIVFcenterscanusetheopportunitytheintegrationpresentsinupgradingmachinesandtrainingpersonnelforbetterqualityofservice.
Someone may commit a criminal act is a potential situationinavirtualenvironment.Inanaturallawethicaltheory,whowillbepunishedwhenoneoftheparticipantsinavirtualenvironmentbecomesinjuredortraumatisedduetothecriminalactofanotherperson?Whereisjustice?
Itispossiblethatsomeresearchersplacetheirownadvancementabovetheinterestsofaparticularpatient.Someotherresearchersmaybeundulypaternalisticespeciallywhenmakingdecisionsabout patients who because of mental impairment or illnessareunabletogivetheirinformedconsentandviolatestheirright.
nation-Building ImplicationsWiththeelectionscomingsoon,VRcanbeusedtogetmorepeopleinvolved,especiallytheyouth,andhelpthembemoreinformedaboutthecandidatesandnationalissues.TheUnitedStateswillbebroadcastingtheirupcomingpresidentialdebatesinvirtualreality.Theexperienceof“beingthere”shouldputmorepeoplegluedintheirseats. EducationwilldefinitelybenefitfromVR.Theideaofhavingvirtualclassroomsandimmersivewaysoflearningwhatwereonceonlywritteninbooksarecompelling.AccordingtoVR/AR-basedknowledgetransfersolutionscompanyEonReality,“Interactive3Dsolutionshavebeenshowntoincreasestudents’attentionlevelsby92%andincreasetestscoresby35%–whileatthesametimecreatinganewlevelofengagementforstudentsandstaff.”Foracountryoftenstruckbytyphoonscausingsuspensionofclasses,thisisdefinitelyaviableoption. Ifmorethingscanbedonewithlesstravelthenitcouldeasethetrafficcongestioninthecountry.Thehighwaysandtransportsystemscanbelefttobeusedbythosewhoneeditmore.Therewillbeanincreasedefficiencywithhowthingsoperate.
Astor, Franklin Jr.Manrique, Erika Therese
Padlan, Jody James
Referenceshttp://infertility.about.com/od/infertilitytreatments/ss/ivf_treatment.htm#showallhttp://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome-ohss/basics/definition/con-20033777http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/07/the-link-between-infertility-treatments-and-birth-defects/http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/basics/definition/prc-20018905-Gurevich,R (2015,March3).UnderstandingIVFTreatmentStepByStep.RetrievedOctober3,2015,fromhttp://infertility.about.com-Szalavitz,M(2012,May7).TheLinkBetweenInfertilityTreatmentsandBirthDefects.RetrievedOctober1,2015fromhttp://healthland.time.com/http://www.ivf-worldwide.com/ivf-history.html-(2014,November14).FertilityPreservationbyOvarianTissueBanking(OvarianTissueFreezing).fromhttps://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/-Chung,K(2012,March8).FertilityQ&AOvarianTissueFreezingAnemergingmethodoffertilitypreservationoffershopeforwomenwithcancer.Fromhttp://uscfertility.org/-Connor,S(2013,May17).‘MostexcitingbreakthroughinIVFtreatmentin30years’couldtriplenumberofbirthsSimpletechniquechoosesthebestembryo.From:http://www.independent.co.uk/-(2015,May8).“Miracle”babybornusingbreakthroughIVFtreatment.fromhttp://www.cbsnews.com/-Powers,M.NewCoNews:OvaScienceAimstoReshapeIVFUsingEggPrecursorCells.Fromhttp://www.bioworld.com/-Dayal,MandAthanasiadis,I(2013,November4).PreimplantationGeneticDiagnosis.Fromhttp://emedicine.medscape.com/-(2015,September).PreimplantationGeneticDiagnosis:PGD.from:http://americanpregnancy.org/-DesignerBabies.Fromhttp://www.early-childhood-education-degrees.com/the-pre-planned-childhood/-ChambersGM,SullivanEA,IshiharaO,ChapmanMG,AdamsonGD;Sullivan;Ishihara;Chapman;Adamson(June2009).“Theeconomicimpactofassistedreproductivetechnology:areviewofselecteddevelopedcountries”.Fertil.Steril.91(6):2281–94.-Jha,Alok(31May2007).“Winston:IVFclinicscorruptandgreedy”.TheGuardian(London).-“IsInVitroFertilizationBeingOverused?”.CBSNews.2009-08-12.-ChambersGM,SullivanEA,IshiharaO,ChapmanMG,AdamsonGD;Sullivan;Ishihara;----Chapman;Adamson(June2009).“Theeconomicimpactofassistedreproductivetechnology:areviewofselecteddevelopedcountries”.Fertil.Steril.91(6):2281–94.doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.04.029.PMID19481642.-http://ispub.com/IJH/6/1/4581-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2221910-Edwards,R.G.andSharpe,D.J.(1971)Socialvaluesandresearchinhumanembryology.Nature,231,87-91.-StanleyFJ.In-vitrofertilization-agiftfortheinfertileoracycleofdespair?MedJAust1988;148:425-426.-VerlinskyY,PergamentE,StromC.ThepreimplantationgeneticdiagnosisofGeneticdiseases.JInVitroFertEmbyroTransf1990;7:1-5.-KirbyJMD.BioethicsofIVF-thestateofthedebate.JMedEthics1983;9:4548.-HershlagA,FlochJA,DeCherneyAH,LavyG.Comparisonofsingletonandmultiplepregnanciesininvitrofertilization(IVF)andembryotransfer(ET),JInVitroFertEmbryoTransf1990;7:157-159.-TheEditor.Invitrofertilization.JMedEthics1983;9:187-188.-DunstanGR.In-vitrofertilization:theethics.HumReprod1986;1:41-44.-GillonR.Pregnancy,obstetricsandthemoralstatusofthefetus.JMedEthics1988;14:3-4.-www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.ph-https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com-KatoReproBiotechCenter-(2013,February15).TwinsofJoy.PhilippineStar,LifestyleSection-Haag,MandDorshorst,N(2013,April30).In-vitroFertilization:Anewtoolforthecommercialdairyman.www.progressivedairy.com
GRouPTHREE SolAR RoAdSInTRoduCTIonThis emerging technology paper will focus on the technology that harnesses renewable energy from the sun:solarpanelsanditsapplicationassolarroadstowardsthePhilippinesetting.
Solarroadsisnotyetavailableinthemarkethowever,thereisaprototypethatisbeingtestedinpublic.Theteamislimitedtospeculatinginprocuringasolarroadbasedontheavailabledatagatheredfromourresearchfromnewsarticles,companywebsites,historicalpricingfromalocalutilityprovider,toaPVWatts®Calculatorand,ourassumptions.
1. TECHnoloGy dESCRIPTIonSolarpoweristheconversionofsunlightintoelectricity,eitherdirectlyusingphotovoltaics(PV),orindirectlyusingconcentratedsolarpower(CSP).Concentratedsolarpowersystemsuselensesormirrorsandtrackingsystemstofocusalargeareaofsunlightintoasmallbeam.Photovoltaicsconvertlightintoanelectriccurrentusingthephotovoltaiceffect.
Theoriginofphotovoltaicsresearch(seebelowchart)canbetracedtotheyear1976usingthin-film
technology,thefollowingyearwithcrystallineandmulti-junctioncells. Solar Panels
Solarpanelreferstoapaneldesignedtoabsorbthesun’sraysasasourceofenergyforgeneratingelectricity or heating. PVSolarPanelsarecomprisedofeithermonocrystallineandmulticrystalline.Recentdevelopmentsfrommonocrystallineshowsa2%higherefficiencyversusthemulticrystallineand,forthepast3yearsthere’sbeenanincreaseofproduction(seefigure1.0).Onaveragemonocrystallineis5.7%highertoproducecompared
tothemulticrystallinehowever,outputfromamonocrystallinerangesbetween4%to8%comparedtoamulticrystallinewiththesamesizeandlowerbalance-of-system cost.
Solar Roads
Theconceptofsolarroadsiscenteredtheideaofusingpavedroadstoconvertsolarenergyintousableelectricitytopowerpublicfacilitiessuchastrafficlights,andstreetlamps,aswellascontributeenergytotheexistingenergygrid.
SolarRoadPanelsphotovoltaiccellscoveredbyaprotectivetemperedglassthatcansupporttheloadoftravellingvehicles.
Theinventedsolarpaneltobeusedininroadwayscontainsthefollowing:(1)TemperedGlass
(2)CircuitBoard(3)HeatingElements(4)Microprocessor,(5)Inverterand,(6)PVSolarPanels.
2. TECHnICAl EnVIRonMEnTThere are currently two frontrunners in the race to developusablecommercialsolarroads.
a) Solar Roadways
SolarRoadwaysIncorporatedisanAmericancompanymadeupofahusbandandwifeduothathasraisedover2.2MillionUSD,largelythroughacloudfundingsitecalledIndiegogo.
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AsofMarch31,2014,theyhaveaworkingprototypesolarparkinglotwith0.4–square-meterhexagonalpanels,eachcontaining36-wattsworthofsolarpanels,heatingelementsformeltingnow,LEDlightsforroadsigns,andallthenecessarycircuitrytomakeitwork,undertemperedandtexturedglass.
The11-meter-longsolarparkinglothasa3600-wattsolararraycapableofproducingroughly14kilowatt-hoursofelectricityperday.
However,sincetheprototypewasannouncedinMarch2014therehasnotbeenanyconfirmationorupdateastotheactualworkingoutputofthemodel.
Detractorsarecriticalofthedesignduetothefollowing factors:
a) TemperedGlass:i) Thedesignlackstractionii) Malleabilityofglassovertime.iii) Uneconomical:(1) 20TrillionUSDfortemperedglassalone(2) Buryingcablesis8to10timesasexpensiveb) RoadRepairsi) Repairingonehexagonalsolarroadwaypanelis costly.ii) Differentialloadingontiles.c) Asphaltroadsarealreadymadeof99%recycledmaterial.d) Light-EmittingDiode(LED)bulbscannotbeseenundersunlight.e) SunlightExposure:i) Inefficientonparkinglotscoveredbycars.ii) Heatedroadsnotfeasiblesinceroadswithsnowarelocatedinareaswithminimalsunlightexposure.
SolarRoadwayshasseenrespondedtotheircritiquesattheirwebsiteregardingthesecriticisms.
ThefirmusedtheMohsscaleofmineralhardnesstocomparethehardnessofasphalttoglass.Claimsthatasphalthavingahardnessof1.3versusglassat5.5.Also,itwasnotedthatonceglassistempereditincreasesinhardnessto4to5timesfoldandpossiblyhigherwithfurtherresearchanddevelopment.Asphaltsabyproductofoilisnotaspotentinthepast,duetothetechnologicaladvancementsintherefiningprocesswherehigherqualityofresinsandoilshavebeenextracted.Leadingtovariousapplicationssuchasplastic,syntheticrubbers,cosmeticsandetc.Asphaltissimplyabinderthatholdstherockstogether.Themorerefinementfromasphalt,thelesseritsqualityand,whenoxidationtakesplacetheroadstartstoageanddegradeovertime.
Costingof20TrillionUSDtodeveloptemperedglassisanunreliableestimate.Thefirmisstillintheresearchanddevelopmentphaseandareunabletoprovideanycostinginformationrelatedtotemperedglassorreplacementofperhexagonalsolarroadpanel.
LEDlightscanbeseenduringthedaylightdependingonthedesign.ExamplesofLEDlightsusedduringthedayaretrafficlightsanddigitalbillboards.OurteamdrivesbyC5everymorningandthetwodigitalbillboardsalongthehighwayarequitevisibleifnotdistracting.
Oncethesnowmeltsontopofthesolarroadwaysitcangenerateelectricityagain,atthetimeitiscoveredby snow it can heat itself by using power from a smartgrid.Thistechnologyalsousesmicro-invertersmeaningthatifoneisunabletosoakupenergybyeitherbeingdamagedorbeingcoveredbyavehicle,
itscounterpartswouldstillfunctionasitisintended.
b) SolaRoads
PerhapslessambitiousthantheSolarRoadwaysproject,SolaRoadsisaDutchinitiativebytheTNOCompanythathasbeentryingtosolvethesolarroadpuzzlesince2009.InHollandandtheNetherlands,bikecommuterstakeprecedentontheroadoverdriversincars.AccordingtoanarticleonBBC.com,70%ofalljourneysaremadebybike.Therefore,theirpilotprojectisasolarroadforbicycles.
SolaRoadsdoesawaywithallthebellsandwhistlessuchasbuiltinLEDs,roadheating,DSLcableinfrastructure.However,thesystemdoesallowriderstochargetheirlightsandelectricbicycles,andlighttheroad.Thetechnologyisbeingdevelopedsothatdifferentsolarcellscanbeintegratedratherthanhavingtocustom-manufacturethem.
SolaRoadshasinstalledtheworld’sfirstworkingsolarroad:a70-metertesttracknearthetownofKrommenieoutsideAmsterdam.Duringitsfirstsixmonthsofoperation,theroadhasbeenabletogenerateover3,000kilowatt-hoursover,orapotential70kWhpersquaremeterofsolarroadperyear .
AccordingtoTheGuardian,thepathcosts€3m($3.37m)tobuild,andthelocalgovernmentplanstoextendthisto100metersby2016.
I. TrendsintheTechnology
GlobalsolarPVdemandtogrowbyupto25percent in 2015
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Factorstothisforecastcomesfromgovernmentincentivesandloweredtariffsparticularly,inJapan,China,IndiaandtheU.S.alongwiththecostreductionofproducingsolarpanels.GMTResearchexpectspricesofsolarpanelmodulestofallto64cents per watt.
Gridintegrationisbecominganincreasingfocusforinvertermanufacturers.
AccordingtoGreenTechMedia.com,“Invertermanufacturersarebeginningtodesignsolutionstohelpalleviatesomeoftheintegrationchallengesfacingutilities.”
II. SWOTAnalysis
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
1 SOLAR POWER IS A VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED [RENEWABLE] SOURCE OF 1 HIGH COST OF CAPITAL.
2 LIFE SPAN OF SOLAR PANELS IS 20-25 YEARS. 2 MAY REDUCE EFFICIENCY THROUGH DUST
ACCUMULATION
3 PRODUCES MINIMUM CARBON FOOTPRINT AND USES CLEAN ENERGY 3 EXCESS HEAT MAY DEGRADE SOLAR ROAD
PANELS.
4 PROGRAMMABLE TO MAKE ROAD SIGNS / NO MORE PAINTING OF THE ROADS 4 REDUCES EFFICIENCY AFTER 20 YEARS
5 USES LED LIGHTS. 5 SUNLIGHT CONVERSION IS MAXIMUM OF 20%
6 SOLAR PANELS PRESSURE SENSITIVE. 6 DOES NOT ACCUMULATE ENERGY WITHOUT SUNLIGHT
7 IT PAYS FOR ITSELF8 LOW MAINTENANCE
9 SILENT
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
1 EMERGING TECHNOLOGY 1 SOLAR ROAD PANELS CAN BE STOLEN.
2 RESEARCH IS FUNDED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE. 2 HACKERS CAN DISRUPT THE SYSTEM.
3 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT 3 SOLAR ROAD PANELS CAN ATTRACT MANY ANIMALS DURING WINTER TIME.
4 IT CAN CREATE AND SUSTAIN JOBS 4 ACTS OF NATURE (LIGHTNING, FLOODING)
5 THERE ARE A LOT OF ROADS IN THE PHILIPPINES. 5
POSSIBILITY OF TECHNOLOGY PATENTS PREVENTING OTHERS FROM DEVELOPING SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES.
6COUNTRIES WITH LONG HOURS OF DAYTIME CAN PRODUCE MORE ELECTRICITY
6 MIGHT NOT BENEFIT A FEW STAKEHOLDERS OF TRADITIONAL ENERGY FIRMS.
7 TIE IN WITH OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES. 7
MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO COUNTRIES LOCATED NEAR NORTH AND SOUTH POLE DUE TO LESS FREQUENCY OF SUNLIGHT.
8 REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS 8 GOVERNMENT INTERFERANCE
PROPOSEDSTRATEGIES:
1. Share the patent of this technology to the publictobuild,createandimproveonthesolarpanelandroadtechnology.
2. Hireexperiencedexpertsinthefieldofcybersecuritytokeepthesystemsafeandsecured(securityandefficiency).
3. Generateemploymentevenfromsmallhouseholds(impactoneconomicgrowth)throughproductioncooperatives(micro-factories)backedupbygovernmentfunding.
4. SincetherearelotofroadsinthePhilippines,providesolarpanelroadsstartingonnon-majorroads,playgrounds,parks,airports,sothat,itcangenerate more electricity more than the regular powerplantproduces,keepingPhilippinesself-sustaining.5. Capitalexpenditureinresearchanddevelopmentforimprovingthetechnologysuchasminimalaccumulationofdust,improvedcoolingsystem,increasedefficiencyinsolarpowerconversion.
3. BuSInESS / InduSTRy / EduCATIon APPlICATIonSa. SolarHelipadandSolarRooftopParking
Ifnotforthewind,rooftopswouldbeareanidealplace to put solar panels because they are free from obstruction,highbuildingsareclearerofdust,andtheyareoftennotusedforanyotherpurpose.However,buildingswithhelipadsandrooftopparkingarenotabletobenefitfromsolarpanelsbecausethespaceisbeingusedforlandingandparking.
Thesolarroadwaytechnologycanbeusedtocreateadualpurposesurfaceforhelipadsandparkinglotsonrooftopsoftop-of-thelinebuildings.Furthermore,sincethepanelsareprotectedundertemperedglass,theyarenotasvulnerabletotheelementssuchastyphoonwinds,whichareoftenafactorwhenconsideringsitesforordinarysolarpanelinstallation.
Forcomparison,ADBinstalled2,040photovoltaicpanelsoccupying6,640sqmontheroofofADB’smainbuildingwillgenerate613megawatthoursofelectricity per year.
IfithadusedthetechnologyofSolaRoadsinstead,thesame6,640sqmcouldproduce474,800wattsperyear.Althoughtheyieldislower,theroofisbetterprotectedandservesadualpurpose.
Inthecaseofaparkinglot,around370carscanparkin6,640sqm(roughly1/3ofthespace).
4. CoST-BEnEFIT AnAlySISThedatawegatheredforthissectionisbasedonthefollowing assumptions :
(1) AccordingtoanewsarticlefromRapplertheownerofa5Kwsystemspent500,000Phpin2013inclusiveofasolarpanelinverter.Assumethat20solarpanelscosts450,000Php(22,500Phpperpanelincludinginstallation)withtheInverterat50,000Php(madeinchina). (2) Now,aprefabricatedSolarRoadconsistsof20Panelsatthesizeof4.5Mx4.5Mproducing675kWhprovidinga5Kwsystem.ThemeasurementisbasedonaroadinasubdivisioninManila,Philippines.Theroadwillcost450,000Phpincludinginstallation(assumingthetechnologyhasreachedtothispricingpoint)plusanadditional50,000Php
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per100Meterforamaininvertersystem.Each,prefabricatedSolarRoadconsistsofmicro-inverterssothatifapanelfails,therestwillstillbefunctional.
(3) BasedonKuryente.orgMeralcochargesahouseholdthatconsumesa400kWhpermonthonanaverageof10.16Php/kWhexclusiveoftaxes.SincetheSolarPanelroadusesa675kWhsystemweformulatedthecostonhowmuchMeralcochargesforahouseholdthatuses675kWhpermonth,resultinga41%contributionmarginorpricingof675kWhmonthlyconsumptionat14.30Php/kWh.
(4) WethenusedthePVWatts®Calculatortoinputthelocation(Manila,Philippines)toacquirethesolarradiationdataannually.AddedinthePVSystemSpecificationswherethetiltofthepanelsarefactoredinashorizontal,addedasystemlossofanadditional10%(15%to25%)toconsiderthetemperedglasslayer.InitialCostwascalculatedat100.00Php/Wdcor500,000Phpofphotovoltaicarraysizeatstandardtestconditions.Thedefaultvalueof100.00Php/Wdcfora5kWsystemisequivalenttoaninstalledcostofPhp100.00/W×5kW×1,000W/kW=500,000.00Php.
(5) SellingpricetoMeralcofora675kWh/monthat10.16Php.
Option1NoInvestmentonSolarRoadCost: NoneBenefit:NoCapitalExpenditure
Option2SolarRoad5KwSystemgenerating5,188kWhperyearat10.16PhpperKwhCost:500,000.00phpInstallationof20SolarPanelRoadincludingInverterSystemBenefit:CashInflowfromSellingEnergyat52,710Phpperyear.
Option3SolarRoad10KwSystemgenerating10,376kWhperyearat10.16PhpperKwhCost:950,000.00phpInstallationof40SolarPanelRoadincludingInverterSystemBenefit:CashInflowfromSellingEnergyat105,420Phpperyear.
Option4SolarRoad15KwSystemgenerating15,564kWhperyearat10.16PhpperKwhCost:1,400,000.00phpInstallationof60SolarPanelRoadincludingInverterSystemBenefit:CashInflowfromSellingEnergyat158,130Phpperyear.
a. TotalCostofOwnership(TCO)
Sincetheteamisunabletoprovidetheactualcostownershipgiventhatthedataisstillinthedevelopmentphase,wehaveindicatedpossibleacquisition,ownership,post-ownershipforobviousandhiddencosts.
b. DirectandIndirect/StrategicBenefits
DIRECT:
(1) Abundant:Sunlightorsolarradiationwillnotexpireanytimesoon.Thissun’slifeexpectancyisestimatedtohereforthenext5billionyears.
(2) GoodAvailability:SolarEnergyisavailableateverycorneroftheworld.
(3) LowMaintenance:SolarPanelsdonotneedalotofmaintenanceandhasalifespanof20yearsof100%efficiency–withawarrantyfromtoday’smanufacturersofupto25years.Oncethetemperedglassisperfectedthere’snotmanypartstoreplace
the system.
(4) ManyApplications:solarenergyprovideselectricityanditcanfreelypowerlightpostsatnight–givenbatterystoragetechnologyhascaughtup,households,electricvehicles,appliances,gadgetsandetc.
(5) ReduceElectricityCosts:withtheabundanceofsolarroadseverywhere,itwoulddrasticallyreduceelectricitycostsandpossibly,wewouldpayonlyastandardflatrateutilitychargeformaintenanceandimprovements.
(6) Renewable:Solarenergyisarenewablesource,itdoesn’trunoutascomparedwithfossilfuel,coalandnuclearenergysources.
(7) Sustainable:asustainableenergysourcedoesn’tcompromisethefutureofthenextgeneration,whichisessentiallylimitless.
INDIRECT:
(1) EnvironmentallyFriendly:Utilizingsolarenergydoesn’tcausepollution.
(2) FinancialSupportfromtheGovernment:Moreandmoregovernmentsaroundtheworldarefundingresearchtosolarpowerresearchandalsoofferinglowertariffsifyouuserenewableenergyandprovideincentives.
(3) Silent:Unlikewindturbineswithhugepropellers,thistechnologydoesn’thaveanyifnotminimalmovingpartshence,itdoesn’tproduceanynoise.
(4) SpaceSaver:SolarPanelRoads,asitsnameimplies,isadualpurposetechnology,itdoesn’teatupvaluablespacewithoutpurpose.
(5) TechnologicalAdvancements:Developmentsfrom other emerging technologies such as nanotechnology,quantumphysicscanbeusedtofurtherincreaseelectricaloutput.Imaginecrystallinecellsinthe70scouldonlyharness13%fromsolarradiationandrecently,newsof25.6%efficiencyhasbeenachieved.
c. FinancialAnalysis
Option1N/A
Option2(5KwSystem)CashInflowperYear Php52,710Investment Php500,000PaybackPeriod(Years) 9.49ReturnonInvestment 1.64 Option3(10KwSystem)CashInflowperYear Php105,420Investment Php950,000PaybackPeriod 9.01ReturnonInvestment 1.77 Option4(15KwSystem)CashInflowperYear Php158,130Investment Php1,400,000PaybackPeriod 8.85ReturnonInvestment 1.82
All3optionsshowapaybackperiodonanaverageof9.12YearsyieldingapositiveReturnoninvestmentratioofatleast160%returnin25years.
5. ETHICAl IMPlICATIonS (IF Any)AccordingtotheGlobalClimateRiskIndex2015,wasthecountrymostadverselyaffectedbyclimatechangein2013,dueinlargeparttoTyphoonYolanda(InternationalnameHaiyan)inadditionto7othertyphoonsandmultiplestormsthathitthecountrythatyear.Inanindexbasedondatafrom1994to2013,thePhilippinesranked5thforthatperiodwhileHonduras,Myanmar,andHaititoppedthe list.
Takingautilitarianperspective,solarroadsarenotonlybeneficialtoallelectricityusers,butalsotoeveryoneandeverythingthatbreathesair,andeveryonethatinthePhilippines.Asacleanenergysolution,solarenergydoesnotonlyprovideasustainablesourceofenergy,butonethathaslowcarbonemissions(owingtotheproductionprocess).
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Byreducingourcarbonemissions,reduceourcountry’scontributiontoclimatechange.EveniftheemissionsinthePhilippinesconstitutelessthan1%oftotalglobalcarbonemissions,thecountrycanstandinsolidaritywith136countrieshavesubmittedtheirINDCtotheUNasofOctober1,2015.
6. nATIon-BuIldInG IMPlICATIonSAccordingtotheGlobalBenchmarkStudyofResidentialElectricityTariffspaperpublishedbytheLantauGroup,theManilahasthethirdhighestpricesofelectricityafterSydneyandTokyo.Thetariffwhichgoestodistributioncompaniesaccountsfor16percentofthetotalpowerbill.Transmissionmakesup8.7percentofthebillaccordingtoNSCBsecretary-generalJoseAlbert.AccordingtoEnerData.net,highcostandsketchyreliabilityofelectricitysuppliesinthePhilippinesarenowthemaindeterrentstoinvestinginthecountry.
ThePhilippinesistheonlycountryinSoutheastAsiathatdoesnotsubsidizethecostofelectricity.Assuch,weareatagreatdisadvantageamongASEANnations,especiallyinlightoftheupcomingASEANintegration,whichwillturntheregionintoasingleeconomicmarketwithfreetradeamongstthemember countries.
AccordingtothischartcreatedbyInternationalEnergyConsultants,arunningamachinery-heavyfactoryinthePhilippinescouldpaymorethantwice as much for power than a similar factory in IndonesiaandTaiwan.ASEANcountriescancomeinandhelp.
PowercostsisoneofthemajorcontributingfactorstothePhilippinesconsistentlylowrankingsinWorldBankGroup’sInternationalFinanceCorporationEaseofDoingBusinesssurvey.
RefrencesCreatedbyNationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory(NREL)http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/index.phphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_powerandhttp://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-sourceshttp://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/images/efficiency_chart.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panelhttps://www.ihs.com/pdf/Top-Solar-Power-Industry-Trends-for-2015_213963110915583632.pdfThebalanceofsystem(BOS)encompassesallcomponentsofaphotovoltaicsystemotherthanthephotovoltaicpanels.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_systemhttp://www.solarroadways.com/https://www.indiegogo.com/http://www.solarroadways.com/clearingthefreakinair.shtmlhttp://geology.com/minerals/mohs-hardness-scale.shtmlhttp://www.lambertpaving.com/articles.htm#1http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23587916http://mic.com/articles/117948/6-months-later-here-s-what-s-happened-to-the-netherland-s-solar-bike-pathshttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/05/worlds-first-solar-cycle-lane-opening-in-the-netherlandshttps://www.ihs.com/pdf/Top-Solar-Power-Industry-Trends-for-2015_213963110915583632.pdfhttp://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/The-Most-Important-Trends-in-Solar-in-8-Chartshttp://rent.ph/resources/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/adb.jpgYoumayalsorefertotheSolarRoadDataexcelfilesubmittedalongwiththispaper.http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/173-power-and-energy/64165-solar-power-ph-households-net-meteringhttp://www.kuryente.org.ph/electric-company/rates/128CreatedbyNationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory(NREL)http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/index.phpJacobs&Chase,OperationsandSupplyChainManagement,McGraw-HillEducation.2015,p.412ISBN-139780077151621http://energyinformative.org/solar-energy-pros-and-cons/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2989813/sustainable-it/panasonic-surpasses-solarcity-with-worlds-most-efficient-solar-panel.htmlhttp://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/76868-philippines-tops-global-climate-risk-indexhttp://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/107759-philippines-indc-climate-change-united-nationshttp://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=113411http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/10/07/1242233/phl-power-rates-among-highest-asia
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