The West End - Beginning Research

I started my research by asking people what they thought of the West End. Most everyone I asked said something similar to this, “It used to be the in place but not anymore, everything has closed down.” The West End calls itself THE entertainment destination for DFW, but if this is the case why don’t people see it this way? One thing I noticed from walking the district was that there aren’t many day activities/entertainment. I would think in order to be THE entertainment destination, the West End would have to support activities/entertainment throughout the day. The restaurants offer lunch but judging by their menus seem more likely places to have a nice dinner. Many Internet sites proclaim the West End to be a popular nightlife spot but not so much during the day. I am interested in how the West End can attract a day crowd on a more regular basis?

Reef Sandals

Reef created a two in one product—a flip flop with a bottle opener embedded in the sole of the sandal. They augmented the function of the sandal and by doing so changed the meaning of the product. It is not just a means to protect your feet and get around; it is a means to a good time! Oakley also features a two in one product—sunglasses with a built in MP3 player. They are so anti-ear bud and this product solved the problem of: “Do I wear headphones or sunglasses?”

Democracy

Democracy has its origins in Ancient Greece, however other cultures have significantly contributed to the evolution of democracy such as Ancient Rome, Europe, and North and South America. Although not described as a democracy by our founding fathers, they stood for freedom and equality. The United States Constitution provides an elected government and protects civil rights. In a democratic society, people are allowed to participate in governmental decisions that help to maintain a balance. This form of rule lead to significant changes—freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. Democracy is a way of life, with widespread social, economic and political equality.

Windshield Wiper

Mary Anderson invented the windshield wipers in 1903. While Anderson was a passenger on a streetcar in New York, she observed the driver periodically stopping to wipe the windows, and on some occasions opening the window to see. Anderson saw a need to create a device for cleaning the windshield to improve driver vision during stormy weather. By 1916, windshield wipers were a standard feature on all American cars. Today almost all motor vehicles, including trains, aircraft and watercraft are equipped with windshield wipers, and are usually a legal requirement. I’m not sure if Anderson considered safety as a means for creating the windshield wipers but by doing so she controlled a hazard and achieved an acceptable level of risk. Following the windshield wiper other forms of safety became standard in cars such as the seat belt, airbag and car seat.