Walker Engineering

Engineering, Management, Technology Consulting

  • We were researching infographics and the underlying data analysis for customer work and found this gem by trulia insights Do Bad Guys Ever Sleep?

    From their article

    Crime happens all day long, but when it peaks and wanes really depends on where you live.

    After we brought crime maps into the world, we decided take a deeper look at when crime typically happens throughout the day in 25 big cities across the country. What did we find? Well, as the old adage goes, crime doesn’t pay…but it sure does look like it’s working 9 to 5(plus a nightshift) in some cities.

    There is the fun of knowing that in Portland there is a crime break from 11-2 and I differ from the site’s authors as to why.  It is the opinion of this firm that everyone is actually lined up at Voodoo Donuts.  No pun intended.

    But click on the interactive infographic for what we were after.  Now that is a interesting and engaging display of data.

  • The glasses in use are THE appropriate ones for a Kölsch

    Walker Engineering has been experimenting with local beers in an attempt to determine the appropriate Summer Beer for company social events.  Mind you, we live in Portland and summer has not started yet, but it might any minute.  We have selected Kölsch for this summer.  There is a nice article in the NYTimes summarizing the information about Kölsch.

    From the NYTimes:

    What is it about Kölsch? Well, it’s a snappy and beautifully refreshing golden ale, bright without being overbearing. From the first sniff of its grainy, malty aroma, to the delicately fruity, lightly bitter flavors in the mouth, to the brisk, clean, energetic feeling after you swallow, a good Kölsch offers a smooth journey of sensations that may be unremarkable individually but are extraordinarily pleasant as an ensemble.

  • It is finally summer at Walker Engineering and one thing I like to do is finally complete projects that require thinking and projects that require MAKE-ing.

    One that I think I am off to snap into place tomorrow for fun is this Impromptu Dry Erase board as a desktop organizer.  I am going to use parts from Home Depot instead of Lowe’s as they are within biking distance of the office.

  • I admit my bias against those working in coffee shops freely.  I can no longer go anywhere in the afternoon and have coffee and hang out, talk with people, treat myself, or simply people watch.  Albina Coffee, Stumptown, even Crema.  Every table is taken with a single person, a laptop, and a pile of papers as they work.  On the rare occasion where I do grab an empty table, I can see others coming in, spotting a shop full and leaving.  It simply seems to me that the business model for coffee shops is broken, that they are losing business and cache and becoming trivial, soon to be replaced by carts or somewhere this function can be done.  One can’t make money with one cup being purchased per table per large block of time.

    Enough on that, I spoted this recent study showing that it is actually cheaper for folks to rent a “flexible desk” during regular business hours.  Now which coffee if going to open a space and charge for this?  Winning idea folks, send your percentages here.

    According to the Deskwanted study, the average cost of renting a “flexible desk” during regular business hours is $152 a month. As Deskwanted’s analyst Sophie Bonnet points out, that’s probably less than what it would cost to work out of a coffee shop, assuming that a reasonable amount of drinks and snacks were bought throughout each day. A flexible desk membership that allows for 24/7 access to the space costs an average of $209 per month. As you might expect, the study found that renting a permanent desk at a coworking center is more expensive: A permanent desk that’s available for use during regular business hours costs an average of $308 per month, while one with 24/7 access costs an average of $387 per month.

    Deskwanted also carried out a similar study six months ago, which found that the average price of renting a flexible desk to be $150, so prices have increased slightly, despite increased competition in the market as more spaces open.

  • While researching activity one can do at work, I stumbled across this recent article titled 20+ Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk on Mashable.  I have to agree with their labeling this a favorite, it turned out to be ours as well.  But the important point we took away was to review Video Sites for exercise routines and HOWTO tips about easy exercises and stretching we can incorporate into our daily work routines.  We will post relevant videos we find here, send us yours!