56 Technology: Engineering Our World Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Even in today’s throwaway society, with sustained use an item may become a valued object. Many children have a favorite toy, even though it may be worn out. Chefs and home cooks have their favorite kitchen tools. An automotive technician has a favorite wrench. Most of these items are favorites because they are comfortable and do a job well, regardless of their age. Do you have favorite clothes that you are reluctant to throw away, even though they are worn out or out of style? Socially Responsible Design can and should make the world a better place for people. It should try to solve problems people encounter every day and also in unusual circumstances. For example, people sometimes need emergency shelter after a natural or human- made disaster. Other people are displaced by political confl ict. Some people are homeless. Soft tents were normally used to meet these needs, but designers are now creating other types of shelter. Many have rigid exteriors. Some have steel foundations, roofs with ventilation and solar panels, and secure, lockable doors (Figure 3-21A). Some portable living space can even be rolled from place to place and opened at night to provide a temporary shelter (Figure 3-21B). ZO-loft architecture & design Figure 3-21. Temporary shelters. A—What are the advantages of this type of rigid shelter when used in disaster and conflict zones? B—This shelter is easy to move from place to place and easy to set up. A B wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com Jonas Nyström/Better Shelter Erik Hagman/Better Shelter