TeamIBM News INDEX
Last shopping at glossary store. My feeling does not change.
I bought shovel, eyeglass, and grove for Mongol. Also, 36 batteries for GPS.
I sent stuff for Matsuyama. Also, I had a meeting of how to manage GPS data. I am so busy and sleepy.
We discussed Server configuration for 15 minutes. I will test either at home or college.
We delivered stuff for Mongol to IBM. Then we go to Akihabara. We bought PC parts, cable, and tent (2.8kg, blue, \19,800).
Today, we finished programming to send GPS data through radio ham form car to camp in Mongol. Also, we bought tapes and bands at TOKYU DO IT.
August 5th
We have been testing the PC and the printer in this kind of an environment.
Ink Jet Printer(ThinkPad 555BJ) : I was worried about the changes in the air pressure due to altitude change but this printer worked under all conditions. Since it is built into the PC this type of computer is suited for a place like Mongolia.
Dot Impact Printer : There was a little print blur under freezing point and the printing got a little light, but does not matter. Under dew condition, the paper got a little wet and some spots did not print well.
Heat Transfer Printer : I thought this printer was good in any temperature and air pressure but it was bad under dew condition. Water drops appeared all over the roll paper and began to tear.
The PCs worked under all conditions.
I stayed over at my university on Friday night
I was testing the generator and its electric supply. Also, I was listing the computers to be used.
I was testing the generator.
I made a ThinkPad backup disk.
I am going to KTI to test the Inmalsat 64kbps tomorrow (August 6th). I am now preparing for it.
August 2nd
We made a time table (shown on the next page) to adjust the time between the Tokyo and the Mongol staff for reporting the rally.
All the testing and packaging of the Team IBM's cars, motorcycles, and cameras used for live televising have been done by the Keio staff.
A generator will be used 24 hours at the base camp to supply electricity to the entire camp. We decided to distribute ear plugs everybody in the camp because of the noise it makes.
The location data and image data which will be displayed on the ThinkPad 560 and PC110 to be carried on vehicles will be stored in a memory card (PCMCIA).
We were informed that transit documents (passports, etc.), cargo list of the chartered plane, and other items will arrive from the secretariat shortly.
The Rally Raid Mongol is an excellent place for displaying their personalities. Takeda, the veteran, who experienced the Paris-Dakar and various other races. Izawa who trotted around 36 countries of the globe but never participated in a motor rally. Also, the 3 girl riders, Kuwayama, Ohtake, and Iwaki have proven records in as racers in such races as the Australian Solo Touring 7000 km Race. Who knows what kind of a drama awaits us on the Mongol plains. Last but not least our leader, Hirose, who get the thrill of it all by merely watching the drama go by.
We would like to take this occasion to express our thanks to IBM and the co-sponsors for understanding the "Fun Land" team motto. We would also like to thank the SSER ORGANISATION for presenting us with this wonderful event again this year. Another thanks to the people who will be participating in this rally who will be playing with us and to you who will be cheering for us over Internet. (by T. Hirose : TeamIBM Superviser)
(by T. Hirose : TeamIBM Superviser)
Television schedule:
August 9th
In the morning, I set brand new digital steel camera for Mongol.
In the afternoon, I installed software and met president of IBM Japan, Mr. Kitashiro.
...by Hanada
...by Shigechika
...by Sugiura
...by Nishimura
August 8th
Yesterday, I set Ethernet of two 555BJs, which is for printer in Mongol. Today, I set up my ThinkPad 560 from the days on.
...by Hanada
...by Shigechika
Sugiura bought a role-playing game for laptop PC. He intended to play it in Mongol.
...by Sugiura, Nishimura
August 7th
I delivered stuff by my car. At 6:00PM, I was on highway. Now, I am at Shibakoen.
There is still much stuff, so I have to be a deliverer tomorrow, too.
...by Shigechika
...by Sugiura, Nishimura
August 6th
Three of us tested actual phone and router by ISDN line. It was successful.
...by Shigechika, Nishimura, Sugiura
PC and Printer Environment Test Results by Mongol Staff Sakai
The Mongolian Environment is Very Severe.
At the Camp we are printing out your messages of encouragement and posting in on the bulletin board. Therefore it has to be a printer which can endure the hot day temperature and the cold night temperature.
The PCs we brought from Tokyo are the ThinkPad 560, ThinkPad 755CX, and ThinkPad 555BJ and the printers we brought are the bubble jet printer on the ThinkPad 555BJ, a dot impact printer, a heat-transfer printer, and a laser printer.
* The laser printer broke on the way while I was driving from my house to Fukuchiyama and therefore we cannot perform an environment test for this printer.
45 degrees C －5 degrees C Air Pressure
760-500mmHgDew Ink Jet Yes Yes Yes Yes Dot Impact Yes Conditional Yes Conditional Heat Transfer Yes Yes Yes No
1. We lowered the air pressure to 500mmHg in 1 minute.
2. Print test was executed after the printer was left under the various conditions for 1 hour.
August 3rd, 4th, 5th
August 3rd (Sat.)
I went to buy small shovels which will come in handy in Mongolia (as a rule, to be prepared by individuals)
...by Hanada
...by Shigechika.
..by Sugiura.
August 4th (Sunday)
I was setting the mailing list for the Rally Raid MONGOL on the Internet World EXPO 1996.
I was preparing the blackout test of our laboratory at the Keio Univ. Shonan Campus.
...Shigechika.
...Sugiura.
August 5th (Monday)
I received a blood check for my entry to Mongolia.
..Hanada.
..Sugiura.
...by Shigechika.
The Fourth Staff Meeting
Reported by: Ohbayashi Manabu (Tokyo Staff)
Rally Daily ScheduleLocation: IBM Japan HQ
This is the last meeting with all the members present. The meeting held up to now are as follows :
Participants:
IBM: Sakai, Hanada, Matsuzaki
Keio Univ.: Shigechika, Sugiura, Nishimura, Nakamura
InfoCreate: Imoto, Ohbayashi
Daiichi Kikaku: Takagi, Yamaguchi, Nasu
June 26th: Kickoff at IBM.
July 2nd : Explanation on the Inmalsat at KDD.
July 16th: Finalization of the home page design.
We will install a host computer and perform receiving test of JPEG and TEXT files from Mongolia as soon as possible.
(This is a plan only and may change due to circumstances. Also, the broadcasting hours of StreamWorks is not yet decided.)
Mongolia
Time(JST)
Internet *Tokyo Staff
Start MOTO
Start AUTO
Start disassembling ETAP
Helicopter relocation
ETAP assembling
MOTO goal
AUTO goal
Tentative Results Annoucement
Press Conference(23:45 JST)
Wake up
Breakfast
Briefing(5:30～5:45 JST)
Start
6:00
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
24:00
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
7:00
StreamWorks broadcasting
Wake up
Receive yesterdays race image
Update yesterdays race data
StreamWorks broadcasting
Tentative results receiving
Tentative results posting
Go to sleep
Wake up
We changed the receiving method of the cheer messages sent by users from email to NetThread.
By using this method, messages sent from our users are directly posted on the Internet home page for others to see. Other users can then comment on these posted messages. Of course, a Mongolian user can post to this home page too.
The home page will be constructed soon.
Today, the packaged StreamWorks encoder arrived after undergoing tests. This will be sent to Matsuyama airport.
At todays meeting, the TeamIBM's ThinkPad 560 and PC110 will be handed over to the Keio staff. They will connect the digital camera and GPS to these units and make the necessary adjustments.
The generator has to be operated 24 hours in order to keep things moving like charging the batteries used on vehicles.
July 29th
Team lBM meeting and training on July29th
* To get familiar with CAP(bearings), a training that defined meeting place from CAP and distance by using compass, was held. GPS and CAP presented only straight lines but there was no straight road. They had to find out the direction after they defined approximate point on the map. All of them finally could meet though there was some delay.
* They had a mechanical seminar that invited a rally mechanic.
1. How to deal with chain trouble
2. How to maintain machine every day
3. How to deal with water ( In case of crossing river, etc.)
* Training nighttime was to run on road. Director removed fuel without notice. They had only \200. There are very few gas stations open and they did not have enough money; however, the order was "go back to their own home as soon as possible someone becomes out of gas." The aim is to be prepared and not to get panicked.
* A training that let them search Director's position defined by contacting through radio from a secret meeting place. They are fully equipped as same as rally in Mongol. The weather was fine but very hot.
Our motto is "Fun Land."
Our motto is "Fun Land."
This literally means to have fun with the "great earth," caring for it at the same time. We like to communicate with the local people and to deepen our understanding of them. Our members are very unique but also have this motto in their heart.
MESSAGE from T. Hirose, TeamIBM Superviser(Japanese)
About the Team Name
The official name of the team is "Fun Land Team IBM" and was named by the team's captain, Hirose, who wishes to save the earth in order to make his dream : "have fun with the earth," come true.
The name of this rally, "Rally Raid" may seem like we are destroying the earth, but the name of "Fun Land" has surely contributed in wiping away the bad image. On this occasion, we would like to thank our big sponsor, IBM, which has understand our motive in making this event possible.
Magazine schedule:
This rally will be featured in the August edition of the "Bart" magazine issued by Shueisha (sold from Aug. 12). Also, its September edition will include introduction and activities of the TEAM IBM.