Just some drawings for fun

Perfect scientific information backing up structure of our items

Smart materials and nanosensors

One proposed application of MNT is the development of so-called smart materials. This term refers to any sort of material designed and engineered at the nanometer scale to perform a specific task, and encompasses a wide variety of possible commercial applications. One example would be materials designed to respond differently to various molecules; such a capability could lead, for example, to artificial drugs which would recognize and render inert specific viruses. Another is the idea of self-healing structures, which would repair small tears in a surface naturally in the same way as self-sealing tires or human skin.

A nanosensor created by MNT would resemble a smart material, involving a small component within a larger machine that would react to its environment and change in some fundamental, intentional way. As a very simple example: a photosensor could passively measure the incident light and discharge its absorbed energy as electricity when the light passes above or below a specified threshold, sending a signal to a larger machine. Such a sensor would supposedly cost less and use less power than a conventional sensor, and yet function usefully in all the same applications — for example, turning on parking lot lights when it gets dark.

While smart materials and nanosensors both exemplify useful applications of MNT, they pale in comparison with the complexity of the technology most popularly associated with the term: the replicating nanorobot.

Replicating nanorobots

MNT nanofacturing is popularly linked with the idea of swarms of coordinated nanoscale robots working together, a popularization of an early proposal by Drexler in his 1986 discussions of MNT, but superseded in 1992. In this early proposal, sufficiently capable nanorobots would construct more nanorobots in an artificial environment containing special molecular building blocks.

Critics have doubted both the feasibility of self-replicating nanorobots and the feasibility of control if self-replicating nanorobots could be achieved: they cite the possibility of mutations removing any control and favoring reproduction of mutant pathogenic variations. Advocates address the first doubt by pointing out that the first macroscale autonomous machine replicator, made of Lego blocks, was built and operated experimentally in 2002.^[8] While there are sensory advantages present at the macroscale compared to the limited sensorium available at the nanoscale, proposals for positionally controlled nanoscale mechanosynthetic fabrication systems employ dead reckoning of tooltips combined with reliable reaction sequence design to ensure reliable results, hence a limited sensorium is no handicap; similar considerations apply to the positional assembly of small nanoparts. Advocates address the second doubt by arguing that bacteria are (of necessity) evolved to evolve, while nanorobot mutation could be actively prevented by common error-correcting techniques. Similar ideas are advocated in the Foresight Guidelines on Molecular Nanotechnology,^[9] and a map of the 137-dimensional replicator design space^[10] recently published by Freitas and Merkle provides numerous proposed methods by which replicators could, in principle, be safely controlled by good design.

However, the concept of suppressing mutation raises the question: How can design evolution occur at the nanoscale without a process of random mutation and deterministic selection? Critics argue that MNT advocates have not provided a substitute for such a process of evolution in this nanoscale arena where conventional sensory-based selection processes are lacking. The limits of the sensorium available at the nanoscale could make it difficult or impossible to winnow successes from failures. Advocates argue that design evolution should occur deterministically and strictly under human control, using the conventional engineering paradigm of modeling, design, prototyping, testing, analysis, and redesign.

In any event, since 1992 technical proposals for MNT do not include self-replicating nanorobots, and recent ethical guidelines put forth by MNT advocates prohibit unconstrained self-replication.^[9][11]

Universal assemblers versus nanofactories

A section heading in Drexler's Engines of Creation reads^[24] "Universal Assemblers", and the following text speaks of molecular assemblers which could hypothetically "build almost anything that the laws of nature allow to exist." Drexler's colleague Ralph Merkle has noted that, contrary to widespread legend,^[25] Drexler never claimed that assembler systems could build absolutely any molecular structure. The endnotes in Drexler's book explain the qualification "almost": "For example, a delicate structure might be designed that, like a stone arch, would self-destruct unless all its pieces were already in place. If there were no room in the design for the placement and removal of a scaffolding, then the structure might be impossible to build. Few structures of practical interest seem likely to exhibit such a problem, however."

Changing paint article

This could be a very interesting concept for influencing our changing designs. The walls and floor could be changed whilst walking through. Annalies and gs cutlery could be covered in this technology which could change designs.

Shopping for a car will never be the same as scientists have developed a new form of auto paint that changes color with the touch of a button. This revolutionary new paramagnetic paint is a technical wonder and is viewed by Nissan and other auto companies as an amazing innovation that would draw huge traffic to dealerships and will make it easier for consumers to get the exact option level they want on a car without the sacrifice of their favorite color.

Research with this new science of special light reflecting coatings has been going on for years and there have been several different approaches used to achieve the effect but recent breakthroughs have taken it out of the laboratory and into a real commercial product for large scale applications.

The process starts out with a standard galvanized piece of automotive sheet metal steel. A special polymer is applied to the steel with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles embedded within it. The nanoscale crystalline particles of magnetite (iron oxide) are controlled using a low grade magnetic field which is used to effect the spacing of the colloidal crystals and thereby controlling their ability to reflect light and change color.

The coatings are perfect for an automotive application because a continuous small magnetic charge is needed to keep the desired color active and the driver also has the ability to turn off the system at which time the vehicle turns back to its default color of white. The coating has the ability to reproduce the full spectrum of colors and can change to a specific color in about a second. The actual materials used in the process are not expensive and are non-toxic. A special hard clearcote is used to seal and protect the surface and testing has shown that the color consistency of the finish is uniform even with the sharp creases and severe bends utilized in the exterior of automotive panels. With progress continuing on current levels paramagnetic paint could make it’s appearance on some models by 2010.

http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news-paramagnetic-paint.html

Compositing in real scene tests

Here are some tests putting animation of breaking parts into real scene

Trace

Here are some concept videos of how we may leave a trace through architecture. I am trying to find a way to visually show mood/personality/memory, whilst moving through a space.

video of parts coming together

Here is one of the shots used for formation of house on site

Breaktest

Academic discussion that's pretty much awesome..

‘all life in every jot of its riotus variety is created by little biological machines like those in photosynthesis that manipulate basic elements of matter. Why not adapt those methods to build nonliving things?...to build anything you pleased? ..With nanotechnology, you could grow a house, or a car, or a completely real, molecularly accurate T-bone steak, or a new heart, from little more than software instructions and some handfuls of dust. It would enable digital control of the very structure of matter’ – Joel Garreau, based on Eric Drexlers ideas, Radical Evolution, p. 120

QUOTES QUOTES QUOTES

QUOTES might be good to throw in somewhere. Some are quite relevant, some not so much.

Nature composes some of her loveliest poems for the microscope and the telescope. ~Theodore Roszak, Where the Wasteland Ends, 1972

The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them. ~William Lawrence Bragg

Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house. ~Henri Poincaré, Science and Hypothesis, 1905

Science is simply common sense at its best. ~Thomas Huxley

If we wish to make a new world we have the material ready. The first one, too, was made out of chaos. ~Robert Quillen

The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking. ~Albert Einstein

But in science the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea first occurs. ~Francis Darwin

The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. ~Isaac Asimov, Isaac Asimov's Book of Science and Nature Quotations, 1988

Theory guides. Experiment decides.

An old saying in science, seen attributed to many different persons.

All of physics is either impossible or trivial. It is impossible until you understand it, and then it becomes trivial.

Ernest Rutherford (1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson) (1871- 1937) English physicist, born in New Zealand. Nobel prize for chemistry 1908.

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A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Walter Bagehot (1826-77) English economist, political journalist and critic.

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
Michelangelo

There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clarke

compositing tests

Initial tests of compositing

More experiments

Looking at how your personality can be imprinted onto possessions to act as a physical memory.

Faces blurred

Blurring memories into the ink stains. You have to look quite closely.

Here is my development to date. i really like the light shining through the folds. so let me know what you think =)

Surface experiments

Having a play with Lisa's surfaces to link the products with architecture.

Creepy plates

Recent experiments

Here are some of our latest experiments, looking at physically expressing memories and personalities throught imagery on the plates... and more growth experiments.

Structure Growth

"The trabecular bone is first resorbed by osteoclasts, creating a shallow resorption pit known as a "Howship's lacuna". Then osteoblasts deposit compact bone within the resorption pit. Eventually, the fracture callus is remodelled into a new shape which closely duplicates the bone's original shape and strength.["

The osteoclasts remove old material, and the osteoblasts deposit new. I think this is an excellent illustration of how it is possible for physical structure to be remodelled to reflect outside influences.


From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_healing

This is a video i saw which talks briefly about a concept aircraft NASA has imagined. Its wings have the ability to morph into different forms for the different situations of flight. Its quite a fluid form so differs from our house.

"This future aircraft will be able to respond to constantly varying conditions using its sensors as nerves in a bird's wing to measure pressure over the entire surface of the wing. The response to these measurements will direct actuators, which will function like muscles in a bird's wing and change shape to optimize conditions."

Our house holds a less regular form too.

WATCH HERE~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR3T8mdpdTI

Rapid Prototype Development- Surface

I have been making these in Solidworks but would like to stretch and manipulatre them a bit more in another program. One model I have is just a surface that won't thicken in Solidoworks.
Maybe it will thicken in blender rich? These models are really small and I will probably print just one or two of them. The squares are about 10mm by 10mm.

crappy youtube

seems to have broken the video, but you get the rough idea - what me and jase are working on atm;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QErfIplyw0

Hay Gee and Annelies check out this pic! 3 course meal all in one.

Rock Video

Have talked to Ross and Rachel about where I can take the rock video which seemed succesful in its simplicity in the last presentation.

I am aiming to create an improvement on the last video without sacrificing simplicity. I understand we are planning on using it as an introduction possibly?

Points I have considered:

+Basic/beach/nz? aesthetic, building blocks
+Interaction of people
+Effect of mood/personality.. different personailites coming together.
+Does the architecture react to us or imitate us or both? I think G was talking about how a house might respond to a party by getting bigger etc then becoming calm and quiet in the morning etc. Ross was wondering whether the house could just get drunk with us and start looking all crazy. Maybe not something we will pursue but interesting thought.
+Architecture supporting all our moods, but managing them. For example, you might be angry and the house could reflect that in a way, but it really should also move to calm you down to an extent.
+I almost feel like it needs to be physical non digital video otherwise it seems like a dumbed down version of what we will be showing later anyway?
So I'm open to thoughts...

I'd like to do at least a test video this weekend, so might need rich or someone else for a bit if that works.

I find myself starting to think of complex visual solutions, only to realise that they are not needed as the house animations will show these much better.

mechanized surfaces

http://vimeo.com/9973998

Rapid Prototyped surface before bending

This was printed flat with a thickness of .3mm and .5 for the thicker squares. I am hoping it can be bent with the help of warm water into a surface similar to Lisa's paper models.

more house model progress

bit more progress in fleshing out the house. trying to portray the old weatherboard house from the memory, as well as the influence of the cubic, linear concrete site. R

Make-A-Bot print

This print is about 70mm by 70mm and was made on a Make-A-Bot printer.

Now all Lisa needs to do is fold it up without breaking it.

Product formation

I had a go in after effects to try and show the dispersment of surface. I used the photos G and Annelies' took and tried to create a more fluid transition.

Its not that crisp so i will have to clarify how this transition happens. We will experiment with the physical shape of the objects as well. Using the texture already existing in the structure or objects gives a better relationship between the person and the experience of what they envision.

appying fold in context

the scale is a lot larger than what it will actually be but this is just a basic way of showing how the fold will be incorporated into architecture.

architecture being 'in-tune' with emotions

So I got thinking about how G and Annelies are using emotions to influence the change in products and wanted to apply the same idea to the architecture. The first image depicts how the fold would react if the user was feeling calm and serene. And the second image communicates the sense of anger and frustration.

just a few more pics

origami tessallation

so here are some pics showing development of the fold to date. some ideas of how we can photograph the details.

So this is the same sort of idea as my last animation but a bit more graphic, tell me what you guys think..

Just make this quick animation to try and show how memories might be visible at times in certain objects. Though this is pretty crude its mainly about showing that the memories might flicker upon the surface of an object when someone picks it up or uses it etc.

Surface

Solidworks model of Lisa's surface paper/card models. Can be moved in an assembly but its fiddly and solidworks doesn't much like it. I am planning on doing some renders of it showing the light moving through the perforated parts. It could be a wall or part of a wall that responds to the temperature and light to make indoor living more comfortable.

Added image with triangle framework instead of perforations, probably looks better.

more 3d progress

tonights progress on the rest.

This series looks at the idea of how a more intense emotion or experience might affect the way an object heals. Though its a bit OTT (my flatmates kept laughing haha), it shows the basic concept.