Category Archives: Art & Design
Campaign launched to build Babbage''s steam-powered computer
Emma Woollacott
A campaign has been launched to build the first working model of Charles Babbage”s Analytical Engine – 173 years after it was designed.
The nineteenth-century mathematician produced detailed drawings of the steam-powered, general-purpose computer, which are now held at London”s Science Museum.
Parts of the machine have been constructed several times, by babbage himself, his family and others. But although his Difference Engine finally became a reality in 1991 and can be seen at the Science Museum no full version of the Analytical Engine has ever been created.
“What a marvel it would be to stand before this giant metal machine, powered by a steam engine, and running programs fed to it on a reel of punched cards,” says programmer and blogger John Graham-Cumming, who has launched the campaign.
“And what a great educational resource so that people can understand how computers work. One could even imagine holding competitions for people (including school children) to write programs to run on the engine. And it would be a way to celebrate both Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace. How fantastic to be able to execute Lovelace”s code!”
It won”t be easy. Unlike the Analytical Engine, for which Babbage left a complete set of blueprints, the Analytical Engine was still a work in progress at the time of his death.
The first stage of the project, therefore, would be to go carefully through all the different versions to devide which one to build from.
Graham-Cumming is attempting to raise funds for the project, which would require several people to work on it, as well as some rather expensive materials. He says that, when complete, the machine would be donated to either the Science Museum or the National Museum of Computing.
Graham-Cumming has a long way to go. He”s asking people to sign up here and pledge £10/$10, saying he reckons he needs about 50,000 people. So far, 2,403 have agreed.
Windstalk concept is a wind farm without the turbines
The Windstalk concept would generate electricity from the wind without turbines. Click image for more pictures.
By Darren Quick
Wind turbines are an increasingly popular way to generate clean energy with large-scale wind farms springing up all over the world. However, many residents near proposed wind farm sites have raised concerns over the aesthetics and the low frequency vibrations they claim are generated by wind turbines. An interesting Windstalk concept devised by New York design firm Atelier DNA could overcome both these problems while still allowing a comparable amount of electricity to be generated by the wind.
Devised as a potential clean energy generation project/tourist attraction for Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, the Windstalk concept consists of 1,203 carbon fiber reinforced resin poles, which stand 55 meters (180 feet) high and are anchored to the ground in concrete bases that range between 10 and 20 meters (33-66 ft) in diameter. The poles, which measure 30cm (12 in.) in diameter at the base, tapering up to a diameter of 5cm (2 in.) at the top, are packed with a stack of piezoelectric ceramic discs. Between the discs are electrodes that are connected by cables that run the length of each pole – one cable connects the even electrodes, while another connects the odd ones.
So, instead of relying on the wind to turn a turbine to generate electricity, when the pole sways in the wind, the stack of piezoelectric discs are compressed, generating a current through the electrodes. In a nice visual way to indicate how much – if any – power the poles are generating, the top 50cm (20 in.) of each pole is fitted with an LED lamp that glows and dims relative to the amount of power. So when the wind stops, the LED’s go dark.
As a way to maximize the amount of electricity the Windstalk farm would generate, the concept also places a torque generator within the concrete base of each pole. As the poles sway, fluid is forced through the cylinders of an array of current generating shock absorbers to convert the kinetic energy of the swaying poles into electrical energy.
Because the electricity generation capabilities of a Windstalk field site would depend on the wind, the designers have devised a way to store the energy. Below the field of poles would be two large chambers located on top of each other and shaped like the bases of the poles but inverted, (see the cross section image of the pole base section below). When the wind is blowing, part of the electricity generated is used to power a set of pumps that moves water from the lower chamber to the upper one. Then, when the wind dies down, the water flows from the upper chamber down to the lower chamber, turning the pumps into generators.
The WIndstalk project is still only a concept, so the designers haven’t determined the optimal shape for the stalks, saying computer simulations could be used to devise the best profile for maximizing the pole’s movement and variation. Even so, the design team estimates that the overall electricity output of the concept would be comparable to that of a conventional wind turbine array because, even though a single wind turbine that is limited to the same height as the poles may produce more energy than a single Windstalk, the Windstalks can be packed in much denser arrays.
The Atelier DNA Windstalk concept took out second prize in the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) competition this year that asked entrants to “design a series of land/environmental art installations that uniquely combine aesthetic intrigue and artistic concept with clean energy generation.”
Icona concept offers eco-friendly transport on water and land
Click the image for more pictures. Icona concept offers eco-friendly transport on water and land
By Paul Ridden
Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to create vehicles that operate on both land and water. It”s fair to say that such designs have generally not caught on. Perhaps it”s because of the fairly limited effectiveness of some of those offerings, or maybe it”s because so many of them have been ugly monsters. Then again, it could be that society just hasn”t found a niche for them yet. By the year 2050 though, we may need to give such craft some serious consideration. Juan Pablo Bernal P has come up with a concept design that certainly ticks all the right boxes for looks, and also takes the environment into consideration.
There have been some water/land craft that have caught our attention, and our imagination, in the past. Certainly one of the most impressive was the WaterCar Python which sped along at 120mph (193km/h) on land and upwards of 60mph (97km/h) on water. Most attempts, however, seem to have ended up looking like a boat with wheels or worse.
For his degree project at Umea Institute of Design in Sweden, which was sponsored by car manufacturer Opel, Juan Pablo Bernal P set himself the task of thinking ahead to the transport needs of people in the year 2050. Dealing with the likely environmental and social challenges ahead, the designer came up with a vehicle with “provocative lines and dynamic looks” that would provide an enjoyable and entertaining way of getting from A to B with as little impact on the environment as possible.
The Opel Icona is described as a family vehicle, yet there”s only enough space for one adult, and maybe room for a child passenger directly in front. There are electric hub motors to the front and impeller drive to the rear, where a keel and sail are also concealed within the frame of the vehicle. When on the water, the rear wheels are drawn up to the body by the trailing suspension arms.
Being able to commute on both water and land, the designer sees such a vehicle opening up new habitation possibilities but, like most concept designs, this one asks more questions than it answers. For instance, Juan Pablo Bernal P does not reveal any significant details about the electric hub motors other than that they are placed at the front. Presumably such hub motors would be sealed against water penetration, but details are lacking.
Of course, mixing an electric motor with a drop or two of the wet stuff has already been done. Nevertheless, some sort of explanation would have been welcome.
Then there”s the question of what exactly provides such a vehicle with the power it needs to head for open land or water. Given that there are quite a few years between now and when the designer sees such a vehicle being developed, presumably the Icona would take full advantage of whatever breaking, clean and efficient technologies are available at that time.
http://www.gizmag.com/opel-icona-land-water-vehicle-concept/16568/
The Shore Tub Bathtub Is Sinking… When You So Desire
The following bathtub is not your average, technologically advanced, but otherwise boring, bathroom tub. The Shore Tub moves up and down in order to offer you an even more interesting bathing experience. The Shore Tub has enough space inside for four or more people so you”d have to make sure you place it in a large enough bathroom, preferably not your living room like in the images below. Once inside the tub you”ll be able to command it to move up and down as you desire. That way you”ll be able to walk in and out of the tub without worrying about falling in the process, not to mention that the whole bathtub movement has to be pretty interesting once you sit down for the ride. Via HeyTeam
More images -> http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2010/10/04/the_shore_tub_bathtub_is_sinking_when_you_so_desire.html
Solys sun shading system collects rainwater for your garden
By Sukhmani
Designer Fabrice Bardon has envisaged a sun shading system that also doubles as a mist and rainwater collector. Dubbed as Solys, the concept is based on promoting a water economy through both public and personal initiative. Suitable for installation in parks and private gardens, the system can be assembled on the spot. The Solys supports a concave umbrella at the top which collects morning mist and rainwater to fulfill your garden watering needs.
Cheers Fabrice Bardon!
http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/solys-sun-shading-system-collects-rainwater-for-your-garden/
Pedal Pod Transport
Shweeb Human-Powered Monorails Get Funding from Google
Gary Munkhoff at the Green Living Journal PDX blog believes that Portland, Oregon deserves to have Shweeb human-powered monorails as an addition to Portland’s current Tri-Met transit offerings. Because of a recent Google investment, Munkhoff’s desire to see Shweeb in Portland has become a real possibility.
In September 2010, Google invested in research and development for the Shweeb human-powered monorails. Shweeb is now determining the location for its very first public use of the Shweeb transit. Whether Portland will be chosen is yet to be seen.
Portland is noted for its innovative ideas, sustainability, and for being bicycle friendly. Well check out Shweeb, because it is all of the above and more. (greenlivingpdx.blogspot)
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shweeb-human-powered-monorails
Nissan Townpod provides flexibility of purpose and a blank canvas for personalization
Nissan”s Townpod concept – click image for gallery
By Mike Hanlon
One of the more interesting concepts at the Paris Auto Show which opened yesterday is Nissan”s TownPod. Instead of being specifically tailored to the needs of a clearly defined target audience, the Townpod is essentially a blank canvas designed to be adapted to suit the needs of all those individuals who are so individual they are hard to categorize. It”s flexible interior is very clever, and being a plug-in electric vehicle, it will have zero local emissions and be cheap to run should it ever see a showroom.
For all the Townpod”s cleverness, the very first thing that struck me at the press conference was the boldness of the design. Since Henry Ford worked out how to manufacture automobiles much cheaper on production lines, auto manufacturers have made their profits selling mass produced cars that are all the same.
As manufacturing flexibility has grown from the development of more intelligent production lines, we”ve had a little more choice of specification, but that choice will grow immeasurably over the coming decades to cater for the seemingly base human need for individual expression.
Once upon a time, only the richest people had the opportunity to have their vehicles “bespoke” but computers and mass one-on-one communication will inevitably create an era of production-line personalized vehicles. The Townpod philosophy feels like a key step in that evolution and Nissan”s willingness to cater to individualization is a promising sign the company is not laboring under a legacy mindset.
The boldness of the move extends to the name too – normally Apple Computer gets its legal bovver boys to warn off any company which might wish to “misappropriate” the word “pod” which it feels is too close to its trademarked “iPod”, and might “cause confusion in the marketplace”, even if the companies it is intimidating are not even nearly in the same business as Apple.
Most companies faced with economic survival against such a daunting foe decide discretion is the better part of valor and cave in. With its unique combination of French and Japanese characteristics, Nissan isn”t nearly as likely to back down when faced with an unreasonable demand from the biggest kid on the block.
Now I think the Townpod is an excellent concept, perfectly described by its name, and I”d like to see it go into production. It”s a base vehicle that offers utility without looking and feeling like a commercial vehicle – the profile of Gizmag”s 1.5 million-a-month readership suggests a lot of our readers will agree.
In the same way that ereaders were never going to fly for technophiles because they are a “one trick pony,” the automobile represents a massive, fast-depreciating personal investment and greater flexibility and return for that investment will become more essential in the future.
I must confess too, of harboring an intrigue of wanting to see the playground bully pick on someone who can look after themselves. I want to see the Townpod produced almost as much to see if Apple really has the balls to go after a battle hardened company of similar size for using a commonly used descriptive word that no more belongs to Apple than it does to the pea.
Indeed, there’s a David-Goliath court case about to proceed over exactly this subject in the next month and if equitable, fair behavior by the companies upon which you bestow your patronage is important to you, make sure you check it out and tell your friends.
What”s that? Oh yes, the car. Sorry, I was just about to tell you that I’m still pissed about the theft of the word “gay” but this is a car story.
The adaptable nature of the Townpod’s design is based around a vehicle with a relatively small footprint but with voluminous personal space.
Research suggests that the fundamental psychology behind “road rage” is the human being’s primeval response to an invasion of our personal space – a territorial defensiveness that was handy when we were Neanderthal which has no place in a civilized society. The most interesting takeout from the psychologists’ analysis is just how strongly we perceive the automobile to be our personal space – enough to regularly generate a physically aggressive response to defend a minor transgression in shared territory as if it was an invasion of our cave in prehistory.
Adding all of the above together is an indication that Nissan may well be on the right path in making a large, portable, “cave” with a stylish, funky veneer.
Article Continues -> http://www.gizmag.com/nissan-townpod-provides-a-blank-canvas-for-personalisation/16527/
Forfreedom caravan designed for the most comfortable vacation
Posted by: Naresh Chauhan
Conceived by British designer Robert Williams, the “Forfreedom” is an expanding living unit designed with sustainability in mind. Intended towards professional urban couple looking for a short break or outing, the modular caravan features an aerodynamically planned flowing form to ensure stability and fuel efficiency. Featuring the flexible yet modern interior with a very simple finish that can easily be adapted to match the owner’s style and taste, the Forfreedom also contains a larger seating area and full size double bed that users can personalize with ease. The walls of the caravan are made in sandwiched fiberglass with closed cell insulation for efficient heating.
Strand Craft 122 superyacht with supercar garage
Posted by: Naresh Chauhan
If you are one of those sophisticated souls who don’t even wanna put their feet on earth fearing they might get dirty, Strand Craft is all set for its extravagant liner that includes a garage to park the special handcrafted supercar, so you get straight into the superyacht without grounding your feet on the dock. Dubbed the “Strand Craft 122,” the superyacht features an amazing Art Deco interior that the users can personalize according to their individual preferences. Capable of producing over 14.000 horsepower, the Strand Craft 122 can well surpass speeds over 50 knots. Comprising four double and very large staterooms, heads, reception, salon areas and comfortable crew cabins, the high performance streamlined 38-meter Open yacht also integrates 52″ LED TV´s and Bang Olufson sound systems in all rooms, enhancing the experience of the sailors.
For more pictures -> http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/strand-craft-122-superyacht-with-supercar-garage/
Eurekazone’s new Powerbench aims to replace the table saw
Posted by hipstomp
Contractor Carlos Osorio has 1.5 million dollars that he can spend with seven fingers. The flooring installer severely damaged one of his hands while using a Ryobi table saw, then sued the company for “defective design” and won a settlement, causing a flurry of debate in woodworking blogs and forums: Was it Osorio’s fault, or Ryobi’s? One thing is certain: There are reportedly around 38,000 accidents involving table saws each year, or about one every 14 minutes! From now until this time tomorrow, another 104 people will have gone to the emergency room with a table-saw-related injury.
Enter Eurekazone. We first covered this New-Jersey-based company and their Smart Woodworking System back in 2008 and interviewed founder Dino Makropoulos around the same time. His is essentially the story of an inventor using clever design to replace an existing, well-entrenched system of products, and the challenges faced therein.
Since founding the company in 2000, Makropoulos has been working towards a massive undertaking: Replacing the table saw–the main workhorse of many carpentry, woodworking and model shops–with something easier to use, safer, and cheaper. At its barest, the replacement comes in the form of a “Smart Base” that attaches to any plain ol’ circular saw. The saw and base then ride on a guide rail, suddenly turning a rough device into a precision tool.
His incremental improvements and expansions to this system have led to its most developed form, the EZ One Powerbench seen in the video below.
By going through woodworking forums, you find that Eurekazone’s system has gained an Apple-like small but fanatical following, and opposition as well; old-guard woodworkers who have invested thousands upon thousands on big-ass tablesaws do not take kindly at all to an invention that promises to supplant their tool for a fraction of the price while improving the safety record.
In a bit of timely luck, Eurekazone put the finishing touches on their latest product, the EZ One Powerbench, around the time the Ryobi lawsuit started making news. The Powerbench is essentially a series of aluminum extrusions, assembled in such a way that you have slide-able stops and support along three axes; you can then attach a circular saw or router and cut virtually any size of wood in any direction. With table saw manufacturers now under fire and growing awareness of the tool’s inherent danger–and financial liability–Makropoulos seems to be getting close to his dream of replacing the table saw at last.
Follow link for Video -> http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/eurekazones_new_powerbench_aims_to_replace_the_table_saw_16697.asp
