Wrapping Up

This has been a very different project compared to the others I got the chance to participate in as an exchange student.  What I value the most about it is that we were able to identify the area we were each interested and skilled in, and put out a cohesive, well elaborated concept and product in the end.

At times we lacked guidance and didn’t work together.

For myself I am glad I had the chance to work on presenting ideas, and conduct research on materials. I am looking forward to integrating this in to future projects. I have not learned about electronics, partly by choice and partly due to circumstances.  I do have new insights into how electricity works and exposure to technologically advanced materials that I would like to work with in the future.  

I would like to thank my group members:

Joan: For smiling, and pulling the details together.

Brian: For speaking about our ideas eloquently.

Bo: Staying out of the arguments and making a gorgeous 3D model.

Thomas: Getting it done simply and clearly.

Søren: Delicately advancing the project.  

 

Mirona

Final Electric Model

This is the final electric model for the wind to light installation. It works.  I can explain the basics of why.  It is elegant and simple and shows its structure.

Public Space Intervention

Electronics And Cloth

http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~buechley/index.html

http://www.loop.ph/bin/view/Loop/WebHome

Piezoelectric Wind Harnessing Technology

Link to Wikipedia article on wind harvesting tree http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Rick_Dickson:Wind_Tree

Project Brief

We are designing a modular lighting system for public spaces.  The deliverables for the end of the project will be a full-scale mechanical installation for the City Hall square, one module of the electronic product along with proposals for other possible uses and installations.  We would like to produce a mechanical model (composed of perforated panels with balls that reveal the holes depending on the force of the wind) in order to show the potential of the system and to create a visual experience within the time frame and budged we are working with.  The electronic module will illustrate the design the ideal installation including wind harnessing technology, materials, form and how modules will fit together to create larger forms.

 

Challenges

- Finding the appropriate technology for harnessing wind energy for our purposes.

- Identifying and responding to the key challenges of working with modules, weatherproofing and vandalism. 

- Maintaining a strong correlation between the mechanical and electronic modules in how they function and how they are shaped.

 

Group Competences

- Independent research.

- Form giving.

- Model building.

- 3D modeling.

- Interest in new materials and use of materials.

Simple Natural Processes and Words

Stefan Sagmeister and UV

http://www.sagmeister.com/worknew13.html

Tim Hawkinson

Elegant low-tech robots not much light but other good things.

http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/hawkinson/#

Simple Energy into Light

Burning Man Art Installations

Some interesting images that make use of wind power and solar energy… sound and light.

http://www.burningman.com/installations/