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Blog I: January 22nd, 2014
The Search Through the Thingiverse!
Amazing: Turbo Entabulator, Fully Mechanical Computer
While it requires some springs, pulleys, and rubber bands for full assembly, it has 3 single digit base-10 counters that can process a chain of 10 position punch cards. For fun you can calculate some of the first few digits of the Fibonnaci sequence!
Funny: Provocative Hands
This one needs very little explanation. While it may be terribly immature, I find it extremely funny that this was something someone printed. It makes for the perfect paper holder, desk decoration, or ice breaker at a party. While this design is a little complex, it is clearly able to be built, and a bit of an impressive feat for the overhangs to be able to hold while printing.
Useless: Useless Machine Arm
If you have never seen one before here is an example video but "The Most Useless Machine" is an incredible feat of.... technology I suppose. No matter how many times you flick the switch, its able to come right back and flick if off (until it's batteries run out). That is why I believe that the "Useless Machine Arm" is literally the most useless thing I could find on Thingiverse.
Useful: Measuring Spoons
Have you ever been cooking and just couldn't find that pesky tbsp.... or wait, was it tsp? Well fear no more, print your own! This build comes with all strange shapes and sizes, and has large print letters on the label. Having any size at hand while cooking is extremely useful and ensures that what you are cooking turns out just right. Also, if you are extremely lazy, you'll never have to wash a measuring spoon again!
Surprising: The Ministry of Silly Walks
While browsing through Thingiverse I was lucky enough to stumble upon one of my favorite Monty Python skits, The Ministry of Silly Walks. Of all the models I browsed through this was one of the ones I least expected to see.
Blog II: February 1st, 2014
Open Source Ecology (OSE) and its impacts
If you are unfamiliar with what OSE is, they have a video titled Enterprise Plan which outlines the groups goal. The OSE Project is an amazing project that has a goal of giving users the ability to make 50 different types of industrial machines. They believe these 50 machines help to create the modern, industrial civilization that we have today. Its founder Marcin Jakubowski gave a TED talk on the project back in March 2011, explaining that he wants to give people across the world the ability to inexpensively create their own industrial equipment. The equipment they have schematics and designs for range from laser cutters, to bread ovens, and even well drilling rigs. On the very top of their websites list of 50 devices, are a 3D printer and scanner. While their information on 3D printers is somewhat lacking, they show interest, and even refer users to visit RepRap for more information.
Overall the project seems like a good idea with great intentions. Personally, I believe that the largest threat facing man kind at the moment is overpopulation. Theres is a great video about it by David Suzuki that outlines why it is such quickly approaching threat and uses a great analogy. Without the proper buffers, the fallout that will come from overpopulation when earth reaches maximum capacity could be catastrophic. Projects like this are a step in the right direction to helping solve some of earths population issues by increasing the overall amount of resources available for people. Access to industrial equipment increases the ability to create goods that help sustain human life. Giving farmers, construction workers, and workers the ability to inexpensively industrialize their labor means greater productivity and efficiency. It also means that the workers can reap greater benefits to help sustain themselves and their surrounding communities. Many parts of Africa, Eastern Europe and Southern Asia still rely on out dated agricultural methods, and occasionally suffer due to this. With industrial equipment, the efficiencies of these areas of the world could surge, supplying the regions with a much needed volume of goods.
On top of providing industrialization to the third world, this website would be a great apocalypse kit. Let me paint you a picture:
China and America have finally gone to war due to land claims between Japan and China over a tiny rock in the middle of the East China Sea (sounds dumb right?). China mistakes a flock of geese on radar for an ICBM and launches their arsenal. America follow with a barrage of their own. India and Russia, having nothing better to do, launch their stockpiles. Not long after everyone is pushing the button and the Doomsday Clock strikes midnight. The surface of the earth becomes an arid, slightly radioactive wasteland in a sort of wild west, Fallout, Mad Max kind of way. A group of survivors scouring the wastes manage to dig up an old laptop out of the dust. In the laptop is a CD of OSE, and while non of them have specialized skills in farming or survival, with that disk they rebuild society (roll credits)
The above is a long, drawn out waste of text, but it makes my point that the OSE project is basically a civilization startup kit. All of the schematics and diagrams can be created by most people with the ability to think and create extremely useful machines. While it will hopefully never be needed on earth, it would be neat to see people use something like OSE to colonize planets, moons and asteroids throughout the solar system and galaxy . Colonist with the ability to load plans and construct everything they need to have a highly functioning society.
On the down side, some of the projects still require moderately expensive equipment to make, and some of the materials used are not the easiest thing to get your hands on. Also one of their largest challenges could be actually spreading their plans to the far reaches of the world where computers and internet are hard to find. The projects are also still in developmental stages so some of the devices may not have the longest life cycle or overall strength/refinement. Also, while I see the website as having little liability for people making their machines, if someone were to follow their schematics and build a machine that would injure or kill them, I could see a sue happy person taking OSE to court. As grandpa always used to say, "it only takes one idiot to ruin something good for everyone".
Recently The New Yorker published an article titled The Civilization Kit, which is goes in depth on the ESO project and Marcin's work. The article was fairly critical towards his work, what he has actually accomplished, and the project's feasibility. It also notes the poor living conditions on his farm and his relationships with his fellow workers/supporters. While this article is very critical is brings up some very good points about the project. While the project is extremely flawed, it is a startup that is still in its infancy. They are low on cash and trying to do some pretty amazing thing at the same time. Marcin posted a response on the OSE wiki site defending his project. He defends himself and his work, claiming not to be the estranged commune that Emily Eakin writes about in her article. He also goes on to defend his mission statement and explain how their operation is limited by money. While I can see many valid point in The New Yorker article, I also understand that this project is still developing and trying to construct its base. It will need a lot of work to become a fully realized, but hopefully if it survives its core idea will remain pure and achieve its overall purpose of helping the world.
As far as PSU is concerned, I fell like a club or organization could definitely take root that follows the ideology and goals that OSE has set forth. With the amount of agricultural majors, and engineering majors around campus, a club where students can come together and create designs for complex mechanical systems would be educationally beneficial for students and foster development and innovation on such machines. Faculty in the agricultural, engineering, or even computer sciences departments could possibly be interested in exploring ways to create complex machines for the common man in hopes of performing research with them. On top of ll of this even the on campus ROTC and military programs may be interested in such a club. In remote areas of the world where the military operates, they are sometimes required to use heavy machinery to complete simple tasks. The formation of a club could allow them to use students to innovate new methods and designs to be built or repaired in remote locations where the military operates.
