dTECH at ISS

Worldometers - real time world statistics

Worldometers - real time world statistics

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Techne and Episteme

Technology - Acting in the World
                                    and Knowledge ( Episteme )

A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more
than much knowledge that is idle.
                                                      —Kahlil Gibran

What We Know and What We Do
Do you want to referee the game or play to win?

 

Knowing and Doing

	Knowing			Doing
		Rules     of a game      of chess	Winning     a chess     game
	Arch         i tec       ture	F = MA		Con    struc       tion
	SMS			Texting
	History    and   Political Science			Yes      We         Can

Techne, the oposite of episteme, comes from the Greek word τέχνη which is often translated as craftsmanship, craft, or art. It is the rational method involved in producing an object or accomplishing a goal or objective

Technology comes from Greek "technologia", "τεχνολογία" — "techne", ("craft") and "logia", ("saying").

"Technology" can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as machines, hardware or utensils, but can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques.

-------- YES WE WILL ! YES WE WILL !YES WE WILL !YES WE WILL !--------

THE GIRL EFFECT

_____________________

Sources and Inspirations
dkimages, Hammer
Kiwanja.net - Texting

Thanks to Eindhoven

Two Takes on First Projects

Take One -
Both Parts Required

• EURO DESIGN
Design is often seen as expensive and exclusive. Nevertheless most products are made with great consideration, are functional and have their own expression.

Assignment: Go to a shop, buy a product (old or new) of maximum 1 Euro and describe the qualities that attract you. Bring the product with you.

• “EURO DESIGN -”
There are many products that, looking at their design, did not get the attention they should have had. Assignment: Go to a shop, buy a product (old or new) of maximum 1 Euro and describe in which way the product does not reach the appropriate standards or at least your standards. Bring the product with you.

Take Two - Which will you choose?

• Life and Leisure: “A DAY OUT”
Assignment:
Design a new and original idea for a day out.

Step 1: Research and document how a day out would look like for different target groups (youth, elderly people, children, friends, …). You can think of a day out in different surroundings, with different activities (nature, culture, beach, sailing, biking, walking, skating, etc.). You will be designing this day for one of the following customers: Tourist Information Office, Railway company, Motor club, Holiday agency or other…..(please name your customer).

Step 2: Interview and make a photo of 3 people (minimum) from different target groups (youth, elderly people, children, friends, …) and ask them to make a description of their ideal day out. Describe and visualise these experiences by means of photo’s, drawings and texts.

Step 3: Design a ‘new’ day out for one specific group (youth, elderly people, children, friends, …). Work out your design into a convincing presentation, as if you have to sell your product to your customer. You can present your design via a brochure, collage, folder, model, website, video, PowerPoint).

• Life and Well Being: “LET YOUR SENSES GUIDE YOU”
Design should broaden the channels of perception. Well-being is the expression of your perception.
What does

• …silence feel like?
• …dark taste like?
• …soft smell like?
• …bitter sound like?
• …stench look like?

Assignment: Choose one of the above five questions and answer it by making a 3D object of your own creation.


• Life and Activity: “WINDSTRENGTH INDICATOR”
Assignment: Design an (non electrical) object that indicates the wind strength.

Consider the fact that a bikers posture, the sound of rustling leaves or the velocity of a falling crisp package can give us an indication of the wind velocity. Let that be an inspiration to you. This assignment is not strictly about measuring, but more about a smart, original or beautiful way of measuring. Think of different principles of operation of such an indicator and work out one of them in 2D and make a model of it in 3D.

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Sources and Inspirations

Design Academy Eindhoven - Home Assignments 2007
Bank of Finland - Design of 2007 One Euro Coin
Penguin - Peppa's Day Out
Colour Lovers - Yellow Stench
Dezeen - Wind Damn by Chetwood Associates
Moderjune.blogspot - A Day Out in Ashaland, Virginia

And the winner is ...

A Day Out in Ashland, Virginia  ( aka A chick's day out )

The Times - They Are A-Changin'

You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows

Johnny's in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
    - Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues

"First, there is the erosion of the social contract. Private sector firms are less likely to provide health benefits, producing a desperate need for health care reform. Second, there is the energy shortage. Rising Asian demand strains worldwide supply, threatening industry and consumers, and producing calls for a bold energy initiative. Third, there is the stagnation in human capital. During the 20th century, Americans were better educated than the citizens of any other power. Since 1970, that lead has been forfeited, producing inequality and wage stagnation. To compete, the U.S. will require a series of human capital initiatives.

Fourth, there’s financial market reform. In an intricately connected world, even Republican administrations cannot allow big institutions to fail. If government is going to guarantee against failure, then it is inevitably going to get more involved in regulating how businesses are run. Fifth, there’s infrastructure reform. The U.S. transportation system is in shambles and will require major new projects." (1.)

___________________________

1. Dav id Brooks, NYTimes, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/opinion/18brooks.html

Getting Started

What do we mean by Homo faber?

Googling homo faber returns at least three helpful links: 

1. A Google Books link for Homo Faber by Max Frisch. 
2. Inevitably, of course, a Wikipedia page
3. The third, nicely enough, to the International Baccalaureate Organization site on the Middle Years Curriculum.

The fourth link was to a 'classic notes' site designed for students who don't do the work. Though I read through the site and quote them below, I am not sure what I think about such sites, so I decided not to link to them.

Googles lead to googles. It's a law and so somewhere along the way this is where mine arrived.

Technology is the knack of so arranging the world
that we don't have to experience it.
- Max Frisch, Homo Faber

"Technological omnipotence" describes the belief that everything is possible and that technology will allow human beings to control every aspect of their lives.
- Author Unknown, Gradesaver

Homo faber suae quisque fortunae (“Every man is the artifex of his destiny”).
- Appius Claudius Caecus, Sententiæ

• Why and how do we create? What are the consequences? - MYP

Photo Credit: Cogulus