Tuesday, March 13, 2012

New ideas

     This week, I would like to discuss two more biomimicry and IE (Industrial Ecology) ideas that would make a big difference in the way that buildings and companies impact the environment.  These two ideas are using morphotex (as discussed by Bradley Quinn in Textile Futures) for interior finishes such as fabric for furniture or curtains.  And the second idea is to use digital technology instead of paints and materials that can off gas or contain VOC's (volatile organic chemicals).
     The first concept is to use morphotex instead of regular fabric for interior finishes.  Morphotex as described by Bradley Quinn is a textile that does not contain any pigments, but instead consists of microscopic scales that reflect light in a manner similar to a photonic crystal (which angles and refracts light in a way that reflects blue wavelengths found in ambient light).  By using this technology, people would not have to worry about their expensive textiles fading in the sunlight or using large amounts of energy to dye this fabric or manufacture it.
     The second concept is to use digital technology in place of finishes like paint to create a desired atmosphere for a space.  The use of LED (Light Emitting Diode) and fiberoptic technology has greatly expanded the possibilities of the use of light.  Instead of using products like paint or wallcoverings to create a desired atmosphere, people can use glass display screens to project their desired image onto a surface.  The great thing about this technology is that it can easily be changed without having to use more physical material to change it.  There is a great video that I came across while researching this amazing technology that I would like to share.  The video is called "A Day made of Glass" and it is made by Corning. The video is attached.
     This product is currently being tested by organizations like NASA for uses in deep space and by other organizations.  I believe that by using products like these, it will create a vision for a sustainable future and help guide us in the beginning steps of getting there.

7 comments:

  1. Great ideas this week, Jamie! I like the concept of LED lighting in place of paint. Do you think consumers will get bored with only using morphotex? Could there be any other way to make the fabric different or will it always look the same?

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    1. Hi Lindsey, I'm pretty sure that morphotex refracts whatever light waves are projected onto it, so it can be a multitude of colors. I think it is also possible to have some kind of patterning on the morphotex in order to project a specific pattern.

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  2. Great job this week! Your ideas are well thought-out. You have a very creative blog which makes it entertaining for your readers. Nice job incorporating a video in your blog to better explain your ideas!

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  3. Jamie, I like that your blogs have some technicality to them each week. I learn something about the interior industry as I read, not just about sustainability. I think I good commercial use for the projections would be in resteraunts or hotels where large numbers of people could see them and then desire to incorporate it into their own homes. Do you see this actually becoming a trade off consumers are willing to make?

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    1. Hi Brittney, technology based interior design is what I am really hoping to go in to for my career. I am just finding it difficult to find architecture/interior design firms that specialize in that type of design. I see it as something that has the potential to take off, once consumers see it in use in other spaces. Overall, it is cheaper than physical materials and much easier to change without having to put much labor into it. I believe it will become a big part of our future.

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  4. Hi Jamie! Great blog, I enjoyed your ideas! I also like that you added a video to support your idea!

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