Category Archives: environment
Shaping Things
Bruce Sterling’s take on a plausible future in which everything made has a network address, and therefore a documented and documentable history. He takes this vision to its extreme, showing how it changes everything from design to manufacturing to consumption to disposal of material goods.
Continue reading
Windbelt
It’s bassically a membrane that vibrates when wind passes across it, causing it to move a pair of magnets in a coil, which then generates electricity. Though it doesn’t generate a lot of power, it could be used effectively to power remote sensors or small indicators that currently run on battery power, relatively cheaply.
Continue reading
Artist-designed Recycling Bins
They’re eye-catching, but I wonder how many people understand that they’re specifically recycling bins. I guess there’s a trade-off there — they may generate more mistakes, but if they collect more recyclable goods, the error is worthwhile.
Continue reading
Conscious Goods Alliance on the road
Megan MacMurray’s off on a bus tour of the US with Conscious Goods Alliance, to talk to people across the nation about alternative fuels, but consumerism, product labeling, agricultural practices, sustainable materials, and the products that are sponsoring the tour. She’ll be making video blogs of the whole trip, online at Official Bufanda (I am still confused as to what a bufanda is and how one becomes official).She’s looking in particular to interview experts in biodiesel, auto-mechanics, wind power, solar power, hydropower, organic/local/sustainable agriculture, corporate agriculture, GMO’s, hybridization and building materials – focusing on the value of unbiased but informed opinions.
Continue reading
A Public Inconvenience
What do we miss by ignoring the factthat public toilets are also the site for a variety of socialpractices?’A Public Inconvenience’ will explore the experience and affect ofpublic toilets in an urban environment, in this case Amsterdam.Through observation and engagement we will consider how public toiletsare shaped by, and themselves shape, cultural practices, values, andattitudes…. That is, the placesand times that are often on the periphery of everyday life – thejourney to work or the time spent queuing in a shop.To be considered for participation, researchers and practitioners areinvited to send us a compelling public toilet story (see The Storiessection of the website for inspiration), an optional toiletphotograph, a brief biography, and a short rationale outlining yourinterest in the workshop.
Continue reading
Civil Technologies: The Values of Nonprofit ICT Use
There’s a new report out from the Social Science Research Council’s Information Technology and International Cooperation program, “Civil Technologies: The Values of Nonprofit ICT Use,” by Ken Jordan and Mark Surman with funding from the Ford Foundation. This report is the last in a series of three major reports on the Internet, governance and civil society that were published by the ITIC program.The report “explores exemplary instances of nonprofit ICT adoption by civil society groups from around the world, and draws attention to ways the values of civil society are reinforced and extended through their use of digital tools.
Continue reading
Environmental Leadership Program
The Environmental Leadership Program is an organization dedicated to the development of new leadership talent in environmental research and development. They “nurture a new generation of environmental leadership characterized by diversity, innovation, collaboration, and effective communications…”
Continue reading
DIY Solar Electricity projects
Biodesign.org.uk has some good notes on making your own solar electricity projects. They make projects for use in developing countries, with examples. Continue reading
Public Air Quality Indicator
The public air quality indicator is a public display that indicates the quality of the air in a city. It’s highly localized, and a good example of an ambient display that has some practical use. The details of its construction are online and openly available as well Continue reading
Design for sustainability
A guide to sustainability in design, from Goldsmith’s college, London. Covers materials, products, principles, concepts, and environmental issues. Continue reading