The W. Ross Ashby Digital Archive
A PHENOMENAL treasure trove: journals, letters, references…
Including: http://www.rossashby.info/journal/index/thumbs/nirvanophilia.html
4 years ago • 1 note
December 7, 2008
September 10, 2008
August 6, 2008
The Algorithmic Beauty of Seaweeds, Sponges and Corals
From the abstract:
This book gives a state-of-the-art overview of modeling growth and form of marine sessile organisms - such as stromatolites, algae, and metazoans including stony corals, hydrocorals, octocorals, and sponges -, using large-scale computing techniques, scientific visualization, methods for analyzing 2D and 3D forms, and particle-based modeling techniques. It originates from the workshop on Modeling Growth and Form of Marine Sessile Organisms, held at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, California, August 1999. Experts from various disciplines including developmental biology, ecology, computer science, physics and mathematics, who have research interests in modeling the development of these organisms have been invited to contribute.
The book describes all the steps required to develop and experimentally validate morphological models including collecting biological information and methods for specifying and comparing forms. Examples are given of how models are currently being applied to simulate growth and form of marine sessile organisms. Potential applications of growth models and morphological analyses in modern and paleo-bio-monitoring, the detection of environmental change, and the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems and aquaculture are addressed. The combination of simulation models with laboratory and field experiments provides a powerful tool to obtain insights on how the growth forms of marine organisms emerge from physical, genetic and environmental influences.
Abstract available here:
and animations here:
Find it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/3540677003/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
4 years ago • 0 notes
July 31, 2008
Quick mix of photos from setup of Primal Source for Glow 08, in Santa Monica, California, July 2008.haque.co.uk/primalsource.php
4 years ago • 0 notes
May 29, 2008
Rewriting the city…..
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU on Vimeo (via Vimeo)
5 years ago • 0 notes
May 28, 2008
March 11, 2008
February 14, 2008
February 12, 2008
Frayne’s device consists of a flat, taut membrane that flutters within its housing as air passes through it. At each end of the membrane are magnets that oscillate between metal coils as the band flutters, effectively creating an electric charge. According to the 28-year-old Frayne, prototypes of the Windbelt have generated 40 milliwatts in 10-mph slivers of wind, making his device 10 to 30 times as efficient as the best microturbines.
video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1214137061?bctid=1233395616
5 years ago • 0 notes
Submersible Robot Runs on Sea’s Heat | LiveScience
To power its propulsion, the submersible gathers thermal energy from the ocean. When it moves from cooler water to warmer areas, internal tubes of wax are heated up and expand, pushing out the gas in surrounding tanks and increasing its pressure. The compressed gas stores potential energy, like a squeezed spring, that can be used to power the vehicle.
5 years ago • 0 notes
February 10, 2008
Dehumidifier - Wikipedia
Water collected from any dehumidifier is technically distilled water in that it does contain few of the minerals and other particulates that are removed in a true distillation process.
