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- | ==== Context ==== | + | |
+ | {{man.jpg|man.jpg}} | ||
+ | Picture from: Le Portefeuille Industriel, a collection of technical drawings from Musée des Arts et Métiers. | ||
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- | == introduction. == | + | ==== Introduction. ==== |
+ | == Engaging climate change. == | ||
In 2006 Foam shifted its general direction to include Luminous Green strategies of: | In 2006 Foam shifted its general direction to include Luminous Green strategies of: | ||
* environmental sustainability | * environmental sustainability | ||
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The Tsunamipants project surfaced from this shift as an attempt to address these issues in an engaging way. | The Tsunamipants project surfaced from this shift as an attempt to address these issues in an engaging way. | ||
- | How do you relate to a Global crises in a way that is not demotivating? | + | How do you relate to a Global crises in a way that is not demotivating? |
The Tsunamipants project shows the traps that are hidden in responding to problems by coming up with solutions that are built within the limits of the problem. This invariably creates new versions of the same problem, it doesn' | The Tsunamipants project shows the traps that are hidden in responding to problems by coming up with solutions that are built within the limits of the problem. This invariably creates new versions of the same problem, it doesn' | ||
- | That is the tragedy in which the inventor Martin Brolin is caught in the Tsunamipants project. Martin engages the extreme weather conditions that are associated with future climate changes and tries to engineer his way out-off | + | That is the tragedy in which the inventor |
- | * brief summary of the cultural/ | + | |
- | == Climate Change. == | + | |
- | This research was undertaken in the middle of the Climate Change debate. A seminal event that shapes the discussions in this topic was Al Gore's documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth.' | + | |
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+ | ==== Context ==== | ||
+ | == Inconvenience. == | ||
+ | This research was undertaken in the middle of the Climate Change debate. A seminal event that shapes the discussions in this topic was Al Gore's documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth.' | ||
What adds to the feelings of despair around these issues is the complicated nature of environmental and social problems and solutions. There are seemingly endless secondary effects and influences hidden beneath the surface of discussions. | What adds to the feelings of despair around these issues is the complicated nature of environmental and social problems and solutions. There are seemingly endless secondary effects and influences hidden beneath the surface of discussions. | ||
== Cultural Pessimism. == | == Cultural Pessimism. == | ||
- | I would say that the current nervous tension that is aroused by Climate Change discussions may have one beneficial effect. It may alleviate what Theodore Dalrymple describes as the ' | + | I would say that the current nervous tension that is aroused by Climate Change discussions may have one beneficial effect. It may alleviate what Theodore Dalrymple describes as the ' |
- | The unstable climate brings uncertain futures, which forces us to rethink our lives. This clashes with the 20th century phenomenon of José Ortega y Gasset' | + | If we want to look at sustainable ways of living we should look at the lowest classes in society. I suspect the higher classes have been living in unsustainable patterns for longer. |
- | + | ||
- | Recently some advocates of change based on positive arguments have become more visible such as the ' | + | |
- | * brief summary | + | == Positive change. == |
+ | Recently some advocates | ||
- | == Society and risk. == | + | == Tsunamipants applied in a society of risks. == |
- | Western society has put increasing efforts into the elimination of risk. Populations are kept safe by systems of regulations, | + | Western society has put increasing efforts into the elimination of risk. Populations are kept safe by systems of regulations, |
- | The elimination of risk can slow down society when attention goes only to possible negative out-comes. This is the Precautionary Principle, it says, in essence, 'when in doubt, don' | + | == Precautionary principle. == |
+ | The elimination of risk can slow down society when attention goes only to possible negative out-comes. This is the Precautionary Principle, it says, in essence, 'when in doubt, don' | ||
+ | == Social risk positions. == | ||
Ulrich Beck has discerned two main types of risks: | Ulrich Beck has discerned two main types of risks: | ||
- | -external risks: natural disasters. | + | * external risks: natural disasters. |
- | -manufactured risks: technological disasters. | + | |
He suggests people have ' | He suggests people have ' | ||
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Douglas and Wildavsky' | Douglas and Wildavsky' | ||
- | Hierarchists, | + | * Hierarchists, |
- | Egalitarians, | + | |
- | Individualists, | + | |
- | Fatalists, who feel it is all inevitable. | + | |
+ | == International organisations. == | ||
Switzerland has even formed an International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) | Switzerland has even formed an International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) | ||
'The IRGC is an independent organisation whose purpose is to help the understanding and management of emerging global risks that have impacts on human health and safety, the environment, | 'The IRGC is an independent organisation whose purpose is to help the understanding and management of emerging global risks that have impacts on human health and safety, the environment, | ||
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== The myth of happiness. == | == The myth of happiness. == | ||
- | Just as at the court of Louis the 14th introversion was unthinkable, | + | Just as at the court of Louis the 14th introversion was unthinkable, |
- | * description of how the work relates to other works in the field of inquiry. | + | Martin Brolin exemplifies |
- | + | ||
- | [[Tsunami Pants]] | + | |
+ | == Related projects. == | ||
+ | [[Tsunami Pants]] is embedded in the European tradition of the drawn narrative. There is a long tradition of mad-scientist and eccentric inventors in fiction. There are other art and design projects, that tackle the same problem.\\ | ||
+ | Some are closely related, use humor like: | ||
+ | * The Yesmen, made the survivaball. | ||
+ | * Troy Hurtubise, made the Grizzly and Troyan suits. | ||
+ | Others are more loosely related, and serious like: | ||
+ | * Adam Whinton and Yolita Nugent' | ||
+ | * Intercative clothes by, XS-lab, Despina and Papadopoulos or Hussein Chalayan. | ||
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- | * concise summary of the problem domain/s that the research explores, or the specific aims of the research undertaken. | + | == The problem domain.== |
Since last year (2006) FoAM is adapting to a working method and living method that reduces our negative impact on living conditions for life on Earth. We are aware of the great need for this to happen, not just for members of our organization but for society as a whole. We would like to activate others to reduce their damage to the biosphere and society too. So at some point, and it has already arrived, our organization is going to communicate about issues concerning these environmental and social crises. | Since last year (2006) FoAM is adapting to a working method and living method that reduces our negative impact on living conditions for life on Earth. We are aware of the great need for this to happen, not just for members of our organization but for society as a whole. We would like to activate others to reduce their damage to the biosphere and society too. So at some point, and it has already arrived, our organization is going to communicate about issues concerning these environmental and social crises. | ||
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My aim is to show the ridiculous way in which we sometimes go about constructing solutions for climate-change problems. Martin Brolin is created to explore a way of engaging with this crisis in an uplifting way, by showing just such flawed design-strategies. | My aim is to show the ridiculous way in which we sometimes go about constructing solutions for climate-change problems. Martin Brolin is created to explore a way of engaging with this crisis in an uplifting way, by showing just such flawed design-strategies. | ||
- | Saint Francis of Assisi. | + | |
- | Giving environmental problems a direct physical presence for people is one of the great obstacles within the debate. Things happen too slow to see and feel, but extreme weather that is associated with climate change is very tangible. Although it is too big to bring to peoples physical reality, like Saint Francis of Assisi often did, extreme weather suits the ' | + | |
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* if the actual outcomes are different than the expected outcome, the reasons for this should be explained in the " | * if the actual outcomes are different than the expected outcome, the reasons for this should be explained in the " | ||
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- | * concise description of the way the research will be (has been) developed from establishing the problem definition to the final results | + | == Designing Tsunamipants, |
The first step to design portable safety technology for natural disasters is to make a full list of these horrors. From this the first opportunities for design become apparent. This can be complemented by a list of controversial technologies, | The first step to design portable safety technology for natural disasters is to make a full list of these horrors. From this the first opportunities for design become apparent. This can be complemented by a list of controversial technologies, | ||
Making a collection of historic and current solutions in wearable safety systems, gives a greater scope of possibilities in this field. | Making a collection of historic and current solutions in wearable safety systems, gives a greater scope of possibilities in this field. | ||
+ | == Designing Martin Brolin. == | ||
+ | The narrative structure of this research hinted at the value of having a central character. While driving to the supermarket, | ||
+ | Martin should be European, because of the Christian flavouring of the Climate change debate so I chose Sweden. The unforbidding natural forces that shape that country would also shape the right kind of mental state for my survival engineer. In retrospect it is remarkable to see that for tackling the issues connected with the changing climate, I designed a suffering man in his thirties with long hair. The Christian imagery must have been playing in the back-ground. | ||
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+ | == Justification of the methodology, | ||
+ | One person in particular inspired me to design these strange contraptions; | ||
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+ | Giving environmental problems a direct physical presence for people is one of the great obstacles within the debate. Things happen too slow to see and feel, but extreme weather that is associated with climate change is very tangible. Although it is too big to bring to peoples physical reality, like Saint Francis of Assisi often did, tsunamipants resemble the ' | ||
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+ | == DIY culture. == | ||
+ | There are great results to be gained from direct action. This was shown by Srinivasan Soundara Rajan and Marko Peljhan at the Luminous Green symposium and by Suprabha Seshan at the Hands-on Change symposium. ((luminousgreen.org)) The Tsunamipants research project tapps into this tradition and hopefully with the same infectious enthusiasm. | ||
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+ | == Case study. == | ||
+ | I made one case study by following the events around a particularly violent storm on January 18, 2007 in the Netherlands.\\ | ||
+ | [[Storm]] | ||
- | * justification of the methodology | ||
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==== Solution/ | ==== Solution/ | ||
- | == Working process == | + | == Working process |
+ | |||
+ | This research gave me a much richer picture of meteorology, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The list of weather catastrophes: | ||
+ | * hurricanes / tornadoes | ||
+ | * storms | ||
+ | * thunderstorms and lightning | ||
+ | * snowstorms | ||
+ | * sandstorms | ||
+ | * extreme hydroliths, like giant hailstones | ||
+ | * avalanches | ||
+ | * landslides | ||
+ | * mud-streams | ||
+ | * lavastreams | ||
+ | * earth-quakes and tremors | ||
+ | * flooding | ||
+ | * tsunamis | ||
+ | * drought | ||
+ | * smoke and ash | ||
+ | * mist | ||
+ | |||
+ | How they hurt: | ||
+ | * overheating / sunstroke | ||
+ | * hypothermia / frostbite | ||
+ | * UV-damage | ||
+ | * dehydration | ||
+ | * drowning | ||
+ | * falling through ice | ||
+ | * hunger | ||
+ | * and the various diseases that move trough refugee camps. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Urban dangers: | ||
+ | * gas-leaks | ||
+ | * fire | ||
+ | * power-failure | ||
+ | * falling power-cables | ||
+ | * collapsing structures and large things falling over | ||
+ | * panicking masses | ||
+ | |||
+ | Positive side-effects: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * these horrors may result in Leapfrogging effects for the regions or nations affected. | ||
+ | * many superheroes got their power in accidents so this might create opportunities for those supernaturally inclined. | ||
What became apparent during the Tsunamipants project is the constant need for new angles. The first design was for a piece of clothing that can help to survive a disaster; the Tsunamipants. You can go on creating more designs for clothing, but the novelty wears off soon. So I moved to SUV-s with the Inflatable-hummer, | What became apparent during the Tsunamipants project is the constant need for new angles. The first design was for a piece of clothing that can help to survive a disaster; the Tsunamipants. You can go on creating more designs for clothing, but the novelty wears off soon. So I moved to SUV-s with the Inflatable-hummer, | ||
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Forming a collection of portable safety technologies became a very rich soil from which to work. It started out as a research into historical armour and current-day sports and military armour. This developed into many separate categories: | Forming a collection of portable safety technologies became a very rich soil from which to work. It started out as a research into historical armour and current-day sports and military armour. This developed into many separate categories: | ||
- | ------- | + | |
- | In safety design inflatable techniques are used abundantly. As a result of this my research started to connect to research done by Cocky Eek who has investigated inflatable technology and design. | + | |
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+ | == Protective Suits. == | ||
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+ | * [[Historic Armor]] > safety in the ancient world. | ||
+ | * [[Collision Impact]] > in case of things crashing into you in hurricanes etc. | ||
+ | * [[Biohazard Disease]] > can be useful in the aftermath of disasters. | ||
+ | * [[Heat Cold]] and UV-damage > when you're caught in strange temperatures. | ||
+ | * [[ExoSkeletons]] > for getting out-off rubble-heaps etc. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Accessories. == | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Footware]] > these boots are made for.. all kinds of things. | ||
+ | * [[Special Gloves]] > keep those fingers crossed. | ||
+ | * [[Head Protection]] > how to keep your head from falling off or rotting away. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Tools. == | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Emergency Storage]] > pretty amazing tools for any emergency. | ||
+ | * [[Emergency Signals]] > communication and getting noticed. | ||
+ | * [[Aquatic tools]] > heavy duty water assistance. | ||
+ | * [[Escape tools]] > getting out. | ||
+ | * [[Medical Aids]] > hackable medical devices. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Special transport. == | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[Adapted Transport]] > vehicles to get you out of trouble. | ||
+ | * [[Remotely Operated Vehicles]] > going to the places you don't want to go. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In safety design inflatable techniques are used abundantly. As a result of this my research started to connect to research done by Cocky Eek who has investigated inflatable technology and design. | ||
My basic conclusion for the hierarchy of risks for humans is based on the volumes of products on the market, not by absolute figures or by value but just by seeing what is most abundant in use or on offer physically and digitally. And the hierarchy is as follows: | My basic conclusion for the hierarchy of risks for humans is based on the volumes of products on the market, not by absolute figures or by value but just by seeing what is most abundant in use or on offer physically and digitally. And the hierarchy is as follows: | ||
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* Drowning: and other water related risks are very big business for offshore and recreational purposes. | * Drowning: and other water related risks are very big business for offshore and recreational purposes. | ||
- | During the research I got more into cultural history and current philosophy. | ||
- | //concise description of the actual outcomes of the research// | ||
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* comparison of the expected and the actual results | * comparison of the expected and the actual results | ||
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* suggestions and comments on the research process and its results | * suggestions and comments on the research process and its results | ||
- | * description and suggestions around the collaboration process (if applicable) | + | |
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* suggestions for the future work based on the conclusions of the research | * suggestions for the future work based on the conclusions of the research | ||
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+ | The design of Martin with a bad haircut, slightly overweight and big was intended to place him as a very ordinary guy. But some members of the public have commented that they found it difficult to feel sympathy for him. During the process Martin sometimes devolved somewhat into a bum. He sometimes became more of a caricature, this was largely due to the style of drawing that was applied and the scale of working. | ||
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+ | The public responded well to presentations. Finding unlikely combinations, | ||
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==== References ==== | ==== References ==== | ||
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- | * media used in the research | + | == Media used in the research. == |
On the Net: | On the Net: | ||
+ | * many dozens of cites had wonderful designs and pictures, they are documented in the [[survival engineering]] collection. | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
Wikipedia: | Wikipedia: | ||
* http:// | * http:// | ||
* http:// | * http:// | ||
- | |||
- | * http:// | ||
- | * http:// | ||
- | * http:// | ||
- | * http:// | ||
Books and magazines: | Books and magazines: | ||
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* How should we then live?, Francis A. Schaeffer | * How should we then live?, Francis A. Schaeffer | ||
* Nexus #44 #46 #47 http:// | * Nexus #44 #46 #47 http:// | ||
+ | * Le Portefeuille Industriel, a collection of technical drawings from Musée des Arts et Métiers. | ||
- | | + | Lectures: |
+ | | ||
+ | * Paradiso, on Climate Change by Pier Vellinga, one of the founders of the IPCC. http:// | ||
+ | * BBC 2, Civilization, | ||
- | * visual/ | + | == Material |