3 replies to this topic

[Fenix_]

http://opensourceecology.org/

 

What do you think about this project? Know of anything similar? Can we save planet earth by hacking production?

 

The success story of Linux is a sign of things to come. The Longecity community is also a great example of how open collaboration and information synthesis can benefit people. Now imagine the possibilities of forums like this once production techniques become cheaper due to robotics.

[niner]

It's very cool.  They've been discussed here before, a few years back.  I'm not sure I see the ecology part of what they're doing.  It seems like it's mostly a way to provide the basic technology of civilization at a reasonable cost, but it seems like outfitting an impoverished third world community with these tools would increase their overall impact on the ecosphere.  It would also radically improve their lives, so I'm not opposed to it, I just don't see exactly how ecology fits into it.  I didn't see any details of their powercube, for example, so I don't know how clean it is.   You could use their technology to build micro houses with very small environmental footprints, but you could also use it to build compressed earth brick McMansions.   When people are left to their own devices, they are likely to prefer the McMansion to the microhouse.

 

Along with "Technological Civilization in a Box", the world needs "Governance in a Box"; a set of portable institutions that people could use to build a successful society.   Bad governance holds back much of the world.  (think Zimbabwe)  Of course, as Mao said, "all power comes from the barrel of a gun", so you'd probably need some implements of force to impose good governance on the minority that benefits from the existing regime.

[redFishBlueFish]

I didn't know something like this existed. There is a tech shop in my town with access to high end 3D printers, CRC weldering machine, and laser cutters. I think building a car would be a nifty project.  Not like a kit car, but like the car they show on their website.

Edited by redFishBlueFish, 15 September 2014 - 02:44 AM.

[Fenix_]

I think a 3D printer would be very useful to carve molds for forming plastic parts. The CNC machine shop of course can fabricate metal parts. It seems like most of the work involved will in fact be the programming and modelling.

 

So where to start? Well I guess to contribute to an open source project one would need some prior skills. I am in school to become an electrician right now and I am learning construction techniques and other things such as industrial controls. I understand enough about computers to hopefully hack together some types of controllers. I am thinking about trying to build a facility which could generate and process the raw materials needed to fuel production from biomass including algae, etc. Bioplastics anyone? How about Spirulina for life extention as well

Edited by Fenix_, 15 September 2014 - 03:46 AM.