We have established the fact that technology is becoming an increasing influence on the evolution of the urban landscape. Therefore, i delved deep into some research regarding new and upcoming technologies in order to find some inspirational, social redirecting, civilisation altering, ingenious device. Little did i know, however, that apparently the rest of the world is doing the same, and the internet is littered with device promotional websites.
Though there were so many magnificent and ingenious devices, i failed to be inspired by a device which i felt confident would be adopted extensively in the future. However, there seemed to be a reccuring theme amongst most of the devices and that was, alternative energy. Most devices were being powered by kinetic energy. After a constructive discussion with some collegues, we predicted our own device. A kinetic energy generator battery. the battery/generator will be very small (as i have seen in my research) and will be a 'one size fits all' battery replacement for all popular personal gadgets such as the mobile phone or mp3 player, and even common household devices such as the torch, fans, speakers...etc. The generator charges by movement and so can be charged whilst you walk, jog, excercise or possibly doing household chores. In this way, it promotes a very active lifestyle which will be its greatest appeal considering society's steep downward spiral toward obesity.
This generator will save a lot of needlessly wasted energy. household appliances which stay plugged into the electricity sockets and especially conventional battery charges, consume a tremendous amount of energy just by being powered, regardless of whether they are actually being used or not. It will also give people a reason to become active other than health and will probably be more effective because results will show in minutes rather than months. This will have a significant effect on the current social and cultural conditions of the city which, in turn, which result in formal transformations.
The initial and greatest benefit will be the large amount of power conservation which will occur, with people not only powering their devices with renewable energy, but easing society's complete reluctance to avoid the motor vehicle. This will have a great economical effect on the authorities as well as the individual. The economical benefit will become the greatest consumer appeal. With so many people deciding to charge their kinetic generator, and become healthy and fit in the meantime, the amount of people using the city for walks and exercise will vastly increase, resulting in a need for pedestrian priority over vehicle. Therefore footpaths will widen, and cars will require zebra crossings in order to stop the people and safely cross their ranks. Also, bicycles will increase in (its already increasing) popularity and therefore much more provisions for bicycles, such as racks and parking stations, will be required. The existing green spaces (Hyde, Cook and Phillip, The Domain) will become popular social gathering spots. People in medium/high density residential buildings will be required to walk their generators and so, in the most progressive new cultural development in Australia since the invention of the Hills Hoist, a buildings common areas will become an effective meeting place where people will actually meet and converse with their neighbours..... which could possibly lead to a general alleviation of fear of non- english speaking Australians (theres the politics!).
And so, society adopts and adapts to a social, cultural, economical and political change as a result of a simple device.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Moosh
You have brought forward many intresting topics and concerns which will inevitably face in the future both as professionals and citizens.
Yes we did come up with an intresting device (kinetic charged generator battery), which co-insides with my futurologist Richard Register’s hopes and dreams and predictions. Just to give you a quick insite here is a quick snipet from an interview Richard was in. “An ecocity is an ecologically healhy city. That also means the city design is strongly informed by knowledge of ecology and its design principles. The (anatomy analogy) in very instructional in the enterprise of trying to build ecologically healthy cities. As in living organisms with different functions arraged close to one another in an appropriate spatial relationship, so too for cities.
Although I am an avid supporter of Richards optimism, and the utopian scenario you described on your first post “This will have a great…..English speaking Australians”, I wouldn’t hold my breath. I personally believe that the imdeiate future is bleak and only through social/cultural and economic hardships will the authorities step back and actually plan and set out blueprints for a green city.
Yes, we are becoming more aware of depleting natural resources, but do you see any drastic changes?
The Sydney City 2030 plan will not be dominated by a new breed of Tree-hugging developers nor a single device that will alter the course of the city into a special mould. What I do see is a driving technology that will change the way in which we as humans will behave, both socially, culturally and spiritually. This phenomemun is the WIRELESS technology.
Face value, wireless technology seems very convientient and essential to the modern savy. Come 2030 inevitably most of the population will be connected by wireless. How is this significant? Well think about it, the economy will definitely benefit short term, but long term what will be the social and cultural implications? Below is a small extract by Geoffrey Bowker of Santa Clara University
“The eroding distinction between work and play is one of the many paradoxes at the heart of our increasingly wireless world. This is always the case with new technology. Often the effects are paradoxical. The overall upside is that we can maintain a rich social and cultural life while dashing from pillar to post. The overall downside is that our spiritual development-which requires empty time, contemplation-is suffering enormously.
Security willa also become a major factor in future plans. Mobile tracking will be unparralled, connecting and tracking people at an ease of a button. Behavioural patterns of the citizens will change as well as there lifestyle in extreme cases. Dividing the line between work and play will be a major issue, certain controls need to be implemented on a personal level.
In regards to present futureologist and there predictions, below is a link from a futureologist in the 60's predicting the year 2000. I found it very amusing.
Post a Comment