Sustainable Design - Week 2 (tri 2)

In today's lecture on sustainable design, I was intrigued by the idea of recycling plastic bottles into filament for 3D printing. Typically, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are used for this process. Of course, the bottles must be thoroughly cleaned before recycling. I found this sustainable method of making filament very useful, since 3D printed prototypes are commonly used to initially test projects - something I have considered trying myself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yIe1Pp_Nrg

Shower Loop

Shower Loop, solar powered shower! Its weird and unappealing design really caught my eye during todays lecture. It almost looks like it was made out of skin? I'd like to imagine an upcoming horror movie starring Shower Loop in it's main role.

Aside from its strange design choices, Shower Loop is a great idea! An eco-friendly shower system designed to significantly reduce water consumption and energy usage. it is a great example of innovative technology being used to address sustainability. I believe Shower Loop is a perfect example of sustainability and innovation!

Anatomy of an AI System

We were assigned to have a read through an essay titled "Anatomy of an AI System" by Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler. Their essay explores the behind the scenes of AI technology, using the Amazon Echo as an example.

The authors start by discussing the physical components of the Echo, the rare earth minerals and the intensive manufacturing process involved. It's a reminder of the hard human labour that goes into the makings of technology, which is not always as pretty as it seems.

Additionally, they explore the Echo's data collection and processing capabilities. The amounts of personal data the Echo gathers and the power required to analyse it. It's carbon footprint is quite terrifying when you think about it. But it's not just about the technology itself - the essay also addresses the environmental and social implications. The Echo's energy consumption, e-waste, and questions of privacy.

They challenge people to look beyond the surface of todays tech and consider the broader impacts of AI technology on our world. Overall, it was an interesting read that made me consider - is it really worth it?