John James Marshall thesis.pdf - OpenAIR @ RGU - Robert Gordon ...

Rinaldo’s ‘Autotelematic Spider Bots’ (above) that are robots which can perform
tasks without continuous human assistance 62 .
Figure 39: ‘Kunsthaus Graz’ & ‘BIX’, 2003. Peter Cook & Colin Fournier with
realities:united
Theo Jansen’s ‘Strandbeests’ (Figure 40) are examples of ‘generative’ objects.
These constructions are designed by using genetic algorithms. Jansen uses
software that simulates evolutionary processes to develop multilegged, windpowered,
creature-like structures capable of walking along a beach. These have
been developed iteratively over fifteen years with each generation influencing
the design of the next. Jansen uses plastic electrical conduit to make these
structures but they are ‘bred’ in a computer.
Figure 40: ‘Strandbeest’, 2001. Theo Jansen
The four members of the design collective Front (Sofia Lagerkvist, Charlotte von
der Lancken, Anna Lindgren and Katja Sävström) made ‘Sketch Furniture’
(Figure 41) by recording pen strokes in the air by motion capture and outputting
the results as rapid prototyped objects. These objects are examples of ‘inputdriven’
objects that are defined by their method of production.
62 Except when they run out of battery power before finding their recharge station.
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