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

Figure 1: A simple model of the complex of histories ‘through’ and ‘against’ which
objects in the field of enquiry emerge (after Lister, Dovey, Giddings, Grant and
Kelly (2003) with the new contribution marked in gray)
This includes the conceptual and technical history of computing, histories of
representation and histories of communication. These are parallel
developments that inform and sometimes overlap this study. However, this
study is more accurately framed in the context of histories of fabrication. In
(Figure 1) the researcher has indicated a possible parallel course for this and
how it might relate to the overall schema of Lister, Dovey, Giddings, Grant and
Kelly’s model. The current study is located in the space between developments
arising out of manufacturing, weaving and mechanical engineering; and CGI
and special effects. It is oriented towards developments in artificial life and
robotics - where physical objects assume autonomy from the people that
designed and made them.
2.2.1 Early developments
In ‘A History of Curves and Surfaces in CAGD’ (Computer Aided Geometric
Design) (Farin, 2002) the earliest use of stored construction geometry in a
manufacturing environment is dated to Roman times. This was in the form of
reusable templates in shipbuilding. In this way a vessel's basic geometry did not
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