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[Lysabild]

But I went to all the effort of making it rainbow style!

If it will taste anything like rainbow ice, I will not be impressed D:

[Nadaka]

Home made fish taco's.

[Solifuge]

I just discovered the Open Source Ecology project. They're building a sustainable model for global civilizations from the ground up, using a kit of practical, modular, and highly functional machines that can provide all the infrastructure and comforts of modern civilization, in sustainable forms... and the tools are being designed through collaboration with engineers all over the world, with completely free and openly accessible blueprints.

This is a pretty big deal, and I mean a pretty big deal on a Humanity-Wide scale. In other news, I think I've just found myself a career-direction.

[Levi]

I just discovered the Open Source Ecology project. They're building a sustainable model for global civilizations from the ground up, using a kit of practical, modular, and highly functional machines that can provide all the infrastructure and comforts of modern civilization, in sustainable forms... and the tools are being designed through collaboration with engineers all over the world, with completely free and openly accessible blueprints.

This is a pretty big deal, and I mean a pretty big deal on a Humanity-Wide scale. In other news, I think I've just found myself a career-direction.

Yeah, they are pretty cool!  I like how they are trying to make all the machines modular.

I'm not convinced of some of their resource gathering machines though.  Not everywhere has access to iron or clay, so I'm not sure if they are going to have fall back ideas.

[Pnx]

So they're building a house out of compressed clay? What happens when it rains? In fact, how well does the stuff like the power cube hold up in wet weather? Will you have issues with mold and insects/burrowing creatures?

[Tellemurius]

So they're building a house out of compressed clay? What happens when it rains? In fact, how well does the stuff like the power cube hold up in wet weather? Will you have issues with mold and insects/burrowing creatures?

When you compress clay down to those bricks they can withstand alot of rain. guys there was a thread made for this some weeks ago go find it as i think you will find a boatload of more info.

[Solifuge]

Apparently TED picked up on this project too. Very exciting, very cool stuff!

I'm not convinced of some of their resource gathering machines though.  Not everywhere has access to iron or clay, so I'm not sure if they are going to have fall back ideas.

No machine can provide a resource when the building blocks just aren't available. That's what trade and other social institutions are for. This is just about proving that you can build sustainable civilizations with modern comforts and technologies, even in areas that have no infrastructure whatsoever... and sharing that with the world, much like we share open-source art and ideas. It's about thinking as a planet, instead of as countries and provinces. Sounds melodramatic, but it Really Is That Big.

Also, yeah, Compressed Earth is not unlike stone or concrete. If you're worried about how it holds up over time, take a look at this:

Spoiler: Image Time (click to show/hide)

This fortress in China is made of crudely compressed Earth, has been completely exposed to wind and weather, and has received no maintenance for 2000 years. If Genghis Khan's army rose from the dead and invaded the area today, the locals could still use it as a watchtower and fortification. Now, think of the condition of some of the oldest homes in your local area, made of wood, metal, concrete, and so on... and how they stand up after even 1% of that time, even while receiving maintenance.

[Descan]

Most of the homes here weren't even built 20-30 years ago, and they're falling apart...

[Truean]

Apparently TED picked up on this project too. Very exciting, very cool stuff!

I'm not convinced of some of their resource gathering machines though.  Not everywhere has access to iron or clay, so I'm not sure if they are going to have fall back ideas.

No machine can provide a resource when the building blocks just aren't available. That's what trade and other social institutions are for. This is just about proving that you can build sustainable civilizations with modern comforts and technologies, even in areas that have no infrastructure whatsoever... and sharing that with the world, much like we share open-source art and ideas. It's about thinking as a planet, instead of as countries and provinces. Sounds melodramatic, but it Really Is That Big.

Also, yeah, Compressed Earth is not unlike stone or concrete. If you're worried about how it holds up over time, take a look at this:

Spoiler: Image Time (click to show/hide)

This fortress in China is made of crudely compressed Earth, has been completely exposed to wind and weather, and has received no maintenance for 2000 years. If Genghis Khan's army rose from the dead and invaded the area today, the locals could still use it as a watchtower and fortification. Now, think of the condition of some of the oldest homes in your local area, made of wood, metal, concrete, and so on... and how they stand up after even 1% of that time, even while receiving maintenance.

Now imagine if you threw some steel supports and concrete into that compressed earth....

[Max White]

I'm seeing it as being stronger, but even steel rusts sooner or later. Not as strong, but the entire structure is chemically innate.

[SirAaronIII]

I read Kaiji. So much filler. I mean they spend like more than 3 volumes on one game of pachinko (it was really intense), all filled with really funny faces expressing surprise and amazements. UWOOOOOOOH?!


zawa

[Descan]

I think the point isn't to make a monument to stand the tests of time. Just a home. Steel'll rust, yeah, but if it's in a place with tropical hurricanes or floods, you need all the strength you can get.

I think one of those machines can make steel. Probably. Or will be able to eventually.

[Max White]

You would benefit a lot more from being your homes low and flat than to spend time and effort making a steel works.

[Descan]

The whole point is to give you the modern comforts, even in places with little-to-no infrastructure.

Steel is part of modern comforts.

So... Why not use it to strengthen your house?

It's the -machinery- for modern living, not the designs of homes and architecture plans. It gives people the tools, not a cookie-cutter design. Let 'em build however is best for their situation.

[Max White]

I thought the entire point was to get some basic industry up to scratch so what you could produce crops, clothing, shelter, and maybe have something to trade for medical supplies.