The advancement in the field of
robotics has always been a bumpy one. It seems we make some headway
and then stall out for a while. This, however, looks like something
that could push it towards a steady upward growth of innovation in
the field. Using lessons from biology and applying them to robotics
in order to give them a more human range of motion.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/518796/some-robots-are-starting-to-move-more-like-humans/
How about a look at society. In Qatar
there are some startling reports of labor abuse among immigrants.
Not talking about some random construction jobs either, but about the
building of the site for the 2022 World Cup. Everything from seizing
passports, withholding pay and working people until they die. At the
current rate it is predicted the construction will cost the lives of
around 4000 workers. International image at a world event is put
before any number of human lives evidently.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves
Finally there is my favorite for the
week. The slums in Asia Dharavi are home to an estimated one million
people and it generates profits worth around 500 million dollars.
Yes the slums generate a profit of all things. Apparently they
recycle the garbage from the rest of the surrounding city and
craftsman, laborers and other such folks use what they scavenge to
run their own home based mini-factories. Now an architect firm has
proposed a building to house the slums in, allowing room for the
people to continue doing what they are already doing. There is no
ground floor, residents are given 'blocks' of space to build however
they want allowing them some design on their own home/workplace.
Really you just have to read this AND see the amazing blueprints
provided.
http://www.designboom.com/architecture/ugo-architecture-and-design-lets-talk-about-garbage/
See you again next week for three more.
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