After an unexpected canceled flight in the afternoon, we re-prepared to head to Jaipur in the evening. The plane headed to Jaipur from Delhi was a propeller-type with a small on-board crew. After a short hour-long flight (and two days of travel), we had finally arrived in the Red City! INK Reps greeted us at the airport, and we departed for the Royal Orchid Hotel, the residence for many of the INK volunteers, attendees and fellows. We were received warmly by the hotel and INK personnel who placed ceremonial red vermillion on our foreheads at the entrance to the hotel.



Image caption: Jaipur bound


Image caption: At Delhi Airport waiting for flight to Jaipur


Image caption: De-boarding propeller plane in Jaipur


Image caption: Ceremonious arrival at hotel for INK


Image caption: Team meeting


Image caption: Feasting! Delicious Indian dinner for INK Conference attendees

Nanotechnology studio coach

"Nanotechnology of Growing Architecture" studio by Dr. Ryan Wartena 9/22/10 Day 3: The NuVu of NANOGA: Dimension, Code and Form Search, Reference and Measure The fruits of yesterday's Library Operation Mission was exercised by a lesson aimed at understanding length scales of atoms, self-assembled nanowires and biological cells. Measurements of characteristic length scales of atomic spacings, crystal lattice constants, nanotube & nanowire diameters and animal cells were made and compared in nanometers, micrometers (microns) and millimeters. Students discussed and understood what their images were and how the images were taken when some of the features are Invisible. We discussed the visible wavelength of light and how crystal characteristic lengths play a part in the color we see and don't see. We discussed Prof. Angela Belcher's method of crystallizing solids from solution using DNA coated organisms and methods of growing patterned carbon nanotubes. Began the pointing game with an example. The wall and the paint was identified as the point of the pointing game and deconstructed to include hydrocarbon polymers and pigments with specific lattice structures determined to be in the 520 nm range. The discussion arose of the mysterious gap between crystal growth as a fundamental mechanism of phase change and biologically directed functional generation. Intentional Seed Design technology was discussed as a methodology of spanning the gap and is the focus of the current NuVuNANOGA Studio. Compiling the Natural Construction Code for Seed Form1 Homework from last night included remembering and generating the Natural Rule Set from individual memory and compile their perspective of the Natural Construction Code for the Seed Form1. This is the result. Please comment with any missing steps. Natural Construction Code for Seed Form1; September 22, 2010 0. Intention Make a 3D, closed structure out of multiple seeds of life 1. Form team of 11 (human, NuVu Nanotechnology and Growing Architecture) students. 2. Give each student 7 or 8 opaque plastic circles of the same size from the recycling plant at the Childrens Museum in Boston, MA. 3. Take 7 or 8 plastic circles and arrange into pattern known as the seed of life. 4. Have each student make 1 or 2 seeds of life for a total of 13. 5. Tape the plastic circles into place. 6. [with choice of construction method]. 7. Start with one persons seed in the center. 8. Go clockwise from there, one person at a time to place. 9. Let each individual decide for themselves the placement of their seed, creatively. 10. New Rule: make 3 balanced legs extruding from center. 11. Add one seed of life at slight curve to cap off on one of the legs. 12. Place one students seeds of life in center of table. 13. Develop skeletal structure of tape, rules determined further in the process. [Perimeter outline utilized and zig-zag shape also utilized] 14. Tape side (with white tape only). 15. When taping do not tape over the table. 16. Do not tape over Lilis flower/seed. 17. Use tape design of choice following crystal pattern. 18. Or, use tape design of choice not following crystal pattern. 19. Flip over. 20. Make sure tape only connects from center of circle to center of circle. 21. Making sure the tape does not touch the table when attached, also known as rule 26 during construction. 22. Fold three ends of shape so that they over lap each other. 23. Tape together. 24. Only overlapping by 1 seed of life at a certain point. 25. String up structure through the big hole on the top, 3 times. 26. Use collaboration and swivel chairs to sting up 3D model. 27. Hang from ceiling. The NANOGA completed the NuVu of Day 3 by making forms from stainless steel wire that fit into a specific sized vessel. They experimented with both circular and crystal-inspired forms. These metal forms will be applied to initial experiments in mixed electrowinning of metal and crystallization on uniquely paired intentional Seed forms. Homework: 1. 11 images of "Processes" and "Growth" 2. 11 types of Growth Processes

Today students started working on their final projects. You can check each student's page

NuVu received attention for its hacked RoboHands in the press and on TV in March. Saeed Arida and our awesome students did a great job in presenting their projects to reporters from VentureBeat and FAST company and to the TV crew from NECN. All these media outlets featured NuVu's 3d printed prosthetic hands.

Christina Farr, a journalist, published her article about NuVu in VentureBeat. It also got picked up in MedCityNews. Additionally, NuVu got featured in FAST; by Ben Schiller. He is FAST's New York based staff writer. Have a look at the pictures of our awesome students in Ben's article. 

Finally, we had a crew from NECN TV filming our students and their projects. Check out the video.

In the process of creating something, anything, the only thing that is expected is the unexpected. Monday morning at the studio began filled with uncertainty: where are we headed? what's the point, really? why are we doing this? The same questions that began the process continued through relentlessly. After a lunch time of conversation and quick brainstorming, the coaches decided on a new plan of action for the day, and the later part of Monday transformed into progressive steps forward. Was it talking about the circumlocutious Monday morning path or deciding on a new course of action that eventually led us to clarity, well, we simply don't know, but what we do know is that we simply had to go down that path nonetheless. Listening to some melodies for inspiration

NuVu coach Raghava KK leads a brainstorming session on creating the storyboard for the first verse

NuVu coach Jeff Marx looks over the twelfth iteration of the lyrics

NuVu coach Adam Steinberg and NuVu student Liam Brady signal the nuanced musical breaks that define the interlude

Jake Scherlis ponders how to visualize the internet superstar parodies for the musical

The music team sings the latest version of the song

Adam and Liam make revisions to the chorus melody

Jeff guides NuVu student Donnell on singing the rap interlude

The unbelievably cool Max/MSP music patch for turning brain waves to music created by NuVu team member Sean Stevens. Yes it's beautiful and functional!

NuVu student Olumide Lucas works on creating the base melody

Anchorwoman Paula Ebben from WBZ (Boston's local CBS station) visited NuVu in January. She filmed a piece with our students on NuVu's approach to education. The story is scheduled to air on February 11th. It will be part of WBZ's 5 pm News show and be featured in "The Future of Boston".

David spent the late morning session explaining how things work. He started with the transistor which is a semiconductor device used to switch electronic signals.

Here is David explaining how the circuit board of Drawdio is put together.

Adam works with Neddy on composing the various songs in the rock mash-up.

An audience of around 200 visitors joined us last Sunday for our Demo Day.  Over 20 student projects were presented from across the Winter "Health" Trimester including DIY low-cost prosthetics, new props for yoga, a sensor-based and ergonomic cane for walking, a sleeping mask for improving memory, a new and improved design for waiting rooms, video games to inspire healthy habits, and a telepresence robot.  Demo Day included short 3-minute pitches from student teams on their innovative products followed by a Q&A session.  Overall, it was an exciting cap to our Winter Health term, and a refreshing experience for students to be able to share their ideas and products with the larger Boston-Cambridge community.

The

Changing Appearances

Exploring the Effects of Changing Appearances by Elias Duncan, Margeaux Nanfeldt, Zoe Sarason