Fourth Dimension: Digital Communication Technology Essay

The speaker, Carla Diana, gave a talk on 'designing on the fourth dimension.' She focused on how we can realize visions for smart objects and the internet of things. These objects range from domestic robots, kitchen appliances, and wearable devices. The speaker argued that the fourth dimension is time. Carl Diana has started a 4D design program at Cranbrook where they are focused on exploring critical questions about the world around us through creative applications of emerging technology. The design ranges from augmented reality to applied robotics, and 3D printing and the essence of it is around products and experience that are responsive. According to Carla, the common thread in all these things will be the ability to change over time through natural behaviors such as light patterns, dynamic display, motion, and sound. This is the foundation of design in the fourth dimension.

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Carla talked of her passion for 4D design that is reflected in her appointment to create the 4D Design program at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has worked at the product innovation firm Smart Design and was Advisor to the group Tomorrow Lab, a small sized firm that creates electro-mechanical solutions for smart devices. Some of the devices she presented and talked of include Neato floor cleaning robot, xBlocks Mixed Reality Play Platform, LoSai Clever Coat Rack among others.

The products are commendable as they solve on overlooked tasks. Moreover, they seek to simplify activities. For example, the Moxi is a robot that takes care of non-patient related activities such as assembling kits and fetching supplies. The LoSai Clever Coat Rack spare you the time and energy of checking on your phone for weather pattern by displaying the weather today at coat rack hence advising you on what to wear.

As a designer, I can combine robots with the fourth dimension. For example, in 3D printing, I can incorporate the dimension so that devices can automatically morph into a different shape end thereby change function. This is particularly possible since the objects in four dimension are built layer by layer just like in 3Dprinting. Another way I can combine robots with the fourth dimension is in security. In the interior region where facilities need to be guarded, I would employ robots. The robots will be in a standing position and changing position in a coordinated manner. Using the internet of things, the robots will react to motions other than those of fellow robots. The reactions of the robot to an intrusion should mimic that of an alerted guard. In extreme case scenarios, the robots should be able to isolate the position of the intrusion depending on alert from motion sensor cameras and thus fire in that direction.

Conclusion

The challenges facing the idea is that robots firing in an enclosed facility can destroy or start a disaster. The motion sensor that misinterprets a robot can lead to other robots turning against it. The movement of a robot is energy consuming and may not save significantly if a human resource were to do the same jobs. The significance would only occur on offering security at a very isolated region, military facilities, or hazardous areas such as radioactive sites, dusty areas among others. Overall, time as a fourth dimension is challenged by scientists who view it as a different concept (Shyles, 2003). That is, time and space transform separately while for other theories space is observed as moving through time.

Works cited

Shyles, L. (2003). Deciphering Cyberspace: Making the Most of Digital Communication Technology. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.