Comparing space and art is the perfect topic to sum up this
course. It embodies all the other topics we learned about such as mathematics,
biotechnology, nanotechnology, etc. I think that the vast size of space makes
it very flexible and fascinating to learn about because there are so many small
components that make up space.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GxSZ5kXnrU)
One of the supplements that interested me was the Powers of
10 video. The part that intrigued me the most was the fact that even as the
point over view zoomed out from the 2 people, as it reached further out into space,
there were times of “activity and inactivity”. Some parts of space were highly
populated with stars, while others were merely black and it would alternate
between the 2 as the view zoomed out. This film shows how perspective can
change and that based on scales, an image can differ entirely. This video
reminded me of what Robert Gero’s Infinity Structures: Paradoxical Spaces Exhibit was
trying to portray. His exhibition shows a “stable exterior and an infinitely expanding interior”. The
stable exterior is seen as the edge that the camera creates and we can see that
the interior is changing because as we zoom out, it looks different each time. His
exhibition is a small scale and example of the powers of ten.
(http://www.eamesoffice.com/the-work/powers-of-ten/)
Another example
showing the powers of 10 is Google Maps. Google Maps combines many aspects of
this class including space, nanotechnology, mathematics, and many more. Google Map
allows us to put the powers of 10 into everyday perspective. By using the
application, one can zoom in all the way to looking street view, to zooming out
to a larger scale. I think this concept of powers of 10 is extremely important
because it symbolizes that the universe and everything in it is constantly
changing. There is nothing static in this world and that the opportunities for
growth and endless.
(http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/google-in-the-enterprise/put-your-business-on-the-map-the-google-map/)
Works Cited
Hughes, James. "The Power of Powers of Ten." Slate. Web.
Powers of Ten. IBM, 1977. Film.
"Powers of Ten Blog." Blog.powersof10. Eames Office. Web
"Powers of Ten (film)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web.
"Thinking in Powers of Ten." Eames Office. 25 Mar. 2014. Web.
Hi Vivian,
ReplyDeleteI was also intrigued by the Powers of 10 videos. I believe that what you see when you zoom out really far into the universe and what you see when you zoom in to the atomic scale on the man's hand are quite similar. I also liked how you found the Power of 10 concept in Google Maps. Google Maps only allows you to zoom out to a map of the Earth, but Google Earth allows you to zoom out into the universe like in the Powers of 10 videos. I suggest you try it out if you have some time.
Hi Vivian,
ReplyDeleteI really like how you mentioned Google Maps in relation to the video on the Powers of 10. I use Google Maps and Google Earth regularly, but never thought about them in this context. Your point about nothing on Earth being static, and how technically the only constant on this planet is change, in relation to these applications really makes you think about how infinitesimally small we really are in the grand shame of things. Good work!