Event - The Science Museum: 3D printing and more!

On the 20th of November 2013, Abby, Hendhy and I went to the Science Museum. The two things of which took our interest the most was "Do not touch" by Christian Moeller and the 3D printing area.

With Moellers interactive artwork, it was a big, 12cm thick pole reaching to the top of the room. Just underneath the artwork on the floor read "DO NOT TOUCH". Originally the artwork had caught my eye as every now and again the piece would make an electric shocking sound followed by users excitingly screaming.

Hendhy said that he did not want to try it as it looked very scary and could hurt him, after very little persuasion, Hendhy agreed.

Fig 8. Video at Science Museum

"It's worse when you don't know when it's..." had I finished the sentence, it would have ended with "...happen". The video had been chopped down and we had been waiting there for a minute prior to being shocked which made it that much worse.

Stated on the information notice beside the piece, the work was there to for us to experience energy and remind us that it can be powerful.

I thought the "Do not touch" feature was a nice addition to the floor, as not only was it the name of the artwork, but also a warning sign. I did touch the artwork, not because I wanted to disobey what was written, but I knew it was safe and there merely to grab it's users attention.

The three of us eventually went to visit the 3D printing area, whereby around we saw objects that had been made through 3D printing

Fig 9. Hendhy and I at the Science Museum

The 3D prints of which took my interest the most were the bicycle and the skull with teeth.

The reason for this was that the bicycle was the biggest and most useful print job there and looked to have been made through a single print job with the tires added on separately. Whilst the skull and teeth reminded be of my post on transhumanism and cybernetics. It also made me think how with the use of 3D printing these things could be made much more efficiently!

More specifically, there was also a part named the Skull Patch, which came with a video. If someone were to have a head injury, it would start with a Scan of the head. Then a plan is created of the patch which would then be 3D printed and fitted directly on the head leaving room for bone to grow and replace the patch. I think this is great technology and works especially well with a scanner, as you're able to get the precise dimensions.This type of near future technology would help benefit the world and save lives.

After the Science Museum, I went to their website following the event. A quote which I enjoyed was as follows: "Check out 3D printed replacement body parts – from those already used today, to the possible 3D printed organs of the future" (ScienceMuseum.org.uk, 2013).