This blog post discusses how the advancement of technology is shaping how we live our lives. The main topics that I researched were BIM, 3D Printing, Structures, and Future. I read several articles to gain better insight on each of these topics, and I included any personal experiences or thoughts I had about each topic.
BIM:
BIM:
BIM is a powerful tool that allows engineers, architects, and contractors to create functional models that can provide data on the actual characteristics and performance of the building they want to design. Different fields are able to work simultaneously and collaborate on the same model. This helps each group have a better understanding of how their work co-exists with the other group’s components in the building. By constantly collaborating and updating the model, the project team is able to design a more precise and cohesive building before it is even constructed. BIM even has the power to predict how the building will perform in the future under different conditions, which is beneficial to the owner for maintenance purposes [4]. I have used BIM software, specifically Revit, during my co-ops and in some of my classes, so I am aware of how useful it is for building design. Revit is great at detecting when different components are clashing, and being able to fix this during the design phase saves a ton of time and money during construction. Overall, BIM is able to save time and money during the construction phase and improve the overall efficiency of the building.
3D printing:
Typically when we think about 3D printed objects, we think about small plastic objects. With newer technology, NASA was able to 3D print rocket engine parts made out of a nickel alloy. This was made possible by a method called selective laser melting (SLM) [3]. Being able to 3D print using stronger materials, like steel, is a huge leap into the future. With this technology, there is an endless amount of things we could now manufacture more quickly and without the use of human labor, such as car parts, appliances, and buildings. I personally do not have much experience with 3D printing, but it’s really cool that a computer model can easily be turned into a real life object with just a printer and a simple material.
Structures:
Engineers, architects, and contractors are always looking for new and innovative ways to design buildings and push the limits of their creativity. With more advanced technology, such as BIM and artificial intelligence (AI), humans are able to create unimaginable structures. In the article, “Architecture in the Age of Automation”, a senior VDC manager at WeWork explains how architects have borrowed ideas, techniques, and technology from the aerospace industry to implement in more complex building designs. For example, she mentions that architects borrowed technology created for World War II airplane manufacturing to create curved structures [1]. This shows that inspiration for building designs can come from anywhere, and collaborating with different fields can result in more unique buildings. Complex designs require complex technology in order to execute them, but designers should not be afraid to test the limits and challenge themselves.
Future:
Humans are constantly discovering and inventing new things to make our lives easier. Probably the most impressive invention is the creation of artificial intelligence (AI), which comes in many forms. We use artificial intelligence to help us with our daily tasks such as driving and cleaning. Artificial intelligence has proved to make these tasks easier, but many people are worried that AI could become smarter than humans and eventually take over the world. In 2014, Stephen Hawking said, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race [2]". It is possible that AI could become smarter than humans because they are able to store more information and data than the human brain. The more it interacts with humans, the smarter it gets. We should be cautious about this issue and prevent ourselves from becoming too dependent on AI.
Sources:
[1] Autodesk University, “Architecture in the Age of Automation,” Medium, 30-Oct-2019. [Online]. Available: https://medium.com/autodesk-university/architecture-in-the-age-of-automation-2c67e56fe47a. [Accessed: 12-Jan-2020].
[2] L. Floridi, “True AI is both logically possible and utterly implausible – Luciano Floridi: Aeon Essays,” Aeon, 12-Jan-2020. [Online]. Available: https://aeon.co/essays/true-ai-is-both-logically-possible-and-utterly-implausible. [Accessed: 12-Jan-2020].
[3] J. Hewitt, “NASA 3D prints rocket parts - with steel, not plastic,” ExtremeTech, 15-Nov-2012. [Online]. Available: https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/140084-nasa-3d-prints-rocket-parts-with-steel-not-plastic. [Accessed: 12-Jan-2020].
[4] YouTube, 29-Aug-2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suNadRnHy-U. [Accessed: 12-Jan-2020].
Comments:(Link):
Manon,
The article you read called "The Tech That Will Invade Our Lives 2020" really caught my attention because it is quite a concerning title. It seems like with the advancement of technology, humans have less control of their own lives. We designed such technology to make our lives easier, but I believe some of this technology is making humans lazy. As you explained in your post, the goal of smart homes is "seamless home automation without the need for people to tell the assistants what to do". Although this gives humans less things to worry about when they are at home, it is a bit unsettling that our homes would basically have a mind of its own. I also thought that your research on virtual reality was really intriguing and relatable to our field of study. The use of virtual reality in construction is really useful in preventing real-life errors. This would save a lot of money because a contractor can make decisions in the virtual reality before he executes it in the real building. It was very enjoyable to read about what you learned about each topic!
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Varsha,
I was really intrigued to read about this topic of data collecting and networks, and you did a wonderful job at creating a cohesive blog post about it. Although it is sometimes convenient to receive ads on stuff I am genuinely interested in, it also seems like an invasion of my privacy. You mentioned in your post that communicating over social media sites can influence politics all around the world, and that seems more of a concern to me. I recently got a Google Home Mini and I read some articles on how Google uses these devices to collect data on its users based on what they request the Google Home Mini to do. We are constantly being monitored on all our devices whether we are aware or not, so we have to be careful about releasing our personal information on the web.
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(Link):
Varsha,
I was really intrigued to read about this topic of data collecting and networks, and you did a wonderful job at creating a cohesive blog post about it. Although it is sometimes convenient to receive ads on stuff I am genuinely interested in, it also seems like an invasion of my privacy. You mentioned in your post that communicating over social media sites can influence politics all around the world, and that seems more of a concern to me. I recently got a Google Home Mini and I read some articles on how Google uses these devices to collect data on its users based on what they request the Google Home Mini to do. We are constantly being monitored on all our devices whether we are aware or not, so we have to be careful about releasing our personal information on the web.
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Michael,
I agree that machines should not replace teachers because students, especially children, need to learn social skills and how to deal with feelings. These are just some of the things that machines are not capable of teaching. Machines also lack some creativity that humans can come up on the spot. Although artificial intelligence for quick and reliable information, it does not give students the full learning experience they need to interact with other humans.
I agree that machines should not replace teachers because students, especially children, need to learn social skills and how to deal with feelings. These are just some of the things that machines are not capable of teaching. Machines also lack some creativity that humans can come up on the spot. Although artificial intelligence for quick and reliable information, it does not give students the full learning experience they need to interact with other humans.
