Technology + Craft = Traft? Cranology?

In 1998 I was visiting the Philipps R&D labs in Eindhoven, looking at advanced microprocessor prototypes. It was fascinating to see what comes out of the heads and hearts of brainiacs, and envision what could be done with what was, at the time, pure research.*

So, ten years later, crafters are playing with it, and the term for it is either “craft technology” or “computational craft,” depending on whether you’re coming from the creative or geek side. (Or, if you have to publish this stuff where it doesn’t look good to have TOO much fun, it’s called “Integrating craft materials with computational components.”)

I just happened on Fashioning Technology, a blog and social network for people who incorporate high tech into fashion and craft, and I’m suddenly filling with ideas.

Which is kinda cool. So many geeks of my acquaintance are artists on the side that there’s a sort of inevitability about it. It’s pure crossover, which is something I adore.

I once taught a computer graphics class to art students who had little or no computer skills (dating myself here) on some of the most fabulous SGI equipment available at the time. I ran through 3D extrusion, showed them rudimentary animation techniques…and they shoved me aside, took off and flew.

Thirty minutes into the first class, they were doing stuff I didn’t know you COULD do. I believe I learned a lot more than anyone in that class. And I learned that the the best way to find new applications for tech is to shove it into the hands of creative people, then get out of the way.

I watched an experiment in Finland that did just that, gave an incredibly expensive CAVE and sciviz system to a couple of tundra villages and watched what they did with it. In a few months, they’d set up distance learning programs, mapped out local resources and started an art program that let people create in 3D.

Usually there’s a kind of Maginot line between techies and creatives, which is sad. Tech is too hard, creatives are too dumb, etc., etc…none of which is true. So it’s nice to see researchers partner with creatives, kind of a left-brain+right-brain=superbrain partnership.

Fashioning Technology looks at it from a crafter’s perspective. MIT and Colorado State take the computational craft view with their Craft Technology site, demonstrating some incredibly cool projects that I’d like to get in on. In Japan, they’re just building out a Craft Design Technology site on the subject with a first project, “electronic stationery,” that is intriguing (and not yet online, so keep checking back).

Now, it’s one thing to put this into fabric. Room temperature fabric. But glass? Microprocessors and casting temps don’t go together. Other sculpting materials? Maybe….I think there’s a way…and I’m beginning to cogitate on the subject.

If you’re interesting in joining my cogitations, lemme know….

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*For example, a researcher showed me a flexible microprocessor that could be woven directly into clothing. Paired with a mobile phone network and a chargeback system, it would allow people to walk into a store, pick out a jacket and leave without waiting in a checkout line. “This is much more efficient,” he said proudly.

“Yes, and it will certainly cut down on shoplifting and employee pilfering,” I added.

“What do you mean?”

“If a signal that the garment has left the store automatically triggers a charge to the closest mobile phone, it would make theft far more difficult,” I explained, “You could no longer just tuck a jacket under your coat and walk out with it.”

“Walk out with…why, that would be very rude!” he exclaimed, astonished that I would think of such a thing… Obviously, dishonesty hadn’t quite made it into his worldview.

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