In April 2007, Nanotechnology Victoria, Bridge 8 and the Equity Research Centre hosted ‘Weaving with Light: Advanced Technology in Social Enterprise’. This event builds on a number of exciting technological and social programs to provide access and information about new technologies, including nanotechnologies, to socially disadvantaged groups who might otherwise be excluded from participating in the debate.The symposium was inspired by the work of Sheila Kennedy, Principal of Kennedy & Violich Architecture in Boston. Ms Kennedy has an ongoing project entitled Nomads and Nanomaterials [1] that runs in conjunction with the University of Michigan and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. The project combines design, technology and social development to address the needs of the Huichol people in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. The Huichol people are nomadic and lack access to infrastructure for the provision of electricity and light. This project has examined their need for light in conjunction with their traditional culture and practices, especially textile weaving. This has resulted in the invention and integration of Portable Light.
Huichol Rancho with Portable Light. Kennedy & Violich Architecture
The Portable Light technology optimises existing semi-conductor technologies. Flexible, high brightness solid state lighting (HBLEDs) have sufficient energy efficiency so that a bright digital light of 80 lumens per watt can be produced by a single miniature diode and powered by small areas of flexible photo-voltaics (solar panels). This provides enough light to read and work beyond daylight hours.
The Nomads and Nanomaterials project is an innovative way of providing access to light to improve educational opportunities, community literacy and health, and to increase daily household economic production. The project is designed and delivered in ways that are useful and acceptable to traditional cultures.
There is obvious potential to transform this combination of design, technology and social applications for Australian needs. The provision of portable light or similar projects would seem to be useful for Australia’s indigenous populations in remote locations.
Ms Rhonda Appo of the Australian Flexible Learning Framework is already engaged in the application of new technologies for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory. One of the projects currently in implementation is ‘Homeland micro e-business: e-learning on very remote Indigenous communities’. [2] This project is researching the application of information and communications technologies to address training and education needs of Indigenous Australians in remote areas. In turn, the findings will support the development of micro-businesses in Arnhemland.
The Nomads and Nanomaterials and Homeland Micro e-Business projects beg the question: what other technological applications might be appropriate for social enterprise applications and/or use in indigenous and socially disadvantaged communities? The Weaving with Light symposium seeks to explore these in more detail and has chosen the textile theme to inform opportunities.
One use of new textile technologies is in water filtration for improved water quality. Across the world, over one billion people have no access to clean water and an estimated 42,000 people die each week from diseases related to low quality drinking water. [3] Drought and salinity affect the water supplies to major Australian cities and regional areas.
Nanostructured materials and nanoscale processes have the potential to offer opportunities for cheap and effective solutions for some of the major water issues. These include treatment technologies such as flocculation, filtration and disinfection to provide clean drinking water. Higher surface reactive areas means smaller scale filtration solutions are possible, increasing applications for small and remote communities. On the other hand, large scale application of nanostructured films or membranes could also potentially provide evaporation minimisation from reservoirs and water storages.
The second application of textile technologies is in art and fashion. The Kukkia dress designed by Joanna Berzowska [4] is an exciting example of the convergence of technology and textiles. The dress features three large silk and felt flowers along the neckline which are structured with Nitinol wire. Heating and cooling of the Nitinol forces the fabric flowers to open and close. Nitinol has also been used in sculpture applications such as Espoir – Despoir by Oliver Deschamps. This statue depicts a mother holding her baby. Nitinol in her belly allows the mother to move from a downward position to reach up as the weather changes.
The application of nanotechnology to textiles is seeking to design fabrics that are stronger, lighter and smarter. In RMIT’s recent ‘Fabrics of the Future’ exhibition, students designed textiles that provided a calming effect through the release of aromatherapy perfumes, and materials able to supply clean air to the wearer. [5] The development of new fabric colours, colour effects and properties, alongside integrated electronics and sensors provide endless opportunities for wearable technologies. Many of these will be on display at the reSkin Wear Now symposium on 3rd February 2007 in Canberra.
The Weaving with Light symposium also aims to provide information and awareness about new technologies. To fully realise the benefits of new and emerging technologies, the social and ethical implications must be understood and action taken that ensures their safe and responsible use. [6] To do this, it is important to promote broad discussion of new technologies like nanotechnology. The technical capabilities of nanotechnology and related applications may progress at a faster rate than society’s ability to understand and deal with the implications of such technologies. The debate on nanotechnology should not exclude those from indigenous and socially disadvantaged communities.
In this way, the symposium seeks to address the issue of the potential ‘nano-divides’ that appear between those who benefit from nanotechnology and those who are excluded from participating. Dr Rob Sparrow from Monash University outlines four areas where there is a potential for division. He calls these ‘a question of access, a question of profit, a question of benefit, and a question of control’. [7] By encouraging social enterprise in nanotechnologies, access, proft and benefit may be made more equitable and improving awareness of nanotechnologies in these communities may also influence the balance of control.
Dr Kristin Alford
Dr Kristin Alford is Director of Bridge 8, a foresight and communications consultancy in new technologies.Kristin is also a member of the ANAT Board.
References
[1] http://www.tcaup.umich.edu/portablelight/nomads.html
[2] http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/home/projects/2006/PO_indigenous/indigenous/pid/214
[3] www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/factsheet.html
[4] http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/007918.php
[5] http://www.anat.org.au/reskin/
[6] The Royal Society & The Royal Academy of Engineers 2004, Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties, 29 July, London, http://www.nanotec.org.uk/finalReport.htm
[7] Sparrow, R 2006, ‘Negotiating the nanodivides’, Draft paper, Personal communication, 29th August 2006.
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