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This site features the ways in which people modify and re-create technology. Herein a collection of personal modifications, folk innovations, street customization, ad hoc alterations, wear-patterns, home-made versions and indigenous ingenuity. In short -- stuff as it is actually used, and not how its creators planned on it being used. As William Gibson said, "The street finds its own uses for things." I welcome suggestions of links, and contributions from others to include in this compendium. -- KK Improvised TechnologyOne Gate, Multiple LocksWhat do you do if you have a locked gate but more than one person is permitted to open it? You don’t want multiple keys, in case one is lost/stolen. Then all the keys may need replacing. Instead you can have multiple locks, chained into one long lock. Open any lock to open the gate. This way each person needs to manage their key (and lock). I’ve seen various installations on this solution in different parks in the Bay Area.
Posted on April 23, 2008 at 5:50 PM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditBikes/Trikes, HybridsMulti-Rider Bicycle BusThe students at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands created a 2.5 metric ton bike bus that has 32 seats. Each rider can pedal. From S. Fridqvist.
Posted on April 15, 2008 at 5:00 AM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditVehiclesLast-minute Chimneys
I've lost track of where I found this, but these chimneys look like a last-minute idea. No clue on why they need so many. Perhaps it is a community kitchen? Posted on April 12, 2008 at 5:00 AM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditVehiclesPublic Mobile Phone Numbers StickersApparently the norm in South Korea is to post your cell number in the window of your parked car, since in all probability, your car is blocking someone else’s. They will need to call you to move your car. Used to be the numbers were scribbled notes. But Younghee Jung has noticed recently that the practice is becoming formal, and now the numbers get fancy print stickers. The numbers in his photos below are scrambled (by him) at the end.
He writes: ...putting owner’s mobile number printed on the front window seems to be on its way to become a norm for car owners in korea. and often its not a scribbled note anymore. the parking convention in korean cities does require leaving the contact information on the car, as people may have no alternative in resting your car without blocking other cars’ exit route, for instance.(Via Jan Chipchase) Posted on April 10, 2008 at 5:00 AM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditVehiclesMore Homemade Trucks
Posted on April 5, 2008 at 5:00 AM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditVehiclesPolish Home-made TractorsIn the '60s Poland it was almost impossible to acquire a tractor in Poland. Agricultural machines produced by the country were available mainly for state-owned enterprises. For private farmers these tractors were too expensive and they weren't even robust or efficient enough for the mountain region. Out of necessity they constructed their own machines using spare parts and bits and pieces from whatever machines they could find. Including decommissioned army vehicles and pre-WWI German machines.
Lukasz Skąpski, "The Machines", 2005-2007, Courtesy Żak Gallery. Posted on February 5, 2008 at 4:58 PM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditVehiclesHandle Bar Adaption in LagosIn Lagos Nigeria the traffic so bad and thick that the handle bars on the ubiquitous motorcycles are pinned back to make it easier for the bikes to navigate fast between rows of stuck cars.
It was hard to extract a decent picture from the Current video, but you can see it fine at about 6:30 on the clip here.
Posted on January 28, 2008 at 9:44 PM | +del.icio.us +digg +redditRecyle Surprises, VehiclesCuban Motor BikeWhat an elegant design. A wonderfully sleek bicycle is given a motor and gas tank in Cuba to make a motor bike.
Posted on January 24, 2008 at 5:58 PM | +del.icio.us +digg +reddit
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