Assignment #2 Collective Intelligence – The Impact and Benefits of Nature

By: Jonathan Krywulak

Green Fix

In this article, Naomi Lubick suggests that although past research has made a compelling case for the healing affects of nature, the direct causes related to “nature’s curative powers” (2013, p. 42) has been difficult to determine due to the medial field largely overlooking it. Lubick references E.O. Wilson who suggested nature’s restorative benefits to human beings is the result of an evolutionary process between the natural world and the human mind.  This helps to explain our “innate preference for such scenery and provide(s) clues as to why such scenes might trigger restorative brain responses” (p. 42), even if those scenes are artificially constructed.  This can possibly explain why simulated natural environments help people recover faster (deceases in heart rate and stress) in hospitals or feel better in office settings.  Artificial images of nature have the ability to generate a response from the human brain that can result in a variety of psychological and physical health benefits. According to Lubick,  “faking nature will help us hone in on exactly how the real things might be promoting healing, but more importantly, it might help bring nature’s benefits to those of us trapped in places where nature cannot follow”  (p. 44).  As technology advances, it will be interesting to see how nature continues to be simulated in the not so natural world.

Biophilia: Does Visual Contact with Nature Impact on Health and Well-Being?

Bjorn Grinde and Grete Grindal Patil examine the influence plants and other aspects of the natural world have on the human mind.  They suggest that like all other species, humans “have been shaped by forces of evolution” (2009, p. 2333) and it was particularly early in history that humans and the natural world were closely united in order to survive.  It was during this time, according to Grinde and Patil, that plants became an integral part of the human environment, thus evolving alongside the human mind.  Based on this theoretical perspective it is thought that humans “have adapted to live in a green environment” (p. 2333), and any deviation away from the environment may result in unsettling affects such as disease or reduced life quality.  I found this part of the article most interesting as provides a possible reason as to why humans seem to be more calm, comfortable, and balanced (in mind, body, & spirit) when they see or are around nature.  By being close to plants, people are experiencing what they always been accustomed to since early history.  I think in many ways this serves to explain why people have an urge to be around nature and why often times their health and well-being benefit as a result of being around it.  As noted by Grinde and Patil’s, “nature appears to have qualities useful for stress relief, mental restoration, and improved mood simply by being consciously or unconsciously “pleasing to the eye” (p. 2336).  Interaction with plants both indoors and outdoors are encouraged as it serves to benefit the human body and mind.

The Human Relation with Nature and Technological Nature

In this article, Peter Kahn questions whether or not it matters for the physical and psychological wellbeing of humans that actual nature is being replaced by technological nature. He argues that it does matter and his analysis of the question raises the concern that as we move away from actual nature “the baseline across generations for what counts as a full measure of the human experience and of human flourishing” will be lowered.  This may substantially affect the human connection to the natural world and have a negative impact on the physical and psychological well-being of humans.  In his study using plasma HDTV’s to simulate nature, Kahn came to the conclusion that real nature is better than technological nature however technological nature is in many ways better than no nature at all. The general trend provided by research suggested that “interacting with technological nature provides some but not all the enjoyments and benefits of interacting with actual nature” (2009, p. 41).   I agree with this statement as I think technology can afford humans a lot of different opportunities to connect and experience the natural world. Various technological tools have the ability to create mood and provide imagery that people can resonate with, however, I feel that interacting with real nature can generate greater benefits as it relates to physical and psychological well-being.

References

My Delicious link:
 https://delicious.com/jkreek

Lubick, N. (2013). Green fix. New Scientist, 218(2921), 42-44. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0262407913615018

Grinde, B., & Patil, GG. (2009). Biophilia: Does visual contact with nature impact on health and well-being? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 6(9), p. 2332-2343. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/a/ualberta.ca/file/d/0B21EMxFJbDZ6bnVuVldDQ28xbWs/edit?pli=1

Kahn, P., Severson, R., & Ruckert, J. (2009). The human relation with nature and technological nature. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, p. 37–42. Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/hints/publications/Human_Relation_Technological_Nature.pdf

Collective Intelligence Assignment #2: Biomimcry and Packaging in the Realm of New Media Narratives

Below are three sources, bookmarked on my delicious.com account, that relate to technobiophilia, biomimicry and new media narratives, as a whole. The theme running throughout the sources is using the principles of biomimicry in design to create more sustainable solutions that help us feel more connected to the world around us. Furthermore, packaging is a storytelling medium because it provides a platform to educate and entice the consumer about the contents within. Therefore, these sources are also about telling a story through packaging design and doing so in such a way that combines the natural world with hi-tech industries.  


Biomimicry’s Surprising Lessons From Nature’s Engineers TEDTalk by Janine Benyus

New Media Narratives’ technobiophilia guest lecture by Professor Sue Thomas was incredibly interesting to me for a number of reasons. I have been trying to piece together how I can look at packaging design (both graphic design and structural design) from a different angle in the context of increased sustainability, using natural materials and keeping concepts such as minimalism, simplification and function in the back of my mind. For the longest time, I have not been able to put my finger on how to combine all of these elements within the context of communications and technology. This has sparked my interest in the concept of bringing together “natural technologies” with hi-tech solutions to today’s products and problems. 

For all of these reasons, my first delicious.com bookmark is an insightful TEDTalk by biomimicry expert, Janine Benyus. This talk explores the  bigger picture of relating technology to the natural world and how we can use 3.8 billion years of Mother Nature’s R&D to solve man-made problems. I believe it links back to our course, specifically in the area of technobiophilia, because humans respond powerfully to the natural environment (even a simulated or virtual natural environment). This power has yet to be harnessed in the packaging industry. I believe that consumer behaviour theories, storytelling capabilities through packaging and sustainability measures could be amplified if examined through the lens of biomimcry. Packaging is a product designed to be thrown out, so how can we use what we know about communication in a hi-tech world to leverage the future of packaging to leave the world better than we left it for our children?


The Supermaterial That Could Make Plastic Obsolete Is… Mushrooms by Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan

This is a fascinating article about a design concept using the principles of biomimicry and innovation and it’s also an entrepreneurial success story. Two students began experimenting with fungus for use as a packaging material as part of a school project and then decided to take their idea to market. Their business now employs 60 workers to grow and manufacture the fungus (Mycelium) for consumer packaging applications, as well as for industrial applications, such as housing insulation. The most innovative aspect of this product is that it harnesses the power of natural fungus to solve the man-made problem of shipping fragile materials long distances. The growing fungus conforms to any mold shape, acting in a similar way that dense foam does, so it can be used in a variety of applications. This type of innovation demonstrates that harnessing millions of years of Mother Nature’s ideas can result in very practical and sustainable solutions where unnatural materials are currently being used. This also creates opportunities for businesses who use this packaging product to make it part of their brand story to consumers. This product will ultimately help reinforce a company’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices. It may even increase market share for adoptive companies because of the theories of technobiophilia that we, as humans, are drawn to natural experiences. Perhaps the next laptop you purchase will be protected from damage by fungus (and how often can you say that your packaging was made by a “fungi”!?).


On the use of Biomimicry as a Useful Tool for the Industrial Designer by Nina Louis Volstad and Casper Boks 

This article is so important because it emphasizes the importance of industrial designers becoming aware of and supplementing their designer’s toolkit with principles of biomimicry. The article continues to suggest that design inspired by biomimicry does not have to be a literal interpretation of a natural solution, but instead, these concepts can be used as one of many sources of inspiration. I love this type of “cross-pollination” of disciplines that facilitate greater innovation overall, which I think mirrors the themes our New Media Narratives course very well. By looking at the big picture, we may be able to find ways to better tell a story or better design a product that by approaching problem solving in a siloed environment. 

The authors of this article go on to suggest a practical solution to industrial designers not having access to this important information. They suggest the creation of a new tool called the biomimicry card deck: “This card deck format was found to be a ‘lightweight’, physical, and accessible tool, meant to employ biomimicry in a less intimidating, time-consuming or committing way than by using books or databases, and usable without any previous knowledge of biology or biomimicry” (Boks & Volstad, 2012, p.195). The cards tell different stories about specific principles of biomimicry and are presented in a medium that industrial designers can easily use. One of the mock-ups in the article depicts bees and a honeycomb on one side of the card and straightforward, hierarchical information regarding the “natural R&D” significance on the other side. This links back to the concepts surrounding technobiophilia, whereby the design of these cards may not only facilitate solution innovation, but the beautiful imagery on the cards could attract the industrial designers to want to use them. In Sue Thomas’ work, she articulates the innate attraction we have to the natural world. Industrial designers typically work in very hi-tech work spaces, using technology to more efficiently and accurately execute design work. By incorporating natural concepts and imagery into their work, this may help fulfill a longing to want to spend more time with nature, whether they realize it or not.

References

Benyus, J. (Presenter). (February 2005). Biomimicry’s surprising lessons from nature’s engineers. TEDTalk. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_shares_nature_s_designs

Campbell-Dollaghan, K. (2013, June 6). The supermaterial that could make plastic obsolete is...mushrooms? Retrieved from http://gizmodo.com/the-futuristic-material-that-will-replace-plastic-is-511544462 

Boks, C., & Volstad, N. L. (2012). On the use of biomimcry as a useful tool for the industrial designer. Sustainable Development, 20, 189-199. doi: 10.1002/sd.1535