An MIT-led team of architects and engineers has developed the "Digital Water Pavilion," a building with walls made of flowing water. Upon the approach of a person, a sensor detects their path and parts the water in that area, creating a sort of instant doorway that can then close behind you. "You could throw a ball at the wall, and then see an open circle drop down to meet it precisely where and when its trajectory intersected the water surface," says William J. Mitchell, head of MIT’s Design Laboratory.
Practical applications for the technology have not yet been addressed; but the building will be on display at next summer's 2008 Expo Zaragoza in Zaragoza, Spain.
via science mode and dumptrumpet
I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.
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Water-walled house
The "big waste of water" could lead to other discoveries. It changes concepts about boundaries and insulation, and causes people to think about new things. Sure, it may never come to something streamlined and efficient by itself, but the point is to innovate. That itself helps open new areas of exploration.
If people didn't do this, you wouldn't have most of your modern luxuries. Like the wheel.