User:Andrew Graham
Team Culturing Information
last updated February, 2013
WHO are you?
- Name/Nationality/Ethnicity - Andrew Graham, Australian
- Location – what is your city and country? - Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Contact Information – queglay at gmail dot com, Skype - queglay
- Introductory Video- Not yet available.
- Resume/CV – My Visual FX Showreel Resume
- Skills - Generalist. Problem solver. Functional and aesthetic designer/inventor. Wannabe machinist.
3D animation for architecture, hollywood film, and technical animation for machinery (Advanced, 15 years) / Interface design / 3D pipeline and software development in Houdini, Python/ Understanding of remote collaboration tools (Intermediate) / CAD Solidworks (Intermediate to Advanced), 3DS MAX, Rhino / Photography, videography (Advanced) / Electronics, Arduino microcontrollers, python programming, automation, and PCB design (Intermediate) / Optimizing lead acid cells / Coil and core configuration for electric motors, Bedini motors / Welding and blacksmithing (beginner) / Sound production, video editing (advanced) / Teacher of 3D animation (university), maths and physics (secondary gifted children) / Realtime large scale LED video presentation / Understanding of food as medicine, alternative healing, naturopathy (Intermediate) / Building low cost video, audio production systems, Hackintoshing.
- Hobbies and Pastimes – Electronic music production, electronics, hackspaces and community labs, walking, meditation, esoteric research and awareness, teaching, waking up people through truth and inspiration, research into alternative energy, snowboarding, getting things done.
- Of note - We are acquiring 80 acres of land in Queensland, Australia (March 2014) and wish to replicate, sell, and educate others on building GVCS tools. I would very much like to create a non profit organization to do this. The skills I would like to focus on improving most to build / teach others how to replicate the GVCS are in welding and blacksmithing.
WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?
- Do you endorse open source culture?
It's the only way forward. It's clear that even if we created abundant energy and had the technology of your wildest dreams that it will only continue to be available to the 1% and thus further widen the gap. Indeed, the technology we have now would be indistinguishable from magic to someone 100 years ago, and things aren't really any different. The washing machine is probably the only invention that actually liberated any significant number of people, and it didn't even stretch that far.
- Why are you interested in this work?
I have previously researched alternative energy as a means to free humanity. But I've now realised that even with mass proliferation of such an ability that the OSE model has the capacity to provide it all within reach, and far sooner. It is potentially a much more stable decentralized force that can provide humanity a catalyst for growth. It can be a pulling force to distribute people away from cities. This is one of its most exciting aspects to me. That as the "developed" cities quality of life will continue to diminish, the OSE approach may present a true alternative to those seeking a different path towards liberation.
- Are you interested in teaching about the GVCS?
Yes, I'm hoping to teach about the GVCS in Byron Bay and Ravenshoe Queensland. We intend to replicate the model here and to instruct others on how to do so.
- Are you interested in economic relocalization possibilities arising from the GVCS?
Absolutely, it's one of the most inspiring aspects to me.
- Do you want to use the GVCS technologies yourself? Do you want to build them yourself?
Yes, we have a network that would allow us to build them ourselves. We are also considering purchasing from OSE and shipping the 4 currently available units back to Australia in a container if it would be more cost effective. If we did this I would be interested in a visit to be involved in the manufacture with others to learn. Once we had these in Australia we would have a good basis for constructing a fabrication workshop.
- Are you interested in starting up enterprise using the GVCS technologies?
Yes. I am considering options to setup as a non profit organization as well.
- Are you interested in having the GVCS technologies fabricated by your local custom fabricator?
Yes, I hope to also be present to do the work myself and to learn these techniques.
- Are you interested in applying the GVCS to third world development? To redevelopment of crisis areas? To development of derelict areas in the developed world?
If the GVCS were fully operational in Australia, this would be an excellent keystone for being able to apply the same approaches in somewhere like Cambodia which greatly interests me. I have also previously been involved with NGO's there that would likely be willing to help us do this in the long term.
- Are you interested in starting up Industry 2.0 flexible fabrication enterprises for your local community, by drawing from a global repository of freely down-loadable designs and fabricating using open source fabrication equipment?
Yes, I think this is fundamental to the growth of the GVCS and for it to be self sustaining.
- Are you interested in the potential of the GVCS for developing local food systems?
Yes, and I think food forests and sound permaculture techniques can reduce the assumed dependency for machinery too. But it is an important step towards autonomy of any self sufficient village.
- Are you interested in doing academic studies/papers, publishing books, or doing other analysis of our efforts?
I perform analysis all the time towards improving efficiency, but applying it to anything other than something that is immediately relevant to me is not something I'm driven by. Perhaps the development of augmented instructional mediums would interest me. I can imagine utilizing a goPro on a helmet to document a construction process, then editing it back into a step by step process could be a rapid method of documenting and feeding back instruction to another person through a screen would be useful.
- Are you interested in financial investment opportunities arising from our work?
Yes, this does interest me since I am investing as much as I can into our own GVCS and propagating this philosophy.
- Are you interested in the distributive economic aspects of our work, and if so, how do you see this playing out?
Yes, I think that distributing education and enabling those that seek to replicate OSE's educational approach with potential immersion programs is a great way to gain momentum in enabling a distributed economy. It could be very successful provided the infrastructure exists to take on educating the growing number of interested people.
- Are you interested in building renewable energy production facilities based on open hardware (solar concentrator electric, wind, biomass power).
This would be a tremendous achievement, I can't wait. A solar concentrator steam engine combination is something that I think is realistically in reach and would be incredibly enabling for many people because it could be done with relatively simple technology.
- Are you interested in building resilient communities based on access to the GVCS?
Yes, we are aquireing 80 acres this month (March, 2014) in Queensland, Australia to do this on a small scale, and looking at another 180 acres in Byron Bay, NSW.
- Are you interested in creating a bug-out hut using GVCS technologies?
No, a backpack and knowledge of edible plants will do. Besides, I'd rather bank on creating an abundant alternative over total failure of civilization.
- How do you think that the GVCS can help alleviate the instabilities of global monetary systems?
Read above. To quote Marcin "By relocalization of economies."
- How do you think that the GVCS can address issues related to resource conflicts?
No one fights over air, yet. Resource conflicts can be obsolete if everyone has what they need in abundance. Decentralized local stewardship of the land is far more beneficial than the current approach of incorporating it. I've seen one man create a full canopied rainforest out of a grass field in just 20 years of his attention - and have it world heritage listed. If someone can do that, then we can transform any land into land that is abundant. If we can produce a better environment and seed more land with this approach coupled with the ability to provide shelter and knowledge then potential resource wars could be averted.
- How do you think that the GVCS can address issues of overpopulation?
From my understanding and to paraphrase Edward Wilson, education and empowerment of women is the most powerful determining factor for the birthrate. It approaches 2.1 or less when a civilization has these characteristics which is a beautiful characteristic. The GVCS coupled with a powerful distributive education model can be more far reaching across humanity in achieving this than other alternatives I'm aware of.
- How do you think that the GVCS can address issues of resource depletion and environmental degradation?
Currently, the "developed" cities and our means of exchange (fake fiat currency) detach humans from what they take and what they create. The result is waste, apathy, and ultimately destruction. We are much more attuned to efficiency and waste when we are connected to what we take and what we create. Creating the GVCS and enabling self sustaining communities through greater freedom, spare time for self expression and sharing, and abundant food and shelter is a big draw card for getting humans to see an alternative and redistribute themselves. There is nothing innately wrong with humanity as we are sometimes misguided to believe, humanity is just in a situation/environment that is creating its temporary insanity.
Introduction
I just joined the true fans, and hope to become an OSE facility replicator in Northern Queensland (Australia) and a facilitator for the OSE model. I'd like to start as an intern or to join the immersion program when it is ready. I'll start by introducing my intentions and abilities.
I know myself to be a very driven generalist with broad talents. I have achieved what I have sought thus far by listening what I'm passionate about. I think OSE is a great catalyst for global change that also represents an approach for me to grow and use my collective talents, its something I wish to dedicate myself to. I am very interested in the immersion program and am willing to spend as much time as necessary to learn how to build the fundamental components of the GVCS as are presently developed, and to assist future development.
In our ability to replicate a facility, we have potential access to some machinery already such as earth movers, and are well connected with the local network for metal workshops and can arrange to use their tools. Our ability to start with the primary components of the GVCS is great because of this network. I see myself as a driver in assisting this reality in Australia and as such I want to educate myself with more of the machinery, construction and metal work skills required for me to go further. I have been in visual FX/CGI for 15 years total, and consider myself a master of digital media and especially 3D and simulation. I studied a Bachelor of Design qualification under scholarship, and also have a Certificate 4 in Electronics. I am also proficient in product modelling/design in Solidworks and architectural visualization in 3DS MAX. I did this for 10 years, helping to provide the successful contracts of large developments such as Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and The Melbourne Cricket Ground. As a relevant example I have produced technical animation of complex machinery for conversion of waste plastics to diesel fuel.
Waste plastics to diesel fuel conversion video
I am proficient in writing code for Arduino micro controllers and Python. I've built DC motors / battery charge controllers for automation and 16 bit data acquisition using the Arduino with my own code. I started printing circuit boards when I was 12 (building circuits since I was 10) and have used dark room projection methods on PCBs and metal bending fabrication to make an AC-DC variable power supply. I've taken some basic courses in blacksmithing, welding and metal work, and am excited about developing these skills, its a motivation for me to get away from the computer and use that 3D part of my brain for other things :) I've also experimented with Bedini motors which have interesting implications for solar (like being able to capture energy from moonlight into a battery by re-gauging voltage), being able to run DC motors at much higher efficiency, and improving the longevity and capacity of lead acid batteries.
I have recently purchased a share of land in Queensland, Australia with 5 other parties (80 acres, debt free). Proliferating the open source philosophy has been something that has been growing with me for a long time. We have the collective intent to setup as an educational resource for anyone who visits abroad, and to provide tools and knowledge to the local communities in Ravenshoe, potentially extending to Byron Bay in the future. We will finalise ownership of our land plot at the end of March 2014. Many of the others involved in our property already have an exceptional understanding of permaculture and aquaculture, and are producing all of their food where they currently live. Our property in subtropical climate is capable of supporting 90% of Earth's plant species according to Matali, one of the shareholders in the land. We have river frontage and multiple (spring fed) dams on the property. We are networked with some of the best talent in Australia in permaculture. I personally hope to contribute by enhancing more of my abilities in the engineering/mechanical capacity and to teach. As a teacher, I have previously lectured at 2 Australian universities in CAD, taught Final Cut Pro and repairing/building hackintoshes to children in Asia and worked with an NGO in Cambodia. I have also previously taught a specific mathematics program to some gifted secondary students.
I understand that the GVCS and immersion program is not yet complete, but after learning what is available currently I believe I would be useful in further development of OSE tools that are underway at your location during that time. I could learn much just through osmosis in being there, and I'm keen to get involved.
I feel this is the right time to start communication with you all as I am located considerably closer than Australia at the moment! I am currently located in Vancouver, Canada on contract with Sony Imageworks. I'm working on 3D Visual FX for Spider man as an FX TD.
I have used other specialized procedural 3D tools like Houdini, excellent for creating custom simulation and organic and large scale evolving 3D toolsets. These areas will help with design and potentially animated documentation of any future projects to make replication for other adopters easier.
2 of us at the property are also audio producers to a very high skill level, and I am experienced with professional photography/videography. I have aerial experience in photography from helicopters and UAV's. We intend to construct 2 audio production studios on the property, so being able to cover digital distribution and internet media in the future is an area that we can accommodate towards.
Previous work-
LED lighting sequence design for the Doha Asian Games
Aerial photography and videography
