W/C 18.03.19

11. Technology & Creativity 

Weekly Event: 
Nothing! 
There was no organised Design & Technology activity this week since the class were preparing for the final presentation and exhibition of a project looking at redesigning telecare. Since there was no specific event to respond to, I decided to reflect on the effect of D&T on the design process – particularly it’s impact in this project. ​
Image: Team Goose at the exhibition
There is no doubt that technology has had a huge influence on the modern design process. Computing and software have revolutionised how we design, and massively reduced the distance from idea to product. The efficiency of my design process hangs off the use of the internet, and software such as Adobe Creative Suite and Fusion360.

The internet holds an incredible amount of information available for us to learn from and take advantage of; not just during research but throughout the entire design process. For example in this project I had created a CAD model of what was essentially a plug and wanted to create a render of it in situ. Instead of having to create a model of a plug socket, or mess around with my render in photoshop I could simply hop onto GrabCAD and download a plug socket someone else had already made.
Collaboration in the modern design process doesn’t require people to be anywhere near each other. During the telecare project I have been working as part of a group. We shared Fusion360 folder, Google Drive and Facebook group chat. We had constant access to each other and our work. While hugely useful, I think it also became an excuse for not meeting up as often as we should – we could share work and have discussions without being in the same room. But of course, this isn’t really as effective as being face to face. Brainstorming becomes distant and detached.

But the influence of technology doesn't stop at the software on our computers.  If you look into our studio you will see at least half of the class using an iPad Pro alongside their laptop to throw together some nice-looking sketches. People are ditching pens and paper.

​The other prominent technology in the studio is the Ultimakers. 3D printing has a huge impact on the design process. Prototypes of complex geometry can be created quickly and at a low cost. During this project we sent our designs off to the printers and got on with other work. Gone are the hours spent in the workshop. Technology means we can go from mind to accurate physical model in hours. 
Does software facilitate our creativity or limit it? 
While understanding all the benefits technology brings to design (mainly efficiency), I wonder whether I have become dependent on it. One of the first things I do when entering the studio is switch on my laptop. How would I design without it? Perhaps the outcome might actually be better.

Digital tools have become so good and so ubiquitous that there’s a tendency to use them for every part of the creative process. But perhaps it’s hindering our full potential. In the creative industry, technology today tends to be used as if it’s more than simply a tool. It becomes unanimous with all stages of the design process: a place for gathering inspiration, for sketching, and then for completing a project. Tools are just one aspect of the design process; making mistakes – and playing around – is also vital. If you’re working with creativity, you have to disconnect in order to go back to things with fresh eyes.

I’m sure some would say technology has stifled creativity. We teach ourselves to use programmes and software and learn our way around computers rather than how to think laterally. 
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However, I don’t really think you can argue that technology has had a negative impact on design. New technologies and techniques introduce new stimuli and new challenges, bringing with them the ability to devise fresh answers to old problems as well as fresh outcomes from new ones. Technology aids design. It has made creating for the future simpler. 

Reflections

Down to the wire

This summer I have an internship at an orthodontics research and manufacturing company who work with artificial intelligence, 3D printing bonding trays and robotic wire bending. I asked my boss what he thought the future of orthodontics holds. He answered without hesitation – development in super elastic (SE) and shape memory alloys for archwires. He specifically mentioned NiTi, CoCrNi and CuNiTi.
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Orthodontic archwires have significantly changed within the last 20 years. Archwire material has evolved from gold wires, to various stainless steel, as well as nickel, beta, and copper titanium wires. The shape of archwires has also evolved from round, square, and rectangular to recent bevelled surfaces. A balance is required between friction and control, as well as considerations for patient comfort.

The strain range of stainless steel wire is 0.5% at most. In order to obtain a good spring-back, it is necessary for the wire to be bent into a U-shape or in a loop. This causes stress to the patient. On the other hand, SE wires are flexible to the point where they can return back to their original shape after having been deformed. With this characteristic, it is not necessary to re-apply the wire every time there is movement of the teeth, so the number of reapplications per patient decreases. This results in a shorter treatment time. 

One of the main focus’s is reducing the stress on patients teeth. One of the main innovations has been with light forces and heat-activated/thermal NiTi wires. These wires are soft and pliable at room temperature, which permits easier insertion into the bracket slots. As the wire warms to mouth temperature, the wire becomes more “active.” This initial wire applies forces to begin tooth movement.

Beta titanium wire appears to be the intermediate wire between NiTi wires and stainless steel. This unique wire has half the force of stainless steel and twice the flex. This permits the change from generic NiTi to individualization of orthodontic archwire creation. This makes wire insertion gentle and lessens discomfort after the insertion.
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All patients are treated with archwires of various material throughout the stages of their treatment. Orthodontic archwire material innovations available are important when planning patient treatment. 

Orthodontic Wire: Art & Sculpture

Whilst doing some research on archwires, I cam across some sculptures made from orthodontic wire and materials. The University of Washington hold an annual orthodontic sculpture contest. The contest was inspired by the late Dr. Ben Moffett, a School of Dentistry professor emeritus of orthodontic who was a dentistry faculty member for three decades. In the 1960s, he took an art class in form and function at the UW, and found the material so useful that he arranged to bring a lecturer on the subject to the School of Dentistry for weekly talks. Interest in the subject led to the contest.

I remember class mates in school applying to study dentistry telling me the importance of manual dexterity. They would all practice making models as a result. It seems the skills of a dentists might not be that far from those of artists.
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Below are some of the most interesting orthodontic sculptures I came across. 



​Reflections

In a nice coincidence of timing, next week I am due to have my final orthodontic appointment. Since we are also approaching the end of term, it seems the perfect opportunity to reflect on both the course of my treatment and my research findings throughout this assignment.

When thinking about the course of my orthognathic treatment what always strikes me is how much of my life it consumed, and how much I changed in that time. If, as designers we are thinking about orthodontic and orthognathic patients we are dealing with people in the portion of life where they change the most. I remember many children opting for bright, multi coloured elastics on their braces. But by the time my appliance was fitted (at 15) everyone else had finished with orthodontics; I wanted the most neutral colour possible.  With the growing market for adult orthodontics, recent years have seen more interest in hidden appliances – either behind the teeth (lingual) or clear retainer systems. I wonder whether as children become concerned with appearance younger and younger orthodontics of the future will all be invisible. Although it comes down to cost too, I suppose. Current hidden orthodontics methods are more expensive.

One of the most interesting things I came across approached invisible orthodontics from a new angle. Aerodentis create appliances that you only wear at night (read more here). This solution also has the potential to address another inconvenience – the amount of time spent in the orthodontist’s chair. A future where electric braces are controlled by AI and worn at night seems revolutionary. No need to visit the orthodontist. No need for anyone to see your braces. Constant monitoring ensures they are working efficiently. Of course removable braces would also make it much easier to clean your teeth effectively. A lot of new solutions, such as Aerodentis and adult orthodontic appliances only work for straight forward malocclusion cases. In fact some treatments – such as 6 week smile - simply improve the appearance of the visible ‘smile’ teeth, and don’t improve functionality. I’m sceptical that these methods could be applied to a more complex case such as mine anytime soon. That would make the experience even worse; if everyone else had hidden appliances but I was still stuck with a mouth full of metal.

Another factor to think about when considering the amount of a patients life the course of treatment can take up is the psychological effects. It can feel like there’s an incredible build up to the end result, which can often cause unrealistic expectations. This is especially the case with orthognathic surgery. The development of software which helps visualise outcomes could help manage this.

Whilst I expected to spend the majority of this assignment researching new technologies and innovations in the field, I found that I also spent a surprising amount of time considering aesthetics. I think of my orthognathic journey as a very functional one, since the asymmetry and malocclusion was causing migraines that left me on a load of medication that I am now happy to be free of. But the significant visual change can’t be ignored. As I found here facial change can have a huge psychological impact.

As society is becoming more and more obsessed with looks there is bound to be more demand for orthodontics and orthognathics. The media can be used as a tool to play on our insecurities and perhaps feed a growing market for orthodontics to profit from. The IOTN is the NHS’s system for determining which patients are eligible for free orthodontic treatment. It has 5 grades. Grade 4 and 5 quality for free treatment, and sometimes grade 3 depending on an assessment of the individual. Grade 1 is almost perfect teeth, so it would be patients in grade 2 and 3 that represent the growing market for orthodontics based on aesthetics, who would be treated privately.

I found looking at the work of Orlan a refreshing alternative to the prescriptive beauty standards set by the industry. After my surgery, the thought of anyone going through such a procedure purely for aesthetics baffled me. The amount of pain, swelling and lack of ability to speak or eat properly for months after surgery wouldn’t be justified by a slightly better looking face.

But, perhaps the most interesting thing I came across was the internet phenomenon of mewing. Is the whole orthodontics industry a lie? Would none of us need braces if we just had proper tongue posture and breathed through our noses? Dr Mews message is revolutionary. I personally don’t want to believe it because I don’t want to consider the amount of time and pain I may have gone through unnecessarily during my orthodontic treatment. Understandably the whole orthodontics industry doesn’t want to believe it either. But what is Mew’s motivation? That’s what I don’t understand – he’s not trying to sell anything; just giving out free advice. Why would he lie? The whole thing leave me confused. I don’t want to believe, but ever since I found out about it I’ve been making a conscious effort to rest my tongue on the roof of my mouth and breathe through my nose. I haven’t gone as far as taping my mouth shut at night yet.
Overall, what have I learnt about the future of orthodontics? While good results are achieved, and have been achieved for years, innovations in materials and technology are drivers for increased time efficiency and better patient experience. Both of which are important in an increasingly popular industry. 

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10. Re-Engineering Humanity // Facial Perception