San Antonio College Library

Plywood is an astonishingly versatile material, made by gluing together layers of cross-grained veneers, creating a pliable board that can be stronger than solid wood. Stylish and practical, plywood offers huge possibilities for experimental design, and it has been used to make a wide range of products, from aeroplanes, boats and automobiles to architecture and furniture. This book traces the history of plywood from its use in 18th-century furniture,...

Professor Mark Miodownik's investigation into the complexities of modern invention concludes with an insight into how new materials enabled people to become curious about the world around them. He reveals the impact the advent of the bicycle had on the national gene pool, and highlights how the concept of levitation provided the spiritually inclined to set out in search of their inner self.

Have you ever stopped to think about the products you use every day? Why are they designed the way they are? And why are they made of particular materials?This Miniclip examines the properties of materials including being flexible, strong, waterproof, durable, conductors of heat, and sustainable. Students will examine everyday design products like dishwashing gloves, coconut bowls, and reusable metal straws to see how different properties of their...

There are nearly two million amputees living in the United States today. Newer, high-tech prosthetics have made life easier for many of them. But even with these devices patients still can't feel what they're touching. But biomedical engineers are working on a prosthetic arm that's changing the game for amputees.

"Spanning six centuries of global design, this far-reaching survey is the first to offer an account of the vast history of decorative arts and design produced in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and the Islamic world, from 1400 to the present. Meticulously documented and lavishly illustrated, the volume covers interiors, furniture, textiles and dress, glass, graphics, metalwork, ceramics, exhibitions, product design, landscape...

Exploring the first powered looms through to graphic design and fiber optics, this video takes viewers on a journey through the innovations across the design and textile industry. It looks at how the industry has pushed its way into the 21st century by keeping up with trends and consumer demand. It discusses changes in fashion, interiors, and textiles and technological developments within the realm of design that have led to a more efficient and innovative...

Like never before in history, buildings can become part of the climate solution. With biomimicry and innovation, we can pull huge amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere and lock it up as walls, roofs, foundations, and insulation. We can literally make buildings out of sky with a massive positive impact. This book presents a paradigm-shifting tour of the innovations in architecture and construction that are making this happen. Office towers built...

This is a follow-up book to the author's Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air, which had a large influence on both government policy and public opinion of how we should plan our energy for the future. This book faces up to the impacts of making materials in the 21st century. We are already making materials well, but demand keeps growing and we need to plan for a sustainable material future. The steel and aluminium industries alone account for nearly...