Optimal Friction™

Here in beautiful Camden Maine at the POPTech Conference. I was fascinated with the first two speakers, Graham Flint, a physicist, and Robert Hammer, a biologist. Graham is describing super-high resolution digital imaging - gigapixels. Robert is describing the taxonomy of cataloging species through barcoding.

The purpose? To preserve through high-resolution information, visual images of say, places around the world that are disappearing (e.g. areas of Rome, due to acid rain}, and species, which are losing their habitats.

I noted on the online chat that both are endeavoring to save information about that which is vanishing. An ironic and sad twist to "progress" in modern society.

And indeed, during the break I had a fascinating conversation with Robert, where his ultimate goal is to spark preservation and ecology. He was frustrated that, as a biologist, he can solve the cataloging of DNA problem, but the message about preservation and ecology is the one he really is trying to convey.

Any contributors out there would be greatly appreciated...