In the Fly, the wayward strands of a fly's DNA get gene spliced with that of the unfortunate Seth Brundle (played by Jeff Goldblum). Rabid Protoyping takes the principle of this idea and applies it to the process of Rapid Prototyping, otherwise known as 3D printing.
In Rabid Prototyping a small percentage of one digital file is allowed in "infiltrate" and infect the main file, the results being further determined by a randomising algorithm. This would create structurally viable hybrids, but with no way of actually knowing what they would look like until the printing process was completed.
In this way, a simple cup might end up being 3D printed sprouting some of the characteristics of a fish; or an iPhone cover might be covered in some sort of random thumb like structure festooned with small suckers.
Input would consist of two (or more) dials enabling the user to simply choose what percentage of the initial files were spliced together, then wait to see what emerges several hours later.-- xenzag, Apr 07 2015 Example http://www.allposte...sters_i9172880_.htm [MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 07 2015] Can you hear me now? http://upload.wikim...e/Vacanti_mouse.jpggood... [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 07 2015] H P Lovecraft would have adored this ...
[+]-- 8th of 7, Apr 07 2015 A fine example Max.-- xenzag, Apr 07 2015 I bought a 4D printer on eBay. I got an empty box. When I emailed the company they said it will print itself sometime in the next two weeks..hmm-- not_morrison_rm, Apr 07 2015 Pun in search of an idea.-- normzone, Apr 07 2015 I disagree. It's a _wrongly-spelled_ pun in search of an idea.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 07 2015 You are wrong [normzone]. The fact is that I was listening to a radio 4 programme on the subject of 3D Printing, and the thought occurred to me as to what would happen if random bits of programming script were deliberately inserted into the files in such a way as to enable viable outcomes, but with an element of the unknown being generated in the outcome.
The two perfect names for this idea are Random Protoyping and Rabid Prototyping. I choose the later descriptor because it has more of an edge to it. I am very particular about naming ideas, and consider this to be a vital part of the inventive process. Of course with certain people, there will always be negativity, and it will always to be necessary to engage in the tiresome process of explaining matters further.-- xenzag, Apr 07 2015 Well, it's good to know that you've put a lot of thought into this. And we wouldn't want you to tire yourself - The help file IS a whole click away, and to read the part about pun titles you'd have to scroll down some to get past (philosophy) while being careful not to overshoot and go to (recipe).-- normzone, Apr 07 2015 Can anyone explain what "protoyping" is?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 07 2015 Might be one of those foreign accent things.
I wonder if [jutta] would grant me a second account titled
[wrong[normzone]-- normzone, Apr 07 2015 Not to be confused with rabbit prototyping, being performed by rabbits around the world, right about now-- theircompetitor, Apr 07 2015 Or confused with stereo_prototyping such as done by Noah."Take two of...-- popbottle, Apr 08 2015 [Can anyone explain what "protoyping" is?] I can answer that Max. This is where the prototype is made so quickly that a vital but single bit of it gets left behind in the process and must be inserted later on closer examination.-- xenzag, Apr 08 2015 Now I'm thinking of Welsh Rarebit Prototyping, just for you [normzone] :-)-- xenzag, Apr 08 2015 Sounds a bit cheesy, [xen].-- 8th of 7, Apr 09 2015 random, halfbakery