The Anatomy

 

Form for Fluid Computer initiates artistic research to construct a prototype for a fluidic toolkit. Looking through a series of old patent reference books, throughout an ‘alphabet of parts’ is sketched. The alphabet consists of a series of carefully designed shapes that can guide and control streams of water through their insides.

​

When connected, digital & analogue circuits equivalents to those made with electronic components emerge. The shapes are guided by a physical phenomenon called the Coanda effect (named after Romanian physicist Henri Coanda) which states that fluid jets tend to get attached to convex surfaces. Each angle, curve and nozzle width is essential for the proper functioning of the final machine.

​

Some forms, such as the Equivalence Element, are inspired by human physiology (the oral system) and appear in organic and curvaceous morphologies. Some are logic elements like AND, OR, NOR, and NAND gates. And some come as shapes that can work with exponential values, such as amplifiers and oscillators. One essential shape is the Fluidistor, which can undergo operations of both amplification and switching like a regular transistor.