That's the least efficient writing system I've ever seen.


On 16 April 2014 10:00, Matthew DeBlock <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> http://youtu.be/_GfEKOH1Y_o
>  (Yay.. I didn't burn down the house hehe)
>
> still a fresh experiment, but first tests seem promising :) (see you-tube
> video above)
>
> No water or ink required, just paper, sand and fire.
> Could probably be done to leather, cloth, even wood, but wood would
> require a longer hotter burn to singe.
> The writing is water proof, once made, there is no ink, so it wont run or
> smudge no matter how wet it gets. Also, because crossing lines "cuts" the
> previous line, there might be some cool ways to use that in a script.
>
> Cover paper with sand, wipe lines in it with a stick, fingers or anything,
> and set a small fire on top.
> The paper will singe, but the sand will prevent it from burning, and
> control singing to the line due to heat sinking and controlled oxygen flow.
> Also, from my basic chemistry understanding, I imagine the vapors from the
> burning material are leaving some residue that stains the paper.
> Burning paper kinda sucks, had to do multiple burns cause it burns so
> fast, but the ash builds up, when I try to remove the ash in between burns
> it disturbs the sand and exposes some areas a bit:(
>
> I think it will work much better with small burning sticks laid just above
> the sand .Build up the edges a bit so they don't actually lie on the
> "drawing surface" but instead are just above it. (not too keen on the idea
> of starting a small camp-fire in my house lol, but using sticks for one
> long burn and not poking around should improve the quality)
>
> The last image in the video shows the carbon marks left on the floor
> beneath the paper. They wipe off easily, but it would seem that if I try
> with several layers of paper I might be able to produce multiple copies at
> once. Primitive "carbon copies" hehe
>
> Not sure what to call it, yet thinking something like "blazing sand
> script" or “FireScript” or even “SandScript” (though that might be easily
> confused for Sanskrit) hehe..
> Also, If this was how a culture started their writing system I can imagine
> it evolving into tons of other methods eg, pouring molten material into
> sand molds, filling with powder that melts with heat then congeals, etc..
> so the writing system could be integrated into many other arts and crafts
> as it evolves
>
> The medium of lines in sand is fun. As Alex pointed out in the thread
> about Nailscript, crossing lines in clay like cuneiform might be able to
> distinguish depth layer to some extend as well. This sand is a similar case
> that demonstrates that concept I think. Although this takes it to the
> “extreme” because the sand actually cuts the previous like and leaves 2
> “walls” on either side of the second stroke. Varying stroke width,
> specifically, using increasingly thin strokes should allow multiple
> crossings in one location.
>
> Maybe when I find a beach where fires are permitted, or when I finally
> move back to North-America and have a back yard, I can develop it further.
>
> Since I have now put it on the back burner, sharing it, maybe someone else
> has the means and ideas for a next step or some application.
>
> Hope you guys like :)
>