Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 463,757 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,245 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 319,079 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,245 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 319,079 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,217 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 463,757 cutting edge ideas.

Reverse-Engineered Tech Art

H / AlCuTaAu by Cohen van Balen Returns Devices to Original States

— June 11, 2014 — Tech
H / AlCuTaAu by Cohen van Balen, a design studio made up of Revital Cohen and Tuur van Balen, is an art series that explores the original state of technological devices, tools and machinery. Essentially reverse-engineering them into the basic materials they were formed out of, the designers reduced them to extracted precious metals such as gold (Au), copper (Cu), tantalum (Ta), and aluminium (Al).

Commissioned for Arbeid van de Dag and the Flemish Arts Centre De Brakke Grond, which is located in Amsterdam, H / AlCuTaAu by Cohen van Balen encourages people to reflect on the manmade objects they use on a daily basis in a different way. Psfk notes that "they draw on the tensions between biology and technology to create artificial minerals, unnatural animals and poetic machines."
Trend Themes
1. Reverse-engineering - Exploring the original state of technological devices and reducing them to basic materials presents opportunities for understanding the inner workings and potential improvements of existing technologies.
2. Artificial Minerals - Creating artificial minerals through the reverse-engineering process opens up possibilities for developing new materials and applications in various industries.
3. Poetic Machines - Combining biology and technology to create poetic machines can lead to innovative approaches in robotics, automation, and interactive art installations.
Industry Implications
1. Electronics Manufacturing - The reverse-engineering of technological devices highlights opportunities for improving manufacturing processes, material sourcing, and resource efficiency in the electronics industry.
2. Metal Extraction and Refining - Extracting precious metals from discarded devices can lead to disruptive innovations in the metal extraction and refining industry, improving sustainability and reducing the need for virgin materials.
3. Art and Design - The integration of biology and technology in art and design opens up new avenues for creative expression, immersive experiences, and the exploration of ethical and societal implications.
5.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness