Gallery: A Machine That Creates Graffiti to Be Read After Our Society Collapses

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    Lorenz Potthast
    01

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    German artist Lorenz Potthast has created what he calls a "positive vandalism machine," for communicating with future generations.
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    Lorenz Potthast
    02

    02-top-part-petroglypomat-lorenz-potthast

    The machine uses an Arduino computer and CNC milling to etch messages onto stone.
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    Lorenz Potthast
    03

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    After considering that cave paintings from 40,000 years ago still have some current connotations—like the imprints of human hands—Potthast programmed the Arduino with a series of familiar icons, like the envelope symbol for “mail.”
  • The “positive vandalism” machine is a concept but Potthast says he hopes to get it up and running in the wild soon.
    Lorenz Potthast
    04

    20-book-development-petroglypomat-lorenz-potthast

    The “positive vandalism” machine is a concept, but Potthast says he hopes to get it up and running in the wild soon.
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