written after failed electrowetting experiments:
often, experiments with technology will just not work. perhaps: you don’t know enough; there are too many variables; or the universe just doesn’t want to side with you today.
that is still okay.
attempts are still progress. each failure is a new discovery; not all progress must be visible to the outside world; and not everyday can be breakthrough-day.
i spent this week stumbling around. i didn’t produce a new experiment, but:
- i experienced an electric shock.
- i experimented with dielectric layers.
- i studied electrowetting.
- i spoke with phil; nikolai; matt-griffin; summer.
- i did more cellular automata research.
- i wrote.
- i resolved.
- i tried to make a drop of water move.
- i worked with prisha.
- i understood ken-perlin’s class.
- broke new ground with tanika.
- wished good health to sharleen.
i did a lot. i’m doing okay.
overheard william say: “tom-igoe’s favorite thesis was a guy telling everyone about all the different ways in which he failed”. a repeat of that is not a bad backup plan :)