Dunn Zhang

This project unfolds in a near-future scenario, where analog technology takes center stage at the onset of the Third World War—a period heavily shadowed by digital fragilities. The backdrop of this narrative offers a poignant critique of the deep-seated distrust, pervasive fear, and the abrupt rush toward destruction in a starkly divided bipolar world.

This project has two distinct yet interconnected parts: the physical object of a targeting computer and the intricate process of world-building.

At the heart of this narrative lies the targeting computer, designed for a weapon of mass destruction. Its deliberately minimalistic design and thoughtful presentation highlight the paradoxical nature of modern warfare. This object serves as a stark emblem of the advanced, streamlined efficiency of current military technology while also casting a revealing light on the cold, impersonal cruelty that is an inherent byproduct of such advancements in warfare.

Meanwhile, the project's world-building component delves deep into geopolitical speculation, inviting contemplation of a future world's dynamics. It is an imaginative journey that seeks to understand and explore our propensities to fall into what is known as Thucydides' Trap, the often fatal attraction of rival powers towards conflict. This aspect of the project enriches the narrative and offers a speculative lens through which to view and comprehend the complexities and potential pathways of our global future.

The fabrication journey of this project began with the conceptualization of a preliminary design inspired by the iconic mechanics of the Etch-a-Sketch. Initially, my vision was to employ a complex network of strings and pulley systems to manipulate the X and Y axes for cursor navigation. However, facing certain practical constraints, I pivoted towards a more streamlined and user-friendly operating mechanism in the initial iteration. This involved integrating small, intuitive handles that allow users to seamlessly guide the cursor.

Subsequent iterations saw iterative refinements, addressing and rectifying various design challenges that emerged along the way.

A key feature of this project is the topographical model, which is a 3D-printed representation of the Kaliningrad Oblast Region. This model is crafted to depict population density through its contours. The innovative aspect of this model is the incorporation of a Z-axis mechanism. This mechanism is designed to glide across the topography, interpreting population data. In the early stages, challenges arose with the cursor mechanism getting stuck. To overcome this, I introduced a 1/4" bearing that snugly fits around the rod, providing stability and precision. This bearing allows for two distinct modes: a default state, where the cursor hovers just above the topographical surface, and an active reading state, where the user can press the cursor down onto the model’s surface to obtain an approximate population density reading. This intricate interplay of design and functionality embodies the project’s innovative spirit.

Topographical Model

In the twilight of 2024, following a protracted war of attrition, Russia secured a decisive strategic victory over Ukraine, expanding its territorial dominion and relegating the remainder of the nation to a protectorate status.

Western support, led by a disillusioned and divided United States, dwindled as the prospect of a Russian capitulation dimmed.

As 2027 dawned, a new conflict trumped the previous strife. Provoked by a series of hostile acts from Iranian-backed proxies, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel along with several NATO states,  embarked on an air campaign and ground invasion of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

After months of fierce combat, Tehran surrendered, but the conflict extracted a heavy toll. One hundred thousand US casualties and left behind controversial acts that tarnished the United States' image, fuel for Chinese and Russian propaganda warfare.

The year 2032 saw the United States politically paralyzed, descending into civil unrest post an indecisive presidential election. With its domestic bedrock shaken, America's grip on international influence weakened. 

The ripple effects were felt across the Atlantic; by 2035, proximity to an emboldened Russia convinced smaller NATO states Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia sever ties with the Alliance, favoring the security of Moscow's sphere.

By 2040, the once formidable NATO alliance found itself eroding, its European ranks dwindling to major European nations like Poland, Germany, the UK, and France. Nations such as Spain, Italy, and Hungary, swayed by China's generous capital investments, opted for a stance of neutrality in this escalating cold war. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean became a new battleground as Greece and Turkey were embroiled in a naval war. Such disarray within the Western coalition was unprecedented; the chaos and fragmentation seemed to herald the end of an era. Observers in the East drew parallels between this disintegration and the fall of the Soviet Union, a seismic shift that had occurred half a century earlier.

In 2045, a seismic shift occurred as major Arab oil exporters, who have long been BRICS members, abandoned the US Dollar in favor of the Chinese Yuan, tilting global economic scales eastward. 

With newfound economic vigor, China imposed a naval blockade on Taiwan with a show of force, intimidating it into become an autonomous province under Beijing's jurisdiction. 

This acquisition handed China the keys to advanced chip manufacturing and triggered a digital renaissance powered by sophisticated AI, used to quell any hint of dissent within Taiwan.

The 2050s marked a pivotal era with the birth of the Eurasian Pact, a formidable alliance that galvanized Eastern powers and presented a unified front against the fractured Western Coalition. Amidst this geopolitical chessboard, China's technological mastery burgeoned, unleashing an AI behemoth capable of slicing through the world’s most impregnable digital defenses with the precision of a cybernetic sword.

Fearing an imminent escalation, the United States, reclaiming its role as the West's vanguard, made a strategic pivot to the roots of analog ingenuity. The SOB—Strategic Orbital Bomber—stood as a testament to this shift. This platform, capable of delivering rapid, non-nuclear orbital strikes, epitomized analog resilience in an age rife with digital vulnerabilities. The "Rods from God," inert tungsten projectiles, promised swift, undetectable devastation, immune to electronic warfare, air defenses, and early warning systems. This strategic innovation aimed to balance the scales of conventional warfare without escalating to nuclear conflict.

As the dust settles from the initial onslaught, Russian armored divisions surge into the heartland of Poland, and the formidable Chinese Marine Corps, Navy and the Rocket Force overwhelms the coastal defenses of the Japanese archipelago. The globe is engulfed in a confrontation that has been simmering beneath a deceptive veneer of peace. Now, as battle lines are drawn across the vast expanses of Western Europe and across the tumultuous waters of the Pacific, the world braces for a struggle that will redefine the contours of power and influence for generations to come. The Third World War, a specter that loomed over humanity for over a hundred years, has begun.

In undertaking this project, I ventured beyond my comfort zone, immersing myself in unfamiliar territories and challenging my own boundaries. One of the most significant aspects of this endeavor was the purely mechanical nature of the physical component, devoid of any electronic elements. This choice introduced a myriad of challenges, particularly in achieving precision in fabrication and finessing the details, necessitating several iterations to reach perfection. This process not only honed my hands-on fabrication skills but also underscored the critical importance of problem-solving in design adjustments.

The narrative backdrop of this project is set in a speculative future world, around the 2050s, where the forces of the West and the East are embroiled in conflict. The physical outcome of this imagined scenario is the targeting computer, a product of this futuristic warfare. My long-standing interest in geopolitics and history, coupled with observations of our current reality, fueled the creation of this fictional world. This world serves both as a critique and a keen observation of potential future geopolitical dynamics.

Overall, this journey has been enlightening, introducing me to the intricacies of mechanism design, the art of creative writing, and the craft of storytelling. The skills and insights gained from this experience are invaluable, and I treasure the knowledge and expertise I have acquired through this creative and intellectual exploration.