BlueNeumann

So, another addition to the "retro computers that might have been" collection, my concept sketches for the Memex.



The basic idea for this computer is from a 1945 essay be Vannevar Bush called "As We May Think," which laid out the core concept for a what would eventually become our computer standard. He described slanted translucent screens (which I pictured being smoked glass with white text being projected onto them from underneath), with a keyboard and a set of controls, but otherwise looks like an ordinary desk. I had the idea that the left screen was for viewing files and documents, with the alphanumberic keyboard for creating and modifying, and the righthand screen would be the information directory with controls dedicated to scrolling through that. I also figured that the telephone, radio, and television would come through this device as well, as more information traveling through the "umbilical" connecting it to the primary database. I decided that the desk would have power and data input built in, so you would build out the infrastructure in the office and plug these desks in (and unplug when ready to be removed). I gave it a clean, modern look.... I was actually thinking 1960s, like 2001: A Space Odyssey... the Memex logo I sketched looks a little like the Hal 9000 logo, I think. I also pictured the interface's white lettering being in Eurostyle or Minima.

What's annoying to me is that once I finished this sketch, I realized a very nice version of this basic presentation existed already... in the Editdroid.

6 months since my last post? I've been drawing, don't worry about that. Keeping a rewilding sketchbook, which is fun but very long term, so not much to share. And what I've been doing leans more into the robot and mecha design... which is still sci-fi, and if I have something cool, I'll share. But here's something in connection to our first love, spaceships!


An eager young space cadet! I just had the idea for the character and had to put her down, inspired a bit by the sneak peaks of Star Trek Resurgence and that feeling of being on a starship again.


And a Y2K-ish standing console with LCARS, done on a scrap page. Just thought it looked kinda nice.

To quote the immortal Q, "can I have a Starfleet uniform?"





These are a bit derivative and a bit video game-y but I thought I'd share them anyway.

Since it's been... well, a dang while.. here's some new sci-fi art I made. Costumes. Still overdue to give you all some new ships.





The thing I was gravitating towards was the idea of the one shoulder being the department colour, and the dirty jumpsuits just having black there instead. Figured it was a simple, easily-identifiable thing that could be easily done. I was trying to go for a Fifth Element/graffiti style to the drawings, hence the weird bagginess of some of it. More stylized than practical.

Some more retrofuturistic laptop designs for ya.

More robots, naturally.



Gotta go design a bunch of leg concepts for all these torso-only machines.

I don't think the lilac is that bad, especially given that this is the more muted Voyager aesthetic... but the idea of some Arabic influence is making me think of some warm cream or sand colours for the wall and sofa, with more detailed/intricate elements being brought in, a rug or tapestry on the wall or ceramics on the end tables... I don't know how religious you're thinking the Captain would be, but I could also see some sort of 24th century astrolabe that constantly points in the direction of Earth/Sol. Even if he doesn't pray, he still has that connection to Earth, that spiritual tether.

Also, just had a brainstorm: I remember these real cool Arabic tiles, and I realize they can't really put tiles on the ship, so what if the Captain is into pottery? So on that oval table is a beautiful bowl he made himself? Like how Captain Picard tries to paint and Sisko loves to cook, Captain Ahmed al-Rashid is into making ceramics. His first officer could have one of his bowls in their quarters too, a gift.

Sketch Id id months ago for an Iron Star poster idea, trying to go for the 80s sci-fi aesthetic. Finally cleared out the sketchbook I put this in, so I thought I'd share.

Something a little more sci-fi for ya:



A monster design from my sketchbook, pulling inspiration from a couple different sources. Thinking this would be good a tokusatsu-inspired project, something that couldn't just be a guy in a suit.

I wound up seeing a fair amount of videos about houseboats and yachts today... which led to quite a few sketches. I'm going to finish them off and ideally mash them up with some other influences since I think a few might be useful for Iron Star and Sprinter, but for now, here's this sketch I did modifying and "hulking" out a motor to something that might suit a smaller spaceship. I just wanted something different than your usual glowing quantum core.



I'm thinking it's called the Hammerhead, though looking at it, it looks a bit more like a Ram.



So while sketching out my ideas, I kind of had the idea that the Sprinter would be modular.. I don't think the whole thing should be modular because that might not be spaceworthy but also every room would have the same dimensions and that would be boring, but I could see the kitchen, bathroom, and maybe the crew cabins being replaceable modules... though it still takes hours, and even in the future they'll make minor changes so that there's not total compatibility. They want to be able to sell you new ships, after all.

A little more AI-generated art. This time, concepts for a worker on one of those industrial ships. Was trying to think of what the Replicants might have done before escaping to Earth.




Digging the colour aesthetic (I don't think I dictated white but it somehow seems to work) and the "image soup" as I've heard the results lovingly called kind of fit that Nostromo/Blade Runner aesthetic I wanted.