The Future of Kiteflying

Discussing the Future of Kiteflying in the Forum




One of our topics is What is the Influence of Games for Children ?

第一场
First Symposium

交流主题一:
游戏,对孩子意味着什么?

For children, playing games is to practice for future social requirements.

It's so easy to reduce the topic! Clear and simple answers to this question during an scientific educational symposium can only be perceived as a kind of provocation. But provocations encourage the discussion of the relevant topic. Relax.

I understand myself as an "adult child". My interest is "kite flying" and everything related to it. In some parts of the world, kite flying is only acceptable for children. Adults who are concerned with this topic are considered to be "playful" or have not yet "grown up". I know that playing games, and of course kite flying, belongs to the cultural heritage. Here in China, kite flying enjoys a high esteem. I am profiting from this attitude.

As an "adult child", my interests are somewhat different than described above for small children. From the pleasure of dealing with kite and kite flying, I obtain a part of my self conception, self image and self esteem. I therefore would like other people to deal with this issue as well. How can I accomplish to hand over my passion for kite flying?

Thus I ask the question:

What is the Future of KiteFlying

 放 风筝 未 来


Future is not  conservation of the ashes, but passing the fire


未来不只是节约骨灰,但 交出来火力









Abstract:
Nevertheless kite building and kite-flying is a relaxing hobby and pastime. But what is the Future of Kite-flying?  This depends:  have a look at me and you. We are at best "Today", but Tomorrow we definitely will be "Best Before". Future is always the next generation to come. And future is not only conservation of the ashes, but passing the fire. Thus the vital question is, how to make kite-flying more attractive to the younger generation?
But the future of kite-flying ist not only the future
of relaxing hobbies, or pastimes of younger generations. Future is also developing kites for technical purposes. Seriously developing modern aspects of kite-flying. will attract media, will attract  the more agile parts of our societies, and as a spillover effect, will in the end even drag attention to the more contemplative viewpoints of kite-flying.

摘要:
尽管制作风筝和放风筝是一种放的业余爱好和消遣,然而,放风筝活动的未来是怎样的呢? 这取决于多种因素。审视一下你我们如今正如日中天,但明天我们终将退居二线。未来总是属于继往开来的下一代。传统不是格守余灰,而是传递种。因此,至关重要的问题是,我们如何使 放风筝这一活动对年轻一代更吸引?放风筝的未来不仅仅关系到年 轻一代的悠闲业余爱好和消遣未来还风筝技术开发息息相关
实现放风筝现代化将吸引媒体的注意,吸引社会更具活力的部分,甚至同 时还可使大众关注放风筝更深沉的观点



Kite first appeared in the wars of the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period, some 2500 years ago. One ancient book noted, that the master carpenter LuBan invented kites that were flown high to spy on the situation of the enemy. There is a Monument of LuBan in front of the Worlds Largest Kitemuseum in WeiFang, ShanDong Province, China. LuBan is the Patron of Carpenters, Architects and other kinds of professionals. There are even Daoist LuBan temples in BeiJing, TianJin (under reconstruction in 2010-11),  HongKong , Macao, and elsewhere, commemorating him.

Since than, military interests have always been a keystone in inventions and especially in kiting. Even during the cause of the last World Wars. You may have a glimpse of a balloon-kite, widely uses during WW-II, by German, French, Belgian, Austrian and Russian troops. The aim was reconaissance.


And even today, kites are an interesting tool for making pictures of remote areas, where it is too expensive to use an aircraft. Kites and cameras are for instance used to take pictures of archeologic sites, small buildings or other objects. Kite arial Photography became possible through miniaturisation of photographic and filming equipment.
Just put a camera on your kite. The oldest and worldwide most active kite association, was founded in 1913. It is the KAP or Kite Aerial Photograhy Association.


After the invention of paper, kite builders started to make use of this new material. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, when amusements thrived with the development of culture and economy, kites became the cossets of the people of both court and country. Have a look at a modern flying palace lantern.

Kite is mainly, but not only, a plaything. It has contributed to science and production. The first planes were shaped to resemble birds of prey. This is why the English name for this device is "kite". In 1782, Benjamin Franklin, a noted American scientist and statesman, studied lightning and thunder in the sky with the help of a kite and then invented the lightning rod. On November 12th in 1894, Lawrence Hargrave was lifted from the ground by a train of four of his "cellular kites" . Hargrave was doing his utmost, to invent the plane! On November 7th 1903, Samuel Franklin Cody actually crossed the English Channel on a vessel towed by kites. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, kites were used for lifting military observers to heights from which they could observe the disposition of enemy forces. And to give them a stable lift, even if there is no wind, there were even kite-balloons as we already have seen.

During World War II, kites were also used as gunnery targets. French military kites have long been popular with kite fliers. Their lifting power and stability make them ideal for high altitude flying or just carrying goods. Even today. Using a kite for lifting persons, is done for centuries. You may even find it today, But for security reasons, this is not always recommended.

Another technical means of using a kite, is just to use it for lifting an antenna. Marconi used it for the worldwide first transatlantic wireless communications transmission between Ireland and Canadian Nova Scotia.


Nevertheless kite building and kiteflying is a relaxing hobby and pastime. But what is the Future of Kiteflying?

This depends:  have a look at me and you. We are at best "Today", but tomorrow we definitely will be "Best Before". Future is always the next generation to come.  And future is not only conservation of the ashes, but passing the fire. Thus the vital question is, how to make kiteflying more attractive to the younger generation?

What about using a kite as a motor to drag you fast speed over the ground. One of the best places on earth for kite buggying is the island of Fanoe in Danmark. Have a look at a kitesurfer at the north sea resort of Fanoe Island, Danmark. But you might also use a kite for skiing or to drag you and your sled to the South pole and back again.

Today kites are flown in competitive sports, even in modern Olympic diciplines like Kitesurfing. Kitesurfing had been adopted at the Athens Olympic Summer Games, but because of problems accepting worldwide rules, there have been so far no Olympic contests. Kitesurfing is really a HighPerformance kind of sports, and one of the future thrills for younger generations.

But the future of kiteflying ist not only the future of relaxing hobbies or pastimes of younger generations. Future is also developing kites for technical purposes. Just have a look at this energy conservig means of driving a ship. HighTec at its best. This is future, and its todays reality.


Seriously developing these modern aspects of kiteflying will attract media, will attract  the more agile parts of our societies, and as a spillover effect, will in the end even drag their attention to the more contemplative viewpoints of kiteflying.

And ofcourse have a look for your neighbour, beware of entangling. Happy kiting to all of you from me.


Hans P. Boehme
2011-04