paraphrase: “kinematics (the study of pure motion and a forerunner of modern design theory of machines) flourished in the 19th century as machine inventors learned to transmit information and forces from one element in a machine to another. steam and water-based machines generated circular motion which was limited in its application. practical inventors as well as mathematicians took up the challenge to create devices that could convert circular motion into noncircular, complex, three-dimensional, intermittent motions. thousands of mechanisms were invented, designed, and built, nurturing the widespread use and manufacture of machines.” if that peaks your interest check out this gallery from cornell university of franz reuleaux’s kinematic models. if that tickles your fancy head straight

over to the kinematic models for design digital library (or kmoddl) which is the mother load of kinematic goodness. or at very least click the thumbnail. enjoy.