Research Tool

I liked the tactile emphasis of this robot toy, I also thought about it’s use as an adult toy for reflection and comfort – also the possibility of rehabilitation assistance for elderly people who have been forced to lose their pets due to social and health circumstances or moving to communal living. I’m already saving up for one.

 

In much the same way as vegetarianism could be thought of as evolutionary, perhaps robotic pets could be seen as ‘technolutionary’, even ‘real’ zoo’s could finally have had their day.

The downside is that this new robotic cat is still pretty disappointing when compared to science fiction and popular media examples which socially construct the desire/discourse for ever better ‘life-like’ technology at an affordable/acceptable price. Lastly, it also occurred that I have found myself talking freely to my own cat who seems to listen in it’s own feline kind of way, provoking thoughts of a therapeutic, tactile (pro-active), listening, telepresence kind of companion robot which is tailor made to an individuals desires and needs. A foundation for this concept is nicely portrayed in Phillip Pullman’s – His Dark Materials trilogy with everyone having their own ‘daemon‘.

Touching Snakes

I am currently interested in the ‘first touch’ of a snake and our initial reactions. This video is a good start regarding questions of the ‘uncanny’ hypothesis and also for notions of ‘hard wired’ or cognitive schema for self-protection regarding snakes. This little girl’s reactions are completely unhibited and devoid of any ’natural’ or indeed socially derived fear. Rather, she is engaged and eager to experience the unknown. It may be important to note that this socially derived event is characterised by an enabling and positive atmosphere created mainly by the little girl’s Mum and others who are present. Also interesting is Katie’s desire to move her face towards the snake’s head, is she taking a closer look or perhaps (below) she felt immediately compelled to kiss it or touch it with her lips for some kind of further haptic confirmation?

The Hug Shirt

Another vital Xmas present please, it connects to your mobile phone via bluetooth and gives you a hug determined by the caller, intensity, length of time etc. Where do I pre-order? – CuteCircuit

Twendy-One from Geekologie

We have seen this robot before but the Geekologie ‘take’ made me laugh so I have included their comments below.

‘Twendy-One’ is the horrible name of a new robot coming out of Japan. His claim to fame is his gentle touch, thanks to the 241 pressure-sensors in each hand, which allow him to grip bread without breaking it. Wow, just what I’ve been waiting for — a bread gripping robot. He stands five-feet tall, and the team responsible for his development hopes to get his price down to $200,000 by 2010. He was designed to serve breakfast, but so far only has a 15 minute battery life. Which makes perfect sense. I mean really. Who needs a warm breakfast on the table when you can have a robot that puts bread in the toaster, turns on the stove, powers down due to a low battery, then lets your house burn to the ground? All for only $200,000. Where can I pre-order?

Geekologie

Contemplation

The reeds give way to the wind and give the wind away.

A.R. Ammons, “Small Song”

For Xmas please?

Digital Ethnography and seminars will never be the same.

http://www.livescribe.com/uk/

The Vital Text

 

Translations include Waterstone’s and Blackwell’s apparently?

 

Robot Reports from the BBC

Some new video reports from BBC science, the first is an impressive jumping robot from Boston Dynamics and the second video is a round up of the latest developments in medical robots.

Mori – Buddhism – Social Construction

A Heartbeat That Has Lasted a Hundred Million Years:

“The great life of the cosmos is never-ceasing. Each breath we take, each beat of our hearts, is a part of this unending movement. Before all else, we must awaken ourselves to the cosmic life within us. Otherwise, we cannot begin to know the world we live in as it really exists.” (Masahiro Mori, 1981)

After reading Mori’s ‘The Buddha in the Robot’ I was looking for a definitive connection between Buddhism and Social Construction and this paper is a compelling example. Most authors who consider themselves to be writing within the Social Constructionist perspective seem to pass over its connections with the Buddhist tradition and teachings.

 ”If you call this a stick, you affirm; if you call it not a stick, you negate. Beyond affirmation and negation what would you call it?”  (12th Century Koan of Tai-hui) – “a constructionist centrepiece” – Gergen  (2006)

 I’d still like to go to heaven or nirvana though please, even though I’m an existentialist (to boot)? - Sometimes I’m actually glad it’s only me that reads this rubbish!!!!

Elektro (Robot History)

Elektro, from the New York World’s Fair in 1939, it was built by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It could be said that we haven’t come as far as we think regarding Humanoid Robots, Elektro is 60 years old?