irreality

Kacie Kinzer’s thesis relies on data obtained by watching how people interact with small helpless robots.

“Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal.

Kacie Kinzer's Tweenbot

The journey the Tweenbots take each time they are released in the city becomes a story of people’s willingness to engage with a creature that mirrors human characteristics of vulnerability, of being lost, and of having intention without the means of achieving its goal alone.”

So what happened to the little robot?

Mission 1: Get from the Northwest to the Southwest Corner of Washington Square Park, New York
Elapsed Time: 42 minutes
Number of people who intervened: 29

There are other pictures, a video of the bot in action, and a sneak peek at some new bots on the Tweenbots webpage, so be sure to head over there and sign up for information on upcoming projects.

29 people stopped to pay attention, and to help something that was helpless along the way.

Maybe there’s still hope for us after all.

I’ve never really taken the time to write down resolutions or goals for the new year before, but for some reason the light workload today has me thinking about things.

1. Be a better husband – This one is the most important to me, for obvious reasons.  I’ve done some pretty stupid things over the last couple of years, and frankly, sometimes I’m not sure why she puts up with me.  She obviously sees something worth polishing, and if I’m smart I’ll help buff down the rough spots.
2. Exercise my body – I’ll be turning 32 this year, and while I’ve been fairly healthy I’ve never really been one to exercise.  I need to change this.  I don’t get sick often, but as I get older I need to worry more about heart disease, cholesterol, and all the other ugly health issues that can arise.  The older I get, the more difficult it will be to change, and if that was not reason enough, my injured spine will be under less strain and should hurt less.
3. Exercise my mind – It’s time for me to look into furthering my education, be it starting a IT certification path, or taking some classes towards a degree in the evening after work.  There’s also a list of books that I want to read, and I intend to put a dent, however small, in that list this year.
4. Be a better man – This really ties into all the other goals in one way or another, but it’s worthy of its own entry.  I need to be more responsible than I currently am.  I need to be more perceptive of other people’s feelings.  I need to get much, much better at realizing when people are looking to me to make a decision – any decision.  I need to develop my social circle, and become more involved in events outside the house.