Here’s a piece I’ve been working on the past two days that so far remains untitled: http://www.andrewparnell.com/misc/colorwords.php

What it does is takes literature from Project Gutenberg and, converting the text to the corresponding ASCII hex values, turns it into a mosaic of color squares. Through it, I address issues of the ambiguation and limitation of ideas prevalent in language.

Thoughts?

I’m not sure whether or not you’re aware of the project that preempted the semaphore-bot (and then got shelved due to part restraints…it’s coming back as soon as I get some parts.)

Whether you are or not, you should certainly be aware of this awesome piece that inspired it all:

[More Here]

So, one project I’ve been working on lately is a text-to-semaphore robot that translates junk emails into semaphore.

I don’t really intend to tell the viewer that the text he’s translating is junk email but rather just present them with a scratch pad a key as to what position is what letter/number. If they take the time to translate some of his message (he delivers sixty characters per minute) they are rewarded with gems such as (and I’m digging these straight out of my inbox) “The Most Reliable Pharmacy Online Free 4 or 12 ViagraPills with any purchase its 100 percent FREE, no gimmick. Use the free pills to satisfy your woman ” leaving them to wonder if it was worth the effort.

Here are some videos documenting the alpha, 1.0 and 2.0 tests and iterations.

It’s worth noting that after reviewing my semaphore, his right arm is miscalibrated by 1 position.

Misanthropic technology explores the interactive nature of technology by inversing the relationship it has with man. Instead of promoting interaction with the user, Misanthropic Technology is a series of devices that avoids the anticipated interactions.

The camera avoids observing people, the screen loses clarity as the user approaches, and the headphones fade out the music if the user attempts to wear them.

Misanthropic Technology was a collaboration with Maxwell W. Walker, Mackenzie M. Schubert, Ashley A. Woods and Samuel D. Buchanan.

I’m seeing a lot of these sorts of projects pop up lately, and I must say they’re fascinating. Robots encroaching upon what has traditionally been the homeless’s turf. These bots have no where else to go, carry their entire lives in around with them, and have to beg just to get by. In a society that is more uneasy around the homeless than they are sympathetic, maybe it makes sense to automate the whole process.

See:
Carlos The Homeless Robot Pushes A Cart, Lacks A Body Above His Legs, And Is On Fire
http://directdaily.blogspot.com/2008/01/caritas-homeless-robot_27.html
Begging robot creates sound, asks for money
Robot begs you to build it

Using a pair of sensors “The Eye” constantly observes the user (or collection of users). Carefully monitoring them as they move about the installation.