Past/ Potential Urban Interventions

I've come across plenty of videos about linking plants to networks so they can tell you when they need watering, but this project goes far beyond that.

This project from a few years ago addresses urban issues and also provides an interactive solution.

Illah Nourbakhsh Lecture: Ethics in Robotics

Though not directly relevant to class, a great talk about ethics in robotics. Something to chew on while we dabble in the cyber world.

Robots with a mind of their own

AMANDA PARKES: Phrases of the Kinetic: Organicism and Transformation fro...

Harnessing bodily energy... through fashion. Robotics is no longer just for geeky boys with pocket protectors! Mmmm... wearable algae, who knew?

Networked Buoyant Individuals / Piezoelectrical Generation

Taken as a combined proposal, I think these two videos create a phylogenetic field of possiblity.





A dense cloud of floating piezoelectrical generators could capture the waste energy of East span Bay Bridge pile driving, for example, at the same time alleviating construction-related noise pollution; a network of intelligent photovoltaic balloons could not only follow sunbursts from one side of the city to the other but shade festival-goers in Golden Gate park.
//J Austin

Arduino THE MOVIE

Arduino The Documentary (2010) English HD from gnd on Vimeo.

Responsive Kinematics

Responsive Kinematics Video - From Robotic Ecologies Fall 2009

Sensors, Sensibilities and more

Here are some recent articles of interest:

Sensing:
Sensors and Sensibilities Economist - 14 Nov, 2010
A Sea of Sensors Economist - 14, Nov, 2010
Tracking:
Facebook Map of the World P. Butler/FastCo - 14 Dec, 2010
Your Own Private Matrix Economist - 14 Nov, 2010
Simulating:
Project Aims to Simulate 'Everything' BBC - 27, Dec, 2010

Robotic Ecologies Update

Where we are now and where we are headed 2008-09...

During the Fall/Spring 2008-09 we will be at the
University of Michigan TCAUP (link). Jason Johnson will be serving as the Oberdick Research Fellow, and Nataly Gattegno will be the Muschenheim Fellow. During the Summer of 2009 we will serve as the 2008-09 New York Prize Fellows at the Van Alen Institute in New York (link) working on our Aurora interactive installation.

* All 2008/09 updates will be published here: FUTURE CITIES LAB . NET

2008 Digitalis Robot

The 2008 Digitalis Robot was produced by architecture Prof. Jason Johnson and music Prof. Matthew Burtner with assistance from Joy Wang, Megan Manion and Troy Rogers -- plus the Interactive Media Research Group [IMRG] and ITC at UVa. [more info, images and video coming soon.] On April 4th, 2008 our robot responded to real-time information from over 300 wireless laptops at the UVa amphitheater ... a world record perhaps?? check back soon to find out ....