[archive]

Robots Tagged: interactive

1995

Telegarden

Categories: Agriculture, Art – Tags: , , ,

This was a two meters in diameter large robot tended garden, that was remote controlled via the world wide web by users all over the world. The project ran for 9 years until it was retired i 2004.

 The Telegarden was perhaps the first robotic artworks using multiple user remote controlling via the Internet. The ambition was to create and cultivate a real garden with a robot acting as telepresence for the online users.

The participants grew different plants like marigolds, peppers, and petunias. The online interface also allowed for communication between the participants via an online chat system to plan for co-operation.

The Telegarden is one of not so many robotic artworks that actually employ robots as a neutral helper, not drawing attention to itself other that the spectacular precision and possibilities that the robotics and telepresence presents.

1983

Electronic Garden #2

Categories: Agriculture, Art – Tags: ,

James Seawright has been creating artworks incorporating robotics since the mid 60’ties. This work consists of five robot flowers that interact with their surroundings according to parameters in the environment such as temperature and humidity. The artificial flowers were controlled by custom built microprocessors. The work also featured a push-buttons interface the allowed people interact directly with the flowers.

This is an early example of robotic art imitating not human or animal characteristics, but plants. The ambition of creating ‘artificial life’ is intact, but in this case it is plant life that is created. The works perhaps suggest a peaceful integration of plant and machine.

1970

The Senster

Category: Art – Tags: , ,

This large robot sculpture was equipped with directional sound sensors and radar and could respond by hydraulically moving its head towards the moving of sounding objects. With its neck fully extended it reached almost 5 meter in height.

The Senster is a key work in the history of robotic art. It was the first robot to use ‘hearing’ and ‘vision’ to interact with its visitors. It is also important in because of its animated appearance. Standing on its two legs the Sensters movements and its responses to its surroundings is strongly reminiscent of a large animal.

The Senster is one of the first in long line of animated robots, which use approximated human senses in the aim to create the feeling of standing in front of at thinking and feeling creature.

1966

Squat

Category: Art – Tags: ,

Squat was a large robotic sculpture that used a living plant as a human/robot interface. The sculpture was activated when a visitor touched the living plant that was electronically connected to the sculpture. The change in electrical charge in the plant when touched triggered the robot. When switched on the sculpture made sound. It had rollers at the end of its legs that allowed it to move up and down while waving its two arms, when it was switched on. It returned to rest when the plant was touched again.

Using an organic switch brings the mechanical robot a step closer to cyborg. The mixing of organic and mechanical brings about a blurring of the distinction between living and not-living, which features prominently in robotic art.

The work was part of the very central exhibition ”The Machine as Seen at the End of the Mechanical Age,” at MOMA in New York in 1968. 

1956

CYSP 1 – Cybernetic Spatiodynamic Sculpture

Categories: Art, Dance, Performance Art – Tags: ,

CYSP 1, from 1956, is often considered the first cybernetic sculpture in art history and also an important early example of interactive art.

The sculpture is made up by a series of colored plates and disks that move in response to external stimuli. Inside the base of the sculpture is an ‘electronic brain’ – a computer – developed by Philips.

Photo-cells and a microphone are built into the sculpture allowing it register variations in the fields of color, light intensity and sound intensity thus allowing the robot to interact with people in its near surroundings.