Once again, we have jewelry featuring droids. These pendants have movable joints and Austrian crystals, and all include chains.
I must say, while they are all quite adorable, the individual with the pink heart does have a special attraction for me.
Robot Pendants Are Definitely What Your Mom Wants (BotJunkie)
Since I have not received any disagreement with my statements on astromechs and education from the last missive, I believe it is safe to say that there does not seem to be a great argument for allowing such droids to educate our children.
However, there does seem to be an understandable desire to expose young humans to the technology behind our creation and programming. I have noted one effort in this direction so far, but here is a more community-oriented project in the city of Chicago.
Sponsored by Robot City Workshop, Bots 4 Tots is dedicated to providing curious children experience with building droids, when they may not otherwise have the opportunity. Every $25 in donations creates a spot for a child, including the kit and assistance necessary for a successful project.
Bots 4 Tots – Starting Them Off Early & Right With Robots (ROBOTS DREAMS)
Regardless of the commentary on droid respect, there are some constructs you do not want instructing impressionable young minds. Political leanings aside, astromechs in general lack the educational and child rearing programming necessary for the task.
Artoo is more than a droid, he’s a cheap laptop for kids (Boing Boing Gadgets)
If the rings from the last missive were not enough adornment, please take a look at these adorable earrings from Temporary: Secretary. Named Oscar, and Max, they have four faces, and are rather adorable fellows.
Robot Blockhead Earrings (BotJunkie)
The majority of the time, droids are meant to be useful companions, performing tasks humans are either unable or unwilling to do themselves. However, in some cases, as this one, they are merely decorative accessories. These rings from Olivia Clare Designs, feature friend droids set handset into silver and are quite an attractive statement.
Retro robot cameo rings by Olivia Clare designs (Boing Boing Gadgets)
Once again, we find Rebel astromech R2–D2 being used for purposes far beyond his original operating specifications. In this incarnation, he serves as a drink servers. However, unlike his tenure with a Hutt, he lacks all mobility, instead confined to one location, merely accepting whatever drinks and other paraphernalia you choose to place upon his serving tray.
R2-D2 Coffee Table Won’t Serve You Drinks (BotJunkie)
In the past, I have shared a fair amount of both droid-created and droid-related art in these missives. If any in the audience are involved with creations of this sort, please note that this year’s RoboGames event will include an art exhibition.
The call for entries reads:
ROBOGAMES 2009 5th Art Exhibition
Call for Entries:
The exhibition will take place during the ROBOGAMES event from June 12th –14th at Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA. Opening night is Friday June 12th
The ROBOGAMES Art Exhibition will show case the artistic qualities that are possible in robotic and kinetic art. Some examples of what we are looking for are: static sculpture, kinetic sculpture, bar-tending robots, musical robots, robots that paint, works of industrial art and any works that incorporate or look like they incorporate mechanical or technological attributes.
Radio controlled works and pyro-kinetic works are also encouraged to apply. Pyro-kinetic works will be for display only but may perform opening night. Please include power requirements, wireless, or RC frequency, performance space and a tentative performance schedule (for kinetic works. For example: 10′x10′ space with one hour performances twice a day).
The artist will be responsible for the transportation of their artwork to and from the exhibition. Artists will also be responsible for any and all supplies and travel expenses. ROBOGAMES can provide help with transportation costs depending on need. The ROBOGAMES Art Exhibition open call will run until May 8th 2009.
Best of Luck!
There appear to be several categories, and it should be quite an interesting experience. Unfortunately, I do not think the pastry arts fall under bar-tending. Perhaps another venue would appreciate my talents more.
Enter Your Robotic Art in the RoboGames’ Annual Art Expo! (io9)
While the sound on the video could be much better, benefiting mostly from a quiet room, one must admit that the feat of reconfiguring this old flatbed scanner to perform the Imperial March is quite an impressive one.
Ancient flatbed scanjet plays Imperial March (Boing Boing Gadgets)
While the original show featured a team of humans using various skills to solve problems, it is clear that a team of droids is quite superior, as this painting shows.
Jim Demski’s “A Is For Android” is part of the Idiotbox show at LA’s Gallery 1988. It is still available for purchase at the time of this writing.
If You’ve Got a Problem, and No-one Human Can Help – the a team (io9)
While I do not understand this particular holiday, I do know it apparently involves rabbits and eggs, which makes me wonder if my data files on these creatures is corrupt.
While this machine does not fall under the droid classification, I still find it quite enthralling, and I felt it appropriate to make an exception for the holiday.
Creme That Egg! (YouTube)
