Comments on: Sparky the Robot visits a museum, on PRI's Studio360 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: hisdevineshadow http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593184 hisdevineshadow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593184 I don't remember hearing this. Must of been in the bathroom! I don’t remember hearing this. Must of been in the bathroom!

]]> By: hisdevineshadow http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593188 hisdevineshadow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593188 Though I do remember the Diablo Cody interview. Wow! Though I do remember the Diablo Cody interview. Wow!

]]> By: hisdevineshadow http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593190 hisdevineshadow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593190 And James Ellroy was a bit of a ass at the beginning of his interview. And James Ellroy was a bit of a ass at the beginning of his interview.

]]> By: franko http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593192 franko Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593192 you can call it "sparky" all you want, but i know pee wee's magic screen when i see him. you can call it “sparky” all you want, but i know pee wee’s magic screen when i see him.

]]> By: eti http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593727 eti Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593727 I'm so smart for mentioning the Uncanny Valley before any one else. I’m so smart for mentioning the Uncanny Valley before any one else.

]]> By: robulus http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593253 robulus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593253 Is that an unenclosed CRT Sparky's got for a head? Is that safe? Touch the back of a CRT in the wrong place and you'll be sparky alright. Is that an unenclosed CRT Sparky’s got for a head? Is that safe? Touch the back of a CRT in the wrong place and you’ll be sparky alright.

]]> By: nosehat http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593061 nosehat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593061 Sweet. Reminds me of the telepresence robots in Michael Swanwick's <i>Stations of the Tide</i>. Sweet. Reminds me of the telepresence robots in Michael Swanwick’s Stations of the Tide.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-593326 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-593326 I love the part when the kid who's clearly bright enough to get that it's a remotely controlled machine asks "So where are you at in the world really?" To which the operator, who insists he's "Sparky the Robot!", replies "As far as I'm concerned, we are together in the same place," The kid's bemused reaction to the encounter is priceless. It was also funny where the museum staff's chief concern was what the robot could photograph! This stll is a cool concept. It wont be viable though unless it catches on and you have the software readily available and fleets of Sparkies at popular places awaiting operators. It would be more useful if there were arms attached to it so the operator could manipulate objects- like open doors, push elevator buttons, examine objects, or remotely work. Its a novel spin on teleconferencing. Many industries and dangerous jobs could benefit from telepresent workers. It would be handy for those who cannot travel much due to expense or health issues. It might be nice for people to be able to visit online friends using Sparkies. Its not the same experience as being somewhere but it could be a cheaper alternative to extra car trips. Sparky is a hobbyist's toy, but there are uses this, and only time will tell if this becomes commonplace. I love the part when the kid who’s clearly bright enough to get that it’s a remotely controlled machine asks “So where are you at in the world really?” To which the operator, who insists he’s “Sparky the Robot!”, replies “As far as I’m concerned, we are together in the same place,” The kid’s bemused reaction to the encounter is priceless. It was also funny where the museum staff’s chief concern was what the robot could photograph!

This stll is a cool concept. It wont be viable though unless it catches on and you have the software readily available and fleets of Sparkies at popular places awaiting operators. It would be more useful if there were arms attached to it so the operator could manipulate objects- like open doors, push elevator buttons, examine objects, or remotely work. Its a novel spin on teleconferencing.

Many industries and dangerous jobs could benefit from telepresent workers. It would be handy for those who cannot travel much due to expense or health issues. It might be nice for people to be able to visit online friends using Sparkies. Its not the same experience as being somewhere but it could be a cheaper alternative to extra car trips. Sparky is a hobbyist’s toy, but there are uses this, and only time will tell if this becomes commonplace.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/19/sparky-the-robot-vis.html#comment-599493 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-599493 WHO THE HECK IS SPARKY THE ROBOT! WHO THE HECK IS SPARKY THE ROBOT!

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