imagine for a second your robotics team is going on a world championship event
is going on a world championship event
is going on a world championship event but you also have a family event so are
but you also have a family event so are
but you also have a family event so are you gonna stay for the last few hours
you gonna stay for the last few hours
you gonna stay for the last few hours are you gonna go what are the chances
are you gonna go what are the chances
are you gonna go what are the chances that you’re gonna win the big prize so I
that you’re gonna win the big prize so I
that you’re gonna win the big prize so I regret to start this with an image that
regret to start this with an image that
regret to start this with an image that actually excludes someone nothing
actually excludes someone nothing
actually excludes someone nothing Kaufman actually had to miss the event
Kaufman actually had to miss the event
Kaufman actually had to miss the event he’s not there so shout out to him and
he’s not there so shout out to him and
he’s not there so shout out to him and sorry that I’m starting to talk about
sorry that I’m starting to talk about
sorry that I’m starting to talk about inclusion already excluding excluding
inclusion already excluding excluding
inclusion already excluding excluding someone robots are amazing tools we
someone robots are amazing tools we
someone robots are amazing tools we think of robots as these giant things
think of robots as these giant things
think of robots as these giant things that may live in factories but we start
that may live in factories but we start
that may live in factories but we start seeing them pop up in our in our daily
seeing them pop up in our in our daily
seeing them pop up in our in our daily lives here and there we started teaching
lives here and there we started teaching
lives here and there we started teaching kids how to play with robots how to do
kids how to play with robots how to do
kids how to play with robots how to do science technology engineering and math
science technology engineering and math
science technology engineering and math stem evolved into steam and I will make
stem evolved into steam and I will make
stem evolved into steam and I will make the point that it should really evolved
the point that it should really evolved
the point that it should really evolved into stream and include robotics if you
into stream and include robotics if you
into stream and include robotics if you think about robotics it is the tool that
think about robotics it is the tool that
think about robotics it is the tool that allows the merger of all of the above it
allows the merger of all of the above it
allows the merger of all of the above it allows to to combine what you learn
allows to to combine what you learn
allows to to combine what you learn about science engineering and math what
about science engineering and math what
about science engineering and math what you want to do about art and create
you want to do about art and create
you want to do about art and create things that actually do and move there’s
things that actually do and move there’s
things that actually do and move there’s an opportunity to improve the world
an opportunity to improve the world
an opportunity to improve the world through robotics they don’t just have to
through robotics they don’t just have to
through robotics they don’t just have to do precise tasks really well they can do
do precise tasks really well they can do
do precise tasks really well they can do almost anything and we should think
almost anything and we should think
almost anything and we should think about robotics not just this tool that
about robotics not just this tool that
about robotics not just this tool that could do anything but that could enhance
could do anything but that could enhance
could do anything but that could enhance humans to do almost anything
humans to do almost anything
humans to do almost anything unfortunately existing art tools like
unfortunately existing art tools like
unfortunately existing art tools like paint brushes that have existed for
paint brushes that have existed for
paint brushes that have existed for thousands of years have not changed much
thousands of years have not changed much
thousands of years have not changed much and they unfortunately exclude a large
and they unfortunately exclude a large
and they unfortunately exclude a large portion of the population and many
portion of the population and many
portion of the population and many people who might otherwise be aspiring
people who might otherwise be aspiring
people who might otherwise be aspiring artists end up not even practicing I
artists end up not even practicing I
artists end up not even practicing I sought out at MIT to solve that problem
sought out at MIT to solve that problem
sought out at MIT to solve that problem my journey was inspired by an artist who
my journey was inspired by an artist who
my journey was inspired by an artist who also happens to be a person with
also happens to be a person with
also happens to be a person with cerebral palsy her name is Christina
cerebral palsy her name is Christina
cerebral palsy her name is Christina Christina’s mom Leanne was told by her
Christina’s mom Leanne was told by her
Christina’s mom Leanne was told by her doctors that she’s never gonna walk her
doctors that she’s never gonna walk her
doctors that she’s never gonna walk her talk
talk
talk Christina was lucky to be able to defy
Christina was lucky to be able to defy
Christina was lucky to be able to defy these predictions but she was even
these predictions but she was even
these predictions but she was even luckier that through a lot of help from
luckier that through a lot of help from
luckier that through a lot of help from her mom she found an art teacher that at
her mom she found an art teacher that at
her mom she found an art teacher that at an early age helped her find her talent
an early age helped her find her talent
an early age helped her find her talent Christina started a nonprofit called a
Christina started a nonprofit called a
Christina started a nonprofit called a brighter way and through a brighter way
brighter way and through a brighter way
brighter way and through a brighter way christina teaches doctors and patients
christina teaches doctors and patients
christina teaches doctors and patients how to paint and brightens the lives of
how to paint and brightens the lives of
how to paint and brightens the lives of patients and paint clinics and in cancer
patients and paint clinics and in cancer
patients and paint clinics and in cancer centers all around she also teaches
centers all around she also teaches
centers all around she also teaches doctors not to make the mistake of
doctors not to make the mistake of
doctors not to make the mistake of looking at a person and diagnosing their
looking at a person and diagnosing their
looking at a person and diagnosing their disability a lot of doctors tell
disability a lot of doctors tell
disability a lot of doctors tell Christina you know now that I’ve met you
Christina you know now that I’ve met you
Christina you know now that I’ve met you and I’ve seen how you’re teaching me I
and I’ve seen how you’re teaching me I
and I’ve seen how you’re teaching me I will never look at a cerebral palsy
will never look at a cerebral palsy
will never look at a cerebral palsy patient again the same way we’re lucky
patient again the same way we’re lucky
patient again the same way we’re lucky to live in a world where there is a rich
to live in a world where there is a rich
to live in a world where there is a rich set of input technologies in it for our
set of input technologies in it for our
set of input technologies in it for our digital lives but unfortunately these
digital lives but unfortunately these
digital lives but unfortunately these tablets and AI trackers often lock us
tablets and AI trackers often lock us
tablets and AI trackers often lock us into a very rich but digital-only domain
into a very rich but digital-only domain
into a very rich but digital-only domain it’s all pixels in glass on a screen we
it’s all pixels in glass on a screen we
it’s all pixels in glass on a screen we were trying to solve that problem by
were trying to solve that problem by
were trying to solve that problem by robota sizing the outputs there’s a lot
robota sizing the outputs there’s a lot
robota sizing the outputs there’s a lot of input but there’s no outputs so we
of input but there’s no outputs so we
of input but there’s no outputs so we took an airbrush and we made it a robot
took an airbrush and we made it a robot
took an airbrush and we made it a robot airbrush and through that we were
airbrush and through that we were
airbrush and through that we were seeking to gain access to the old and
seeking to gain access to the old and
seeking to gain access to the old and loved world of canvases and ink and
loved world of canvases and ink and
loved world of canvases and ink and pallets outside of the computer screen I
pallets outside of the computer screen I
pallets outside of the computer screen I was lucky enough to meet Benjamin Tripp
was lucky enough to meet Benjamin Tripp
was lucky enough to meet Benjamin Tripp an artist that came to MIT about the
an artist that came to MIT about the
an artist that came to MIT about the same time and his goal was to teach
same time and his goal was to teach
same time and his goal was to teach engineers how to reverse-engineer the
engineers how to reverse-engineer the
engineers how to reverse-engineer the process of painting out of hope that
process of painting out of hope that
process of painting out of hope that they will build robots that painters
they will build robots that painters
they will build robots that painters will then use in their processes Ben
will then use in their processes Ben
will then use in their processes Ben taught us something even more important
taught us something even more important
taught us something even more important he taught us that by looking at the
he taught us that by looking at the
he taught us that by looking at the robots and saying hey let’s make a robot
robots and saying hey let’s make a robot
robots and saying hey let’s make a robot that holds a brush we were making a
that holds a brush we were making a
that holds a brush we were making a fundamental mistake in Ben’s view which
fundamental mistake in Ben’s view which
fundamental mistake in Ben’s view which I now hold to the robot is not merely
I now hold to the robot is not merely
I now hold to the robot is not merely holding a brush the robot is a brush and
holding a brush the robot is a brush and
holding a brush the robot is a brush and they’re not really different to a
they’re not really different to a
they’re not really different to a caveman a brushes technology and just
caveman a brushes technology and just
caveman a brushes technology and just because robe
because robe
because robe our high-tech we tend to bend them into
our high-tech we tend to bend them into
our high-tech we tend to bend them into this tool category so we sought out to
this tool category so we sought out to
this tool category so we sought out to build a platform that hides the
build a platform that hides the
build a platform that hides the technology and enables a person to use
technology and enables a person to use
technology and enables a person to use robot as a robots and robotics in
robot as a robots and robotics in
robot as a robots and robotics in general as a conduit for expression in
general as a conduit for expression in
general as a conduit for expression in the images here on the left you see a
the images here on the left you see a
the images here on the left you see a person painting on a canvas through an
person painting on a canvas through an
person painting on a canvas through an eye tracker and the computers are
eye tracker and the computers are
eye tracker and the computers are nowhere to be seen and the even the
nowhere to be seen and the even the
nowhere to be seen and the even the robot is hiding behind the canvas the
robot is hiding behind the canvas the
robot is hiding behind the canvas the customization of such a robot is
customization of such a robot is
customization of such a robot is extremely important so we built it in a
extremely important so we built it in a
extremely important so we built it in a way that either the user or their
way that either the user or their
way that either the user or their caregiver could set the final tone you
caregiver could set the final tone you
caregiver could set the final tone you might have a tremor and you might want
might have a tremor and you might want
might have a tremor and you might want to get rid of it or maybe you want the
to get rid of it or maybe you want the
to get rid of it or maybe you want the tremor to show up in the painting we
tremor to show up in the painting we
tremor to show up in the painting we didn’t make any assumptions when we
didn’t make any assumptions when we
didn’t make any assumptions when we designed it and we created an easy UI
designed it and we created an easy UI
designed it and we created an easy UI for people to create these last mile
for people to create these last mile
for people to create these last mile configurations themselves we’ve expanded
configurations themselves we’ve expanded
configurations themselves we’ve expanded on this idea and created art matter art
on this idea and created art matter art
on this idea and created art matter art matter tries to bridge between the
matter tries to bridge between the
matter tries to bridge between the digital and physical art matter tries to
digital and physical art matter tries to
digital and physical art matter tries to bridge between the digital and physical
bridge between the digital and physical
bridge between the digital and physical worlds you see on the top left our Rover
worlds you see on the top left our Rover
worlds you see on the top left our Rover style robot painting marvin minsky and
style robot painting marvin minsky and
style robot painting marvin minsky and on the bottom right you see an artist
on the bottom right you see an artist
on the bottom right you see an artist using what we extracted from an inkjet
using what we extracted from an inkjet
using what we extracted from an inkjet printer and made an a handheld brush
printer and made an a handheld brush
printer and made an a handheld brush we’re happy that a lot of the artists
we’re happy that a lot of the artists
we’re happy that a lot of the artists that we’re giving prototypes to refused
that we’re giving prototypes to refused
that we’re giving prototypes to refused to give them back we were afraid we were
to give them back we were afraid we were
to give them back we were afraid we were afraid that they will see this as
afraid that they will see this as
afraid that they will see this as assistive technology that’s designed for
assistive technology that’s designed for
assistive technology that’s designed for someone else and as Sarah Hendren said
someone else and as Sarah Hendren said
someone else and as Sarah Hendren said all technology is assistive technology
all technology is assistive technology
all technology is assistive technology and we believe in that strongly too so
and we believe in that strongly too so
and we believe in that strongly too so we’re we’re very happy that their refuse
we’re we’re very happy that their refuse
we’re we’re very happy that their refuse to bring it back and we’re happy that we
to bring it back and we’re happy that we
to bring it back and we’re happy that we see them actually embrace this
see them actually embrace this
see them actually embrace this technology what we hear from them is
technology what we hear from them is
technology what we hear from them is that the fact that it’s letting them do
that the fact that it’s letting them do
that the fact that it’s letting them do something that they couldn’t quite do
something that they couldn’t quite do
something that they couldn’t quite do the same way another in another way is
the same way another in another way is
the same way another in another way is something that they quickly incorporate
something that they quickly incorporate
something that they quickly incorporate into their processes I wonder about
into their processes I wonder about
into their processes I wonder about computers in the 60s when they were
computers in the 60s when they were
computers in the 60s when they were giant and took whole rooms in order to
giant and took whole rooms in order to
giant and took whole rooms in order to make simple computations no wonder that
make simple computations no wonder that
make simple computations no wonder that people had a hard time thinking about
people had a hard time thinking about
people had a hard time thinking about them as creative tools I think that we
them as creative tools I think that we
them as creative tools I think that we are experiencing the same issue with
are experiencing the same issue with
are experiencing the same issue with robotics today
robotics today
robotics today robots are all around us but we’re still
robots are all around us but we’re still
robots are all around us but we’re still stuck in this thing where we’re thinking
stuck in this thing where we’re thinking
stuck in this thing where we’re thinking about them because of the things they’re
about them because of the things they’re
about them because of the things they’re really good
really good
really good and I think that if we shift our
and I think that if we shift our
and I think that if we shift our thinking and realize that they could
thinking and realize that they could
thinking and realize that they could extend our abilities they could open
extend our abilities they could open
extend our abilities they could open domains that previously are inaccessible
domains that previously are inaccessible
domains that previously are inaccessible and they could make a voice for people
and they could make a voice for people
and they could make a voice for people who might not have it and be in the most
who might not have it and be in the most
who might not have it and be in the most need for it I would like to invite to
need for it I would like to invite to
need for it I would like to invite to the stage Christina Powell to share a
the stage Christina Powell to share a
the stage Christina Powell to share a message
I always wanted to kill people thinking
I always wanted to kill people thinking about you tell me it down – I know so I
about you tell me it down – I know so I
about you tell me it down – I know so I am thinking oh people in another way is
am thinking oh people in another way is
am thinking oh people in another way is my artwork I don’t think of myself and
my artwork I don’t think of myself and
my artwork I don’t think of myself and they would didn’t say a word
they would didn’t say a word
they would didn’t say a word they are just like you and II meant
they are just like you and II meant
they are just like you and II meant another ability don’t forget we are
another ability don’t forget we are
another ability don’t forget we are learning but we are listening I want so
learning but we are listening I want so
learning but we are listening I want so but I’m really juris like you when they
but I’m really juris like you when they
but I’m really juris like you when they Eddie try those one bites and I went in
Eddie try those one bites and I went in
Eddie try those one bites and I went in with Tom and Joe and iris no supposed it
with Tom and Joe and iris no supposed it
with Tom and Joe and iris no supposed it won’t them talk I’m being side and then
won’t them talk I’m being side and then
won’t them talk I’m being side and then find you and say that’s my
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] if you want to share another message
if you want to share another message
if you want to share another message there’s I don’t know we worried about
there’s I don’t know we worried about
there’s I don’t know we worried about Christina cuz she can come but I’ll tell
Christina cuz she can come but I’ll tell
Christina cuz she can come but I’ll tell ya I’m the one having a hard time I’m
ya I’m the one having a hard time I’m
ya I’m the one having a hard time I’m trying to think of how you go from
trying to think of how you go from
trying to think of how you go from adopting Christina from Peru barely
adopting Christina from Peru barely
adopting Christina from Peru barely getting back to the States
getting back to the States
getting back to the States the day I was supposed to come my visa
the day I was supposed to come my visa
the day I was supposed to come my visa was expiring and there’s no time to go
was expiring and there’s no time to go
was expiring and there’s no time to go through all of that but I was the
through all of that but I was the
through all of that but I was the happiest mom in the whole world and a
happiest mom in the whole world and a
happiest mom in the whole world and a couple weeks after that for the very
couple weeks after that for the very
couple weeks after that for the very first time I had to leave Christina with
first time I had to leave Christina with
first time I had to leave Christina with a babysitter and my husband and I had a
a babysitter and my husband and I had a
a babysitter and my husband and I had a business function
business function
business function we didn’t come home that night because
we didn’t come home that night because
we didn’t come home that night because we had a tragic auto accident so what
we had a tragic auto accident so what
we had a tragic auto accident so what I’m trying to say is you never know
I’m trying to say is you never know
I’m trying to say is you never know what’s gonna happen and I wrote
what’s gonna happen and I wrote
what’s gonna happen and I wrote something once that said heaviness
something once that said heaviness
something once that said heaviness tragedy hope and miracles you can’t lose
tragedy hope and miracles you can’t lose
tragedy hope and miracles you can’t lose hope because I’ll tell you something
hope because I’ll tell you something
hope because I’ll tell you something being the happiest mom in the day that
being the happiest mom in the day that
being the happiest mom in the day that doctors said you know she’s probably not
doctors said you know she’s probably not
doctors said you know she’s probably not gonna walk or talk and I could barely
gonna walk or talk and I could barely
gonna walk or talk and I could barely move at the time from the accident
move at the time from the accident
move at the time from the accident thinking what did somebody just tell me
thinking what did somebody just tell me
thinking what did somebody just tell me and I remember that day having tears but
and I remember that day having tears but
and I remember that day having tears but in the end the next day they were gone
in the end the next day they were gone
in the end the next day they were gone and I said nobody’s gonna take the
and I said nobody’s gonna take the
and I said nobody’s gonna take the happiness away and here’s Christina who
happiness away and here’s Christina who
happiness away and here’s Christina who defied everything right now that’s not
defied everything right now that’s not
defied everything right now that’s not to say she worked harder than anybody
to say she worked harder than anybody
to say she worked harder than anybody could ever imagine and she still does so
could ever imagine and she still does so
could ever imagine and she still does so she has me working all the time too so
she has me working all the time too so
she has me working all the time too so that we can but the joy that we get
that we can but the joy that we get
that we can but the joy that we get people will say sometimes because
people will say sometimes because
people will say sometimes because Christina works with mainly hospitals
Christina works with mainly hospitals
Christina works with mainly hospitals and cancer centers in there I give my
and cancer centers in there I give my
and cancer centers in there I give my work
work
work to them and I give them can do and the
to them and I give them can do and the
to them and I give them can do and the family members and caregivers who all
family members and caregivers who all
family members and caregivers who all wisdom and they can still and saving and
why don’t you sum it up with a week ago
why don’t you sum it up with a week ago at the Cancer Center with one of the
at the Cancer Center with one of the
at the Cancer Center with one of the patients who was so excited and then
patients who was so excited and then
patients who was so excited and then what happened later um he he he just
what happened later um he he he just
what happened later um he he he just went back to his room to check on his
went back to his room to check on his
went back to his room to check on his wife and getting me back to mom and I
wife and getting me back to mom and I
wife and getting me back to mom and I and say my wife and I had a just have a
and say my wife and I had a just have a
and say my wife and I had a just have a teeny nice word you really bought some
amazing you it’s amazing
amazing you it’s amazing this happens all the time
this happens all the time
this happens all the time [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and I’ll just share she was just a wee
and I’ll just share she was just a wee
and I’ll just share she was just a wee cat bring them in woman’s with all the
cat bring them in woman’s with all the
cat bring them in woman’s with all the patients and her artwork there and I
patients and her artwork there and I
patients and her artwork there and I think this sums up the whole week there
think this sums up the whole week there
think this sums up the whole week there were two sisters and they were from
were two sisters and they were from
were two sisters and they were from upper state New York and they were so
upper state New York and they were so
upper state New York and they were so excited with Cristina being there and
excited with Cristina being there and
excited with Cristina being there and talking with her and having fun and
talking with her and having fun and
talking with her and having fun and looking at all the artwork and they just
looking at all the artwork and they just
looking at all the artwork and they just couldn’t believe all that was there and
couldn’t believe all that was there and
couldn’t believe all that was there and then all of a sudden the one sister said
then all of a sudden the one sister said
then all of a sudden the one sister said to the other I can’t believe it but she
to the other I can’t believe it but she
to the other I can’t believe it but she said my terminal brain tumor feels
said my terminal brain tumor feels
said my terminal brain tumor feels better now
when people say to Christina doesn’t
when people say to Christina doesn’t this depress you you know what it’s
this depress you you know what it’s
this depress you you know what it’s exactly the opposite we leave there and
exactly the opposite we leave there and
exactly the opposite we leave there and I forgot to mention we came to Boston
I forgot to mention we came to Boston
I forgot to mention we came to Boston from Michigan because of my medical so
from Michigan because of my medical so
from Michigan because of my medical so how do you come for medica which isn’t
how do you come for medica which isn’t
how do you come for medica which isn’t so fun and all of this happened those
so fun and all of this happened those
so fun and all of this happened those are the miracles and now because at all
are the miracles and now because at all
are the miracles and now because at all there are more miracles and Cristina
there are more miracles and Cristina
there are more miracles and Cristina says I’m going to be the voice for those
says I’m going to be the voice for those
says I’m going to be the voice for those people that like her maybe can’t
people that like her maybe can’t
people that like her maybe can’t couldn’t walk or talk but I can be a
couldn’t walk or talk but I can be a
couldn’t walk or talk but I can be a voice and help them get through it too
voice and help them get through it too
voice and help them get through it too and you went in to say one thing really
and you went in to say one thing really
and you went in to say one thing really important before we quit
thank you
thank you [Music]
”
Be First to Comment