why what seriously why why do we do this okay quick little TED survey raise your
okay quick little TED survey raise your
okay quick little TED survey raise your hands if you have caught yourself doing
hands if you have caught yourself doing
hands if you have caught yourself doing this in the last week yeah be honest I
this in the last week yeah be honest I
this in the last week yeah be honest I thought so now how many of you have
thought so now how many of you have
thought so now how many of you have actually managed to switch this thing
actually managed to switch this thing
actually managed to switch this thing off including the little one that we’ve
off including the little one that we’ve
off including the little one that we’ve all got in our pockets for a week
all got in our pockets for a week
all got in our pockets for a week sometime in the last year not so many
sometime in the last year not so many
sometime in the last year not so many all right now how many of you feel like
all right now how many of you feel like
all right now how many of you feel like nature is something that you wish you
nature is something that you wish you
nature is something that you wish you had more of in your life my name is
had more of in your life my name is
had more of in your life my name is David McGowan and for the last six years
David McGowan and for the last six years
David McGowan and for the last six years I’ve been leading a rather unusual
I’ve been leading a rather unusual
I’ve been leading a rather unusual experiment right here in Bristol
experiment right here in Bristol
experiment right here in Bristol codenamed rusty
codenamed rusty
codenamed rusty squid rusty squid at the heart of our
squid rusty squid at the heart of our
squid rusty squid at the heart of our little laboratory is a team of artists
little laboratory is a team of artists
little laboratory is a team of artists engineers and designers who have come
engineers and designers who have come
engineers and designers who have come together to explore the potential of
together to explore the potential of
together to explore the potential of hijacking and repurposing robotic
hijacking and repurposing robotic
hijacking and repurposing robotic technology has a fundamental form of
technology has a fundamental form of
technology has a fundamental form of human expression rather than just a tool
human expression rather than just a tool
human expression rather than just a tool we use electronics and motors sensors
we use electronics and motors sensors
we use electronics and motors sensors and control systems and elements of
and control systems and elements of
and control systems and elements of artificial intelligence as our creative
artificial intelligence as our creative
artificial intelligence as our creative medium our pallet we’re known for some
medium our pallet we’re known for some
medium our pallet we’re known for some of our more public works of robotic art
of our more public works of robotic art
of our more public works of robotic art and designs such as book life
and designs such as book life
and designs such as book life here we used traditional wooden
here we used traditional wooden
here we used traditional wooden mechanisms alongside contemporary
mechanisms alongside contemporary
mechanisms alongside contemporary robotics and electronics and motors and
robotics and electronics and motors and
robotics and electronics and motors and combined it with swarm algorithms to
combined it with swarm algorithms to
combined it with swarm algorithms to bring 400 books to life right here in
bring 400 books to life right here in
bring 400 books to life right here in Bristol Central Library when you entered
Bristol Central Library when you entered
Bristol Central Library when you entered the hive the enormous wooden hive
the hive the enormous wooden hive
the hive the enormous wooden hive sensors would capture your movements in
sensors would capture your movements in
sensors would capture your movements in the space and the books would respond
the space and the books would respond
the space and the books would respond they would ripple like a flock of birds
they would ripple like a flock of birds
they would ripple like a flock of birds or swarm like Angry bees
or swarm like Angry bees
or swarm like Angry bees some of our projects are small and
some of our projects are small and
some of our projects are small and intimate like our recent project heart
intimate like our recent project heart
intimate like our recent project heart in your hands here we worked alongside
in your hands here we worked alongside
in your hands here we worked alongside leading biomedical engineers from King’s
leading biomedical engineers from King’s
leading biomedical engineers from King’s College London and we developed these
College London and we developed these
College London and we developed these unique actuators that could move like
unique actuators that could move like
unique actuators that could move like heart muscle and we designed and we
heart muscle and we designed and we
heart muscle and we designed and we fabricated these soft robotic hearts
fabricated these soft robotic hearts
fabricated these soft robotic hearts when you held them in your hand they
when you held them in your hand they
when you held them in your hand they could sense your heart rate and they
could sense your heart rate and they
could sense your heart rate and they would beat in time with what exactly
would beat in time with what exactly
would beat in time with what exactly what was going on inside your chest so
what was going on inside your chest so
what was going on inside your chest so you could literally have this experience
you could literally have this experience
you could literally have this experience of what it’s like to hold your own heart
of what it’s like to hold your own heart
of what it’s like to hold your own heart a father could hold his his daughter’s
a father could hold his his daughter’s
a father could hold his his daughter’s heart beating friends could exchange
heart beating friends could exchange
heart beating friends could exchange their hearts and a couple could even try
their hearts and a couple could even try
their hearts and a couple could even try this to see if there was any effect
we we seem to have hit a nerve because
we we seem to have hit a nerve because you see the the the physical and
you see the the the physical and
you see the the the physical and embodied nature of robotics as long with
embodied nature of robotics as long with
embodied nature of robotics as long with this ability to sense and respond to the
this ability to sense and respond to the
this ability to sense and respond to the world around it is an incredibly
world around it is an incredibly
world around it is an incredibly effective way at engaging people so our
effective way at engaging people so our
effective way at engaging people so our little team has been growing and right
little team has been growing and right
little team has been growing and right now we’re kind of victims of our own
now we’re kind of victims of our own
now we’re kind of victims of our own success as sometimes it feels like we’re
success as sometimes it feels like we’re
success as sometimes it feels like we’re witnessing what might be the birth of an
witnessing what might be the birth of an
witnessing what might be the birth of an entirely new creative industry one that
entirely new creative industry one that
entirely new creative industry one that might possibly define our century but
might possibly define our century but
might possibly define our century but I’m not here to talk about our projects
I’m not here to talk about our projects
I’m not here to talk about our projects nor do I want to talk about this
nor do I want to talk about this
nor do I want to talk about this industry’s potential I’d like to share
industry’s potential I’d like to share
industry’s potential I’d like to share with you our underlying motivation
with you our underlying motivation
with you our underlying motivation that’s what drives us from day to day
that’s what drives us from day to day
that’s what drives us from day to day you see it’s the cultural and social
you see it’s the cultural and social
you see it’s the cultural and social impact that we’ve been witnessing that
impact that we’ve been witnessing that
impact that we’ve been witnessing that we think might even be critical to our
we think might even be critical to our
we think might even be critical to our very survival this century it’s it’s an
very survival this century it’s it’s an
very survival this century it’s it’s an ambitious goal so perhaps is best
ambitious goal so perhaps is best
ambitious goal so perhaps is best understood through a series of little
understood through a series of little
understood through a series of little stories so if you’re alright with it I’d
stories so if you’re alright with it I’d
stories so if you’re alright with it I’d like to take you guys on a bit of a
like to take you guys on a bit of a
like to take you guys on a bit of a personal journey how’s that sound
personal journey how’s that sound
personal journey how’s that sound yeah you ready okay story starts here at
yeah you ready okay story starts here at
yeah you ready okay story starts here at an anti-imf riot in Prague it was the
an anti-imf riot in Prague it was the
an anti-imf riot in Prague it was the end of the 90s and I was part of a
end of the 90s and I was part of a
end of the 90s and I was part of a movement it was a radicalized
movement it was a radicalized
movement it was a radicalized politically active movement which meant
politically active movement which meant
politically active movement which meant at that time that I was rioting you see
at that time that I was rioting you see
at that time that I was rioting you see we we were in our 20s and we were quite
we we were in our 20s and we were quite
we we were in our 20s and we were quite angry we were angry at society’s
angry we were angry at society’s
angry we were angry at society’s impotence to respond to all the
impotence to respond to all the
impotence to respond to all the environmental devastation we saw we were
environmental devastation we saw we were
environmental devastation we saw we were angry at globalization eroding local
angry at globalization eroding local
angry at globalization eroding local cultures we were angry at this very
cultures we were angry at this very
cultures we were angry at this very warped sense of economic value and
warped sense of economic value and
warped sense of economic value and growth that seemed to have very very
growth that seemed to have very very
growth that seemed to have very very little to do with human wellbeing one
little to do with human wellbeing one
little to do with human wellbeing one time we built this enormous globe it was
time we built this enormous globe it was
time we built this enormous globe it was about four meters across and we
about four meters across and we
about four meters across and we decorated it to look like the earth we
decorated it to look like the earth we
decorated it to look like the earth we thought we were being very clever
thought we were being very clever
thought we were being very clever because we were gonna roll it down the
because we were gonna roll it down the
because we were gonna roll it down the hill and burst through the riot police
hill and burst through the riot police
hill and burst through the riot police lines and break into the convention
lines and break into the convention
lines and break into the convention centre and have a voice
centre and have a voice
centre and have a voice hurt I guess but of course the police
hurt I guess but of course the police
hurt I guess but of course the police were a few steps ahead of us and they
were a few steps ahead of us and they
were a few steps ahead of us and they met us at the top of a hill and so we
met us at the top of a hill and so we
met us at the top of a hill and so we had to roll the thing up and you can see
had to roll the thing up and you can see
had to roll the thing up and you can see them they’re blowing the lovely earth to
them they’re blowing the lovely earth to
them they’re blowing the lovely earth to pieces with their water cannon it it
pieces with their water cannon it it
pieces with their water cannon it it might seem a bit naive and romantic but
might seem a bit naive and romantic but
might seem a bit naive and romantic but we were very very serious because we
we were very very serious because we
we were very very serious because we thought that there was a war going on a
thought that there was a war going on a
thought that there was a war going on a war between nature humanity and
war between nature humanity and
war between nature humanity and technology technology to us was this
technology technology to us was this
technology technology to us was this unnatural force that had invaded us and
unnatural force that had invaded us and
unnatural force that had invaded us and we needed to resist it before we became
we needed to resist it before we became
we needed to resist it before we became enslaved to it and humanity well we saw
enslaved to it and humanity well we saw
enslaved to it and humanity well we saw humanity like a cancer that was growing
humanity like a cancer that was growing
humanity like a cancer that was growing out of control that needed to be
out of control that needed to be
out of control that needed to be contained a nature this was the
contained a nature this was the
contained a nature this was the interesting one nature was our moral
interesting one nature was our moral
interesting one nature was our moral compass balance diversity sustainability
compass balance diversity sustainability
compass balance diversity sustainability something pure that needed to be
something pure that needed to be
something pure that needed to be protected at all costs and even
protected at all costs and even
protected at all costs and even worshipped we wouldn’t have admitted
worshipped we wouldn’t have admitted
worshipped we wouldn’t have admitted then but nature in a way had become our
then but nature in a way had become our
then but nature in a way had become our deity when I wasn’t rioting I was
deity when I wasn’t rioting I was
deity when I wasn’t rioting I was working on organic farms because the
working on organic farms because the
working on organic farms because the solution as this not so small community
solution as this not so small community
solution as this not so small community viewed it was to go back to the land the
viewed it was to go back to the land the
viewed it was to go back to the land the Garden of Eden return to the primitive
Garden of Eden return to the primitive
Garden of Eden return to the primitive does anyone recognize this face yes it’s
does anyone recognize this face yes it’s
does anyone recognize this face yes it’s it’s a very interesting and important
it’s a very interesting and important
it’s a very interesting and important story to me and I think it’ll help you
story to me and I think it’ll help you
story to me and I think it’ll help you understand where I’m coming from
understand where I’m coming from
understand where I’m coming from in 1978 somebody started sending mail
in 1978 somebody started sending mail
in 1978 somebody started sending mail bombs all around the United States
bombs all around the United States
bombs all around the United States targeting universities computer science
targeting universities computer science
targeting universities computer science labs professors of artificial
labs professors of artificial
labs professors of artificial intelligence and robotics his name was
intelligence and robotics his name was
intelligence and robotics his name was Ted Kaczynski and he’s responsible for
Ted Kaczynski and he’s responsible for
Ted Kaczynski and he’s responsible for killing three people and brutally
killing three people and brutally
killing three people and brutally maiming more than 20 it was very serious
maiming more than 20 it was very serious
maiming more than 20 it was very serious that he was a child prodigy and the age
that he was a child prodigy and the age
that he was a child prodigy and the age of 25 was a professor of mathematics at
of 25 was a professor of mathematics at
of 25 was a professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley he fled civilization to
UC Berkeley he fled civilization to
UC Berkeley he fled civilization to become a hermit and through the 70s 80s
become a hermit and through the 70s 80s
become a hermit and through the 70s 80s and 90s from a small
and 90s from a small
and 90s from a small in the woods he unleashed his terror he
in the woods he unleashed his terror he
in the woods he unleashed his terror he was finally caught because of what he
was finally caught because of what he
was finally caught because of what he wrote a 35,000 word anti-technology
wrote a 35,000 word anti-technology
wrote a 35,000 word anti-technology treatise called the industrial society
treatise called the industrial society
treatise called the industrial society and its future
and its future
and its future it became known as the Unabomber
it became known as the Unabomber
it became known as the Unabomber manifesto and though we all abhorred his
manifesto and though we all abhorred his
manifesto and though we all abhorred his acts of terror his words had got under
acts of terror his words had got under
acts of terror his words had got under our skin you see what he wrote was
our skin you see what he wrote was
our skin you see what he wrote was incredibly prophetic he spoke about how
incredibly prophetic he spoke about how
incredibly prophetic he spoke about how we are forced to adopt industrial
we are forced to adopt industrial
we are forced to adopt industrial technologies or we risk complete
technologies or we risk complete
technologies or we risk complete exclusion from society he described it
exclusion from society he described it
exclusion from society he described it as a form of technological enslavement
as a form of technological enslavement
as a form of technological enslavement that threatened to erode our very fabric
that threatened to erode our very fabric
that threatened to erode our very fabric of humanity he said that one day power
of humanity he said that one day power
of humanity he said that one day power and wealth will be extremely
and wealth will be extremely
and wealth will be extremely concentrated because of this and he even
concentrated because of this and he even
concentrated because of this and he even said that one day computers would even
said that one day computers would even
said that one day computers would even be entering our brains crazy right
be entering our brains crazy right
be entering our brains crazy right so then something very interesting
so then something very interesting
so then something very interesting happened to me my mother was undergoing
happened to me my mother was undergoing
happened to me my mother was undergoing double knee replacement surgery so I
double knee replacement surgery so I
double knee replacement surgery so I left my rioting buddies for a while and
left my rioting buddies for a while and
left my rioting buddies for a while and I flew back to to Canada to spend time
I flew back to to Canada to spend time
I flew back to to Canada to spend time with her as she was recovering from
with her as she was recovering from
with her as she was recovering from hospital and when I was there in
hospital and when I was there in
hospital and when I was there in hospital one day she turned to me and
hospital one day she turned to me and
hospital one day she turned to me and she said David I was like yeah she said
she said David I was like yeah she said
she said David I was like yeah she said I’m thinking of becoming a cyborg I was
I’m thinking of becoming a cyborg I was
I’m thinking of becoming a cyborg I was like what you see she had Parkinson’s
like what you see she had Parkinson’s
like what you see she had Parkinson’s Parkinson’s disease and the disease was
Parkinson’s disease and the disease was
Parkinson’s disease and the disease was progressing and about that time a new
progressing and about that time a new
progressing and about that time a new therapy had just been approved for deep
therapy had just been approved for deep
therapy had just been approved for deep brain stimulation literally a chip in
brain stimulation literally a chip in
brain stimulation literally a chip in the brain Farah was sitting on the
the brain Farah was sitting on the
the brain Farah was sitting on the hospital bed with her and she was
hospital bed with her and she was
hospital bed with her and she was showing me these these films of new
showing me these these films of new
showing me these these films of new patients that had just received this
patients that had just received this
patients that had just received this therapy I don’t know if anybody have
therapy I don’t know if anybody have
therapy I don’t know if anybody have seen it but it’s incredible literally
seen it but it’s incredible literally
seen it but it’s incredible literally you see the shaking from the from the
you see the shaking from the from the
you see the shaking from the from the Parkinson’s and at the flick of a switch
Parkinson’s and at the flick of a switch
Parkinson’s and at the flick of a switch on a remote control the chip in the
on a remote control the chip in the
on a remote control the chip in the brain is switched on and the shaking
brain is switched on and the shaking
brain is switched on and the shaking stops just like that it wasn’t the fact
stops just like that it wasn’t the fact
stops just like that it wasn’t the fact that she had titanium knees and was
that she had titanium knees and was
that she had titanium knees and was considering to become
considering to become
considering to become neurological cyborg it was everything it
neurological cyborg it was everything it
neurological cyborg it was everything it was it was the anesthetics in her body
was it was the anesthetics in her body
was it was the anesthetics in her body protecting her from the pain it was the
protecting her from the pain it was the
protecting her from the pain it was the the computer and the World Wide Web and
the computer and the World Wide Web and
the computer and the World Wide Web and the digital video and the very flight I
the digital video and the very flight I
the digital video and the very flight I took to get there I was struck with a
took to get there I was struck with a
took to get there I was struck with a seismic philosophical shake up how had I
seismic philosophical shake up how had I
seismic philosophical shake up how had I come to have such hostility to
come to have such hostility to
come to have such hostility to technology in society how had I ended up
technology in society how had I ended up
technology in society how had I ended up here well obviously I wasn’t always that
here well obviously I wasn’t always that
here well obviously I wasn’t always that way I’m gonna need to take you back a
way I’m gonna need to take you back a
way I’m gonna need to take you back a little further to when I was 7 I had
little further to when I was 7 I had
little further to when I was 7 I had seen this film called the children of
seen this film called the children of
seen this film called the children of theater Street it was 1977 at the height
theater Street it was 1977 at the height
theater Street it was 1977 at the height of the Soviet ballet the film followed
of the Soviet ballet the film followed
of the Soviet ballet the film followed children as they trained for the the
children as they trained for the the
children as they trained for the the Russian Kirov ballet in Leningrad and I
Russian Kirov ballet in Leningrad and I
Russian Kirov ballet in Leningrad and I thought it was the coolest thing I had
thought it was the coolest thing I had
thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen and when I came home I said
ever seen and when I came home I said
ever seen and when I came home I said dad I know what I want to be a ballet
dad I know what I want to be a ballet
dad I know what I want to be a ballet dancer I ignored his rather confused and
dancer I ignored his rather confused and
dancer I ignored his rather confused and concerned look and trained classically
concerned look and trained classically
concerned look and trained classically for 10 years I was interested in
for 10 years I was interested in
for 10 years I was interested in anything that moved
anything that moved
anything that moved I built puppets and put on puppet shows
I built puppets and put on puppet shows
I built puppets and put on puppet shows I even hacked my old Walkmans in the 80s
I even hacked my old Walkmans in the 80s
I even hacked my old Walkmans in the 80s and turned them into little little
and turned them into little little
and turned them into little little analog robots that was scurry around the
analog robots that was scurry around the
analog robots that was scurry around the floor I wasn’t just trying to get a
floor I wasn’t just trying to get a
floor I wasn’t just trying to get a reaction out of people I wanted to move
reaction out of people I wanted to move
reaction out of people I wanted to move people I was fascinated by the power
people I was fascinated by the power
people I was fascinated by the power motion had to trigger emotion there was
motion had to trigger emotion there was
motion had to trigger emotion there was no distinction between art and science
no distinction between art and science
no distinction between art and science or design or engineering or even
or design or engineering or even
or design or engineering or even philosophy at that age I mean perhaps
philosophy at that age I mean perhaps
philosophy at that age I mean perhaps were all born natural polymaths
were all born natural polymaths
were all born natural polymaths but there are no polymath pathways to
but there are no polymath pathways to
but there are no polymath pathways to take in our world I had to decide so I
take in our world I had to decide so I
take in our world I had to decide so I ended up going into the performing arts
ended up going into the performing arts
ended up going into the performing arts I was accepted to the National Theatre
I was accepted to the National Theatre
I was accepted to the National Theatre School of Canada where I discovered and
School of Canada where I discovered and
School of Canada where I discovered and fell in love with the more physical
fell in love with the more physical
fell in love with the more physical types of theater theater such as
types of theater theater such as
types of theater theater such as commedia dell’arte a type of street
commedia dell’arte a type of street
commedia dell’arte a type of street theatre popular in the 16th and 17th
theatre popular in the 16th and 17th
theatre popular in the 16th and 17th century Europe these guys these troops
century Europe these guys these troops
century Europe these guys these troops would literally perform on the back of
would literally perform on the back of
would literally perform on the back of an upturned cart in a crazy marketplace
an upturned cart in a crazy marketplace
an upturned cart in a crazy marketplace competing with you know a local hanging
competing with you know a local hanging
competing with you know a local hanging over there and a pig being slaughtered
over there and a pig being slaughtered
over there and a pig being slaughtered over there
over there
over there so this bold physicality was required in
so this bold physicality was required in
so this bold physicality was required in order to attract and hold the attention
order to attract and hold the attention
order to attract and hold the attention of the public
of the public
of the public in contrast I’d look around in today’s
in contrast I’d look around in today’s
in contrast I’d look around in today’s world and it seemed like we were almost
world and it seemed like we were almost
world and it seemed like we were almost completely oblivious to the fact that we
completely oblivious to the fact that we
completely oblivious to the fact that we had a body technology and society seemed
had a body technology and society seemed
had a body technology and society seemed to be driven by this out of body
to be driven by this out of body
to be driven by this out of body identity constipated with cognition
identity constipated with cognition
identity constipated with cognition that’s why I rejected technological
that’s why I rejected technological
that’s why I rejected technological society in search of our more wild
society in search of our more wild
society in search of our more wild nature and I slipped into radicalism I
nature and I slipped into radicalism I
nature and I slipped into radicalism I left dance and theater as well with one
left dance and theater as well with one
left dance and theater as well with one exception puppetry I would build these
exception puppetry I would build these
exception puppetry I would build these little naked puppets and I would perform
little naked puppets and I would perform
little naked puppets and I would perform with them on the streets all over the
with them on the streets all over the
with them on the streets all over the world I would sometimes sit them on the
world I would sometimes sit them on the
world I would sometimes sit them on the edge of a garbage can and they would
edge of a garbage can and they would
edge of a garbage can and they would quietly move I’d have a little puppet
quietly move I’d have a little puppet
quietly move I’d have a little puppet rummage through the garbage and pull out
rummage through the garbage and pull out
rummage through the garbage and pull out I don’t know something better packaging
I don’t know something better packaging
I don’t know something better packaging and hand it to somebody watching and
and hand it to somebody watching and
and hand it to somebody watching and then cheekily
then cheekily
then cheekily the pub would put out his hand and ask
the pub would put out his hand and ask
the pub would put out his hand and ask for a payment in return so for about 10
for a payment in return so for about 10
for a payment in return so for about 10 years I made my living this way
years I made my living this way
years I made my living this way traveling the world and and selling
traveling the world and and selling
traveling the world and and selling garbage to people so there I was there I
garbage to people so there I was there I
garbage to people so there I was there I was working on organic farms performing
was working on organic farms performing
was working on organic farms performing on the streets with my little puppets
on the streets with my little puppets
on the streets with my little puppets and selling garbage to people and
and selling garbage to people and
and selling garbage to people and rioting having a philosophical crisis
rioting having a philosophical crisis
rioting having a philosophical crisis about my cyborg mother I didn’t know
about my cyborg mother I didn’t know
about my cyborg mother I didn’t know what to do
what to do
what to do so I went back to the Unabomber
so I went back to the Unabomber
so I went back to the Unabomber manifesto and started reading and I
manifesto and started reading and I
manifesto and started reading and I became very curious about his targets
became very curious about his targets
became very curious about his targets leaders in the field of computer science
leaders in the field of computer science
leaders in the field of computer science robotics and artificial intelligence who
robotics and artificial intelligence who
robotics and artificial intelligence who were they I was so surprised by what I
were they I was so surprised by what I
were they I was so surprised by what I found the very first to build a fully
found the very first to build a fully
found the very first to build a fully autonomous electronic robot was William
autonomous electronic robot was William
autonomous electronic robot was William grey Walter from Bristol he was using
grey Walter from Bristol he was using
grey Walter from Bristol he was using vacuum tubes and relays and he built
vacuum tubes and relays and he built
vacuum tubes and relays and he built these little cybernetic life forms that
these little cybernetic life forms that
these little cybernetic life forms that looked like tortoises he was
looked like tortoises he was
looked like tortoises he was demonstrating how complex and rich
demonstrating how complex and rich
demonstrating how complex and rich behavior can emerge from very simple
behavior can emerge from very simple
behavior can emerge from very simple physical elements
physical elements
physical elements I discovered rodney brooks who in the
I discovered rodney brooks who in the
I discovered rodney brooks who in the 80s was exploring embodied intelligence
80s was exploring embodied intelligence
80s was exploring embodied intelligence in machines see micro computers were far
in machines see micro computers were far
in machines see micro computers were far too slow back then to be of much use so
too slow back then to be of much use so
too slow back then to be of much use so he was forced to build robots that had
he was forced to build robots that had
he was forced to build robots that had these decentralized nervous systems made
these decentralized nervous systems made
these decentralized nervous systems made up of simple little reflexes and then
up of simple little reflexes and then
up of simple little reflexes and then there was his PhD student cynthia brazil
there was his PhD student cynthia brazil
there was his PhD student cynthia brazil who was researching social and emotional
who was researching social and emotional
who was researching social and emotional intelligence in machines i was totally
intelligence in machines i was totally
intelligence in machines i was totally stunned these researchers and scientists
stunned these researchers and scientists
stunned these researchers and scientists saw this world in much the same way as I
saw this world in much the same way as I
saw this world in much the same way as I did
did
did emergent embodied emotional and it
emergent embodied emotional and it
emergent embodied emotional and it reminded me of my little analog Walkman
reminded me of my little analog Walkman
reminded me of my little analog Walkman insects I used to build as a kid and
insects I used to build as a kid and
insects I used to build as a kid and that that philosophical curiosity I had
that that philosophical curiosity I had
that that philosophical curiosity I had back then was reawakened so I came to
back then was reawakened so I came to
back then was reawakened so I came to Bristol to study robotics but I was not
Bristol to study robotics but I was not
Bristol to study robotics but I was not prepared for the culture shock that I
prepared for the culture shock that I
prepared for the culture shock that I was in for this was not an exaggeration
was in for this was not an exaggeration
was in for this was not an exaggeration Chris packages and pop cans piled as
Chris packages and pop cans piled as
Chris packages and pop cans piled as high as they could go the guys that I
high as they could go the guys that I
high as they could go the guys that I was studying robotics with I mean I love
was studying robotics with I mean I love
was studying robotics with I mean I love them all but well they were almost all
them all but well they were almost all
them all but well they were almost all guys obsessed with logic we bid
guys obsessed with logic we bid
guys obsessed with logic we bid disembodied with questionable social and
disembodied with questionable social and
disembodied with questionable social and emotional skills
emotional skills
emotional skills you see they were they were amazing at
you see they were they were amazing at
you see they were they were amazing at programming and building robots because
programming and building robots because
programming and building robots because that is all they did they were practiced
that is all they did they were practiced
that is all they did they were practiced at it they were less practiced at the
at it they were less practiced at the
at it they were less practiced at the social and emotional stuff these guys
social and emotional stuff these guys
social and emotional stuff these guys had never seen a live dance performance
had never seen a live dance performance
had never seen a live dance performance in their entire life let alone ever
in their entire life let alone ever
in their entire life let alone ever socially danced so no wonder this is
socially danced so no wonder this is
socially danced so no wonder this is where we are today our machines are
where we are today our machines are
where we are today our machines are created in our engineers image we have
created in our engineers image we have
created in our engineers image we have these tools that are that are logic
these tools that are that are logic
these tools that are that are logic tools that are disembodied I have poor
tools that are disembodied I have poor
tools that are disembodied I have poor social and emotional skills but it’s not
social and emotional skills but it’s not
social and emotional skills but it’s not just the engineers and scientists there
just the engineers and scientists there
just the engineers and scientists there to blame for this state of affairs the
to blame for this state of affairs the
to blame for this state of affairs the artists have just as much to answer for
artists have just as much to answer for
artists have just as much to answer for when I finished studying robotics I set
when I finished studying robotics I set
when I finished studying robotics I set up a technology lab in our local art
up a technology lab in our local art
up a technology lab in our local art college this was a place where students
college this was a place where students
college this was a place where students from the creative industry could come
from the creative industry could come
from the creative industry could come and learn some basic engineering skills
and learn some basic engineering skills
and learn some basic engineering skills when most of the art students and even
when most of the art students and even
when most of the art students and even many of the staff would enter the space
many of the staff would enter the space
many of the staff would enter the space there would be this sharp hiss in
there would be this sharp hiss in
there would be this sharp hiss in through the teeth and the shoulders
through the teeth and the shoulders
through the teeth and the shoulders would go up around their ears it was
would go up around their ears it was
would go up around their ears it was like an allergic reaction to engineering
like an allergic reaction to engineering
like an allergic reaction to engineering one student came in she said you know I
one student came in she said you know I
one student came in she said you know I don’t do technology I’m an artist I said
don’t do technology I’m an artist I said
don’t do technology I’m an artist I said oh well what do you do and she said oh I
oh well what do you do and she said oh I
oh well what do you do and she said oh I do ceramics I said okay well walk me
do ceramics I said okay well walk me
do ceramics I said okay well walk me through what you do as a ceramicist and
through what you do as a ceramicist and
through what you do as a ceramicist and she proceeded to tell me about the
she proceeded to tell me about the
she proceeded to tell me about the material properties of the clay about
material properties of the clay about
material properties of the clay about the chemistry of the glazes about the
the chemistry of the glazes about the
the chemistry of the glazes about the specifics of the kilns and the
specifics of the kilns and the
specifics of the kilns and the temperatures required she was speaking
temperatures required she was speaking
temperatures required she was speaking without a doubt as an engineer and a
without a doubt as an engineer and a
without a doubt as an engineer and a scientist so how is this come to be how
scientist so how is this come to be how
scientist so how is this come to be how would how come engineers arts and
would how come engineers arts and
would how come engineers arts and scientists or see themselves are so
scientists or see themselves are so
scientists or see themselves are so different why did we ever do this in the
different why did we ever do this in the
different why did we ever do this in the first place why did we ever walk into a
first place why did we ever walk into a
first place why did we ever walk into a que with a mouthful of paint and blow a
que with a mouthful of paint and blow a
que with a mouthful of paint and blow a hand stencil on the wall is it not to
hand stencil on the wall is it not to
hand stencil on the wall is it not to say I am or to say we are perhaps we
say I am or to say we are perhaps we
say I am or to say we are perhaps we can’t help but create representations of
can’t help but create representations of
can’t help but create representations of ourself in the world around us from
ourself in the world around us from
ourself in the world around us from carving
carving
carving little figures to the puppets found in
little figures to the puppets found in
little figures to the puppets found in archeological digs all over the world to
archeological digs all over the world to
archeological digs all over the world to the amazing clockwork automata of the
the amazing clockwork automata of the
the amazing clockwork automata of the Renaissance to the soft toys we’ve all
Renaissance to the soft toys we’ve all
Renaissance to the soft toys we’ve all loved as children to robots
loved as children to robots
loved as children to robots we have been breathing life into the
we have been breathing life into the
we have been breathing life into the inanimate to reflect back on ourselves
inanimate to reflect back on ourselves
inanimate to reflect back on ourselves and make sense of what on earth is going
and make sense of what on earth is going
and make sense of what on earth is going on for a very very long time sometimes I
on for a very very long time sometimes I
on for a very very long time sometimes I think that many of the robotic engineers
think that many of the robotic engineers
think that many of the robotic engineers in the labs around the world are just
in the labs around the world are just
in the labs around the world are just artists in denial you see there was
artists in denial you see there was
artists in denial you see there was nothing radical that our little protest
nothing radical that our little protest
nothing radical that our little protest group was doing in the 90s when we
group was doing in the 90s when we
group was doing in the 90s when we rejected technology and glorified nature
rejected technology and glorified nature
rejected technology and glorified nature we were simply regurgitating and
we were simply regurgitating and
we were simply regurgitating and reinforcing age-old identities
there wasn’t a war going on between
there wasn’t a war going on between nature humanity and technology there
nature humanity and technology there
nature humanity and technology there couldn’t be they’re all the same thing
couldn’t be they’re all the same thing
couldn’t be they’re all the same thing technology wasn’t robbing us of our wild
technology wasn’t robbing us of our wild
technology wasn’t robbing us of our wild nature as Ted Kaczynski wrote it is our
nature as Ted Kaczynski wrote it is our
nature as Ted Kaczynski wrote it is our wild nature we are so intimately bound
wild nature we are so intimately bound
wild nature we are so intimately bound with it and society didn’t need to be
with it and society didn’t need to be
with it and society didn’t need to be torn down as I once believed it’s the
torn down as I once believed it’s the
torn down as I once believed it’s the it’s the walls that society has created
it’s the walls that society has created
it’s the walls that society has created between art and engineering and science
between art and engineering and science
between art and engineering and science and design that need to be torn down and
and design that need to be torn down and
and design that need to be torn down and that is exactly why we set up this
that is exactly why we set up this
that is exactly why we set up this little laboratory rusty squid we are
little laboratory rusty squid we are
little laboratory rusty squid we are creating experiences that can awaken the
creating experiences that can awaken the
creating experiences that can awaken the human animal and at the same time remind
human animal and at the same time remind
human animal and at the same time remind us of our internet bond with technology
us of our internet bond with technology
us of our internet bond with technology but we have a we have a wee bit of a
but we have a we have a wee bit of a
but we have a we have a wee bit of a problem you see the same identities that
problem you see the same identities that
problem you see the same identities that we are trying to challenge out in the
we are trying to challenge out in the
we are trying to challenge out in the world are getting in the way of our very
world are getting in the way of our very
world are getting in the way of our very own artists and engineers and designers
own artists and engineers and designers
own artists and engineers and designers working effectively together we’ve now
working effectively together we’ve now
working effectively together we’ve now realized that if we want to create a
realized that if we want to create a
realized that if we want to create a fundamentally new cultural experience we
fundamentally new cultural experience we
fundamentally new cultural experience we need to start working in a fundamentally
need to start working in a fundamentally
need to start working in a fundamentally different way so we’ve had to go back to
different way so we’ve had to go back to
different way so we’ve had to go back to first principles and create
first principles and create
first principles and create fundamentally new tools I’d like to
fundamentally new tools I’d like to
fundamentally new tools I’d like to share two of those with you before I
share two of those with you before I
share two of those with you before I leave today
leave today
leave today the first one we call story machine
this is basically a non-linear
this is basically a non-linear storyboard for behavior and relationship
storyboard for behavior and relationship
storyboard for behavior and relationship design of complex robotic systems our
design of complex robotic systems our
design of complex robotic systems our entire team can come together and they
entire team can come together and they
entire team can come together and they can share their diverse and specific
can share their diverse and specific
can share their diverse and specific understanding of a project with each
understanding of a project with each
understanding of a project with each other because the relationship between
other because the relationship between
other because the relationship between software mechanics and motion behavior
software mechanics and motion behavior
software mechanics and motion behavior aesthetics is all equally represented
this tool we call the Rigler for obvious
this tool we call the Rigler for obvious reasons it’s basically a recording
reasons it’s basically a recording
reasons it’s basically a recording studio and mixing desk for movement
studio and mixing desk for movement
studio and mixing desk for movement rather than sound a puppeteer or an
rather than sound a puppeteer or an
rather than sound a puppeteer or an engineer on any any of us can grab the
engineer on any any of us can grab the
engineer on any any of us can grab the joysticks and quickly bring a prototype
joysticks and quickly bring a prototype
joysticks and quickly bring a prototype to life the movement is all recorded and
to life the movement is all recorded and
to life the movement is all recorded and laid down in tracks and these tracks can
laid down in tracks and these tracks can
laid down in tracks and these tracks can then be edited and tuned and altered and
then be edited and tuned and altered and
then be edited and tuned and altered and most importantly is then turned into
most importantly is then turned into
most importantly is then turned into kinematic software that then can drive
kinematic software that then can drive
kinematic software that then can drive our robotic creations
so we’ve only just scratched the surface
so we’ve only just scratched the surface of these tools and we don’t expect to
of these tools and we don’t expect to
of these tools and we don’t expect to solve this in our lifetime we we suspect
solve this in our lifetime we we suspect
solve this in our lifetime we we suspect that this thing is generational so for
that this thing is generational so for
that this thing is generational so for that we’ve started an internship and
that we’ve started an internship and
that we’ve started an internship and each year we invite a young artist a
each year we invite a young artist a
each year we invite a young artist a young engineer and a young designer to
young engineer and a young designer to
young engineer and a young designer to form an ensemble and work alongside our
form an ensemble and work alongside our
form an ensemble and work alongside our core team so they can experience what it
core team so they can experience what it
core team so they can experience what it is like to have an integrated working
is like to have an integrated working
is like to have an integrated working practice and a few years ago we bought
practice and a few years ago we bought
practice and a few years ago we bought an old derelict building and we’re in
an old derelict building and we’re in
an old derelict building and we’re in the final stages of building regulations
the final stages of building regulations
the final stages of building regulations in the hope to build what we think might
in the hope to build what we think might
in the hope to build what we think might be the first UK or even the world’s
be the first UK or even the world’s
be the first UK or even the world’s first robotic art and design studio I am
first robotic art and design studio I am
first robotic art and design studio I am concerned that our civilization is not
concerned that our civilization is not
concerned that our civilization is not prepared for this century if even a
prepared for this century if even a
prepared for this century if even a fraction of the technological tsunami
fraction of the technological tsunami
fraction of the technological tsunami that we are expecting hits us and we are
that we are expecting hits us and we are
that we are expecting hits us and we are in for a rough ride and I fear that we
in for a rough ride and I fear that we
in for a rough ride and I fear that we will react badly to the many shocks that
will react badly to the many shocks that
will react badly to the many shocks that this century could hold it would be very
this century could hold it would be very
this century could hold it would be very easy for many of us to slip into that
easy for many of us to slip into that
easy for many of us to slip into that fierce hostility towards technological
fierce hostility towards technological
fierce hostility towards technological society as I once did and many people I
society as I once did and many people I
society as I once did and many people I know did last winter I invited our core
know did last winter I invited our core
know did last winter I invited our core team to each bring their most beloved
team to each bring their most beloved
team to each bring their most beloved childhood toy can you tell which one is
childhood toy can you tell which one is
childhood toy can you tell which one is the engineer which one’s the designer
the engineer which one’s the designer
the engineer which one’s the designer which one’s the illustrator which one’s
which one’s the illustrator which one’s
which one’s the illustrator which one’s the programmer we can’t we’ve just got
the programmer we can’t we’ve just got
the programmer we can’t we’ve just got far too much in common I suspect that
far too much in common I suspect that
far too much in common I suspect that our only hope for surviving this century
our only hope for surviving this century
our only hope for surviving this century is that we admit that the boundaries
is that we admit that the boundaries
is that we admit that the boundaries between nature humanity and technology
between nature humanity and technology
between nature humanity and technology are only in our mind we need to learn to
are only in our mind we need to learn to
are only in our mind we need to learn to see the intimate relationship between
see the intimate relationship between
see the intimate relationship between them and we have to challenge this
them and we have to challenge this
them and we have to challenge this culture that continues to perpetuate the
culture that continues to perpetuate the
culture that continues to perpetuate the divisions between art and engineering
divisions between art and engineering
divisions between art and engineering and science and design so that we can
and science and design so that we can
and science and design so that we can face this uncertain future with an
face this uncertain future with an
face this uncertain future with an honest and integrated embrace thank you
honest and integrated embrace thank you
honest and integrated embrace thank you very much
[Music]
[Music] you
”
Be First to Comment