Spenser Little's "Hugging Automata"

Originally published at: Spenser Little's "Hugging Automata" - Boing Boing

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Isn’t the singular “automaton”? Automata seems like a plural form.

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Seems similar to Harlow’s distrubing experiments on monkeys. Not sure if that’s intentional or not.

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Temple Grandin came up with something pretty similar in concept many years ago. I really recommend watching the biopic movie about her.

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Automatopodes?

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Reminds me of “Urge to Stand,” a sculpture by Chico McMurtrie in the Yerba Buena gardens in San Francisco. It’s normally in a crouching position but if you sit in an ordinary-looking park bench opposite the sculpture your body weight will trigger a mechanical linkage that makes it rise to its feet and outstretch its hands toward you.

Gave me quite a surprise the first time I sat there since I had no idea it was anything other than an ordinary bench and static sculpture. Plus no one else was around so it had quite a horror movie vibe.

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“Wire mother” finally hugs back.

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It brings this to mind.

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I prefer the deranged enthusiasm of Randyland’s hug bot

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Padding, people. Padding! :bear:

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