Data + Design Project

The Robot Revolution is Upon Us

Wednesday 10.17.2012 , Posted by

In less than ten years we will have full fledged androids moving about in our society. For those who can afford one, they will be helping with the tasks that have to be done so that they can spend more time doing the things they love to do. They will allow the elderly to stay in their homes; offering them companionship and assistance. They could even work alongside humans, taking factory jobs back from China and thus boosting our economy. The possibilities are truly endless and it is imperative, as we figure out new applications, that all of the ethical implications are considered. In this fascinating video clip, Reporter Carolyn Jarvis of the 16:9 show on Global News Canada meets with some of the leading experts in Robotics, showing how far the technology has already come and what the future will hold. [Read more...]

The Warped Digital World of Jordan Speer

Tuesday 05.15.2012 , Posted by

Welcome to the warped digital world of Jordan Speer. His illustrations create a surreal environment full of robots and strange machinery with a distinctly humanistic twist… mostly, everything from drum sets to rockets and drilling machines come to life and grows gigantic eyes. It’s as if we have traveled to some alternate universe or distant future where technology is alive and aware of its environment. [Read more...]

Visual Bits #188> Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto

Friday 05.11.2012 , Posted by

Check out your links after the jump.
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Robots and Ray Guns from the Retro Future

Tuesday 05.01.2012 , Posted by

Ladies and gentlemen, the future is here, full of exciting advancements in technology, designed to make life better and fighting fiercer… and all of it is decidedly retro. From flame blasting rocket ships, to Atomic Freeze blasting ray guns and helpful autonomous robots, the future is looking pretty exciting… especially if you’re the adventurous Buck Rogers type. [Read more...]

The Robot With a Human Structure

Thursday 04.05.2012 , Posted by

The field of robotics is exploding with new innovation, from the recent hydrogen powered jellyfish robot to a jumping sand flea, but what happened to the idea of creating humanoid robots that look, act, and move like us? Besides a few shining examples of good design, most humanoid robots have been decidedly lacking in realistic human-like movement, placing them a bit at odds with a world designed around humans and making them far less familiar for us to interact with. [Read more...]

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Hey Robot, Make Me A Sandwich!

Wednesday 12.14.2011 , Posted by

Robots have come such a long way in recent years, it seems like it won’t be long before they’re helping out in every household. The idea of having a helper around is pretty intriguing, but we don’t want then to always do the same thing, like a dishwasher or a toaster; we want something smarter, far more helpful and talented. While robots have long been doing things that humans can do by following a set of strictly defined programs, it hasn’t been until recently that they began doing tasks using their own senses and choices. [Read more...]

Bendy robot wiggles like a big worm

Thursday 07.07.2011 , Posted by

A robot built with a series of springs along the length of its body has the flexibility to move like a worm around obstacles. The super-sized “worm-bot” is modeled on the C. elegans nematode, a tiny free-living worm that uses an ultra-simple nervous system to control the way that it moves. [Read more...]

Epic Warring Robots from the Future

Thursday 12.02.2010 , Posted by

Freelance Japanese artist Naochika Morishita (森下 直親/ もりした なおちか) uses delicate brush strokes to paint bleak futures of warring mech robots. His book of collected works, Hagane Bito, is filled with epic battle scenes of anime mechs in locations from outer space to the Jurassic period. Here is a small sample of his large collection. Prepare for battle!

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Good Robot, Bad Robot. The Creepy BLINKY Teaser

Monday 11.22.2010 , Posted by

“I know what I want for Christmas! I’ll never get sick of it.” A young boy receives his perfect Christmas gift in Ruairi Robinson’s (pronounced Raw-ree) creepy upcoming sci-fi film, Blinky. The film, starring Max Records (Where the Wild Things Are), is based around a future where every home has a robot helper and no one has to worry because their kids are “perfectly safe.” With his perpetual smile, Blinky looks like the perfect psychopathic nightmare for the 21st century.

Robinson, a commercial advertising director and animator, is the creator of the academy nominated animated film Fifty Percent Grey, and the critically acclaimed short film The Silent City, which we’ve included for your enjoyment at the bottom of this page. [Read more...]