DorkbotColumbus - the Blog

Can Dorkbot do strange GREEN things with electricity?

Our next meeting of the Dorkbot Columbus contingent is coming up on November 29, at Haskett Hall on the OSU campus, at 7pm.

We have discussed a number of possibilities for programs and direction for those who want to get involved.  But as important as the green movement is becoming, I wonder if we might benefit from a focus the first part of 2008 - at least - on playing with tech concepts that promote environmental responsibility and carbon neutrality and related ideas?

Certainly can't hurt.  True enough, Dorkbot is about "play."  But devising "strange things to do with electricity" that might actually make a point - direct or sarcastic - or might actually inspire a train of thought to pursue - an important additional to dimension to mere "play."

I was inspired by this presentation by John Doerr (18 mins long) - the legendary investor and capitalist of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers - who has seen the light that environmental progress can mean profits as well as planetary safety and hope.  And given that Al Gore has now joined Kleiner Perkins, combined with the items Doerr mentions in this video - it may be that there will be broader outlets for green play than ever before.

This video and dozens of intense presentations from the famous TED conference are available at www.ted.com. (It has been left slightly outsized for improved playback)

This is on the agenda for our meeting Thursday, Nov 29.  If you can't make it drop me a note and let's discuss!!

Mario Bros sparks new interest

Could there be a geek heart which would not quicken at the sound of the Mario Bros theme?

How about Mario Bros played by a synchronized pair of Tesla coils?  Absurd, you say?  Oh, nay:

Modular style links hardware, software efficiently

Link: Open source, Lego-like computer modules run Linux.

The connection between hardware and software should be a fundamental element of design - but only recently - in products like Apple's iPod and iPhone - has it really been accomplished.

What is the obsession with generalized tools that must be configured again and again for new applications?   Finally these folks from the US appear to have taken a common sense approach to making reconfigurable  modules practical.