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dorkbot-sf

People doing strange things with electricity

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Images from Toshi Hoo

time:
7:30pm Wednesday
10 September 2008

place:
Million Fishes
2501 Bryant St
San Francisco CA 94110

Directions

FREE ADMISSION but DONATIONS to our hosts much appreciated.

$5 AFTER 10pm

There will be music from the Blankethead and RE/Search goodies for sale after the presentations!

CASH BAR 21+


M I L L I O N   F I S H E S

Carl Pisaturo - Orbit 2

The Orbit 2 machine is a tabletop sized "kinetic light sculpture" which moves LEDs rapidly through space on 2 axes, each with its own speed control. It can be compared to a Ferris wheel riding on a merry-go-round. With the LEDs reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, the eye sees only streaks of colored light forming various patterns. Sort of like a mechanical fire spinner.

Devoid of any practical knowledge yet wanting to make things, Carl learned enough electronics and mechanics to get increasingly complex projects done. In 1991 he took an applications engineer position at a Stanford research lab (where he works part time) "making the things that make science work", an ideal preparation for robotics and kinetic art.

Since 1995 Carl has been designing and constructing quality robotic, media, and kinetic art for fun and inverse profit. The work includes animatronic figures, automated kinetic sculpture, lighting control systems, stereo photography equipment, and persistence of vision illusions.

Recently, Carl has also been working on design and fabrication of damage-resistent robot hands in association with MEKA robotics.

Carl has a BA in Biology from Boston Universtiy and BS in Earth Science from UMASS.
http://carlpisaturo.com

Jonathan Jaffe - RIAA vs You

Is making a music file available on Kazaa a copyright infringement, or must actual transfer of the file occur? If the RIAA has its way, you will be liable just for having music files in your Kazaa share folder, even if no one downloads a single file from you.

The courts are split on the issue, but encouraging developments indicate the RIAA may finally be losing its fight to extort money from you. Jonathan Jaffe will present the basics of the RIAA campaign against you, the main theory upon which the campaign is often based, and how the courts are beginning to reject that theory.

Jonathan Jaffe is a senior security systems architect by day, fourth-year law student by night, and father of two all the time. Initially through the USF Law School's IP Internet Justice Law Clinic he has assisted numerous citizens attacked by the RIAA. He continues to do so on his own time while researching the developments of the RIAA's 'making available' theory for possible publication next year.

Jonathan Jaffe holds a B.A. in Architecture from UC Berkley and an M.A. in Japan Studies from U. of Washington

Rachel McConnell - Soft Circuits

Consider a Tribble that actually vibrates, or a pillow that lights up more brightly the harder you sit on it. And we are not talking about a circuit board with some fur hot-glued to it. Rachel has been electrifying soft toys for several years now, both on Instructables: Big Warm Fuzzy Secret Heart and Snailbot Races and at Make Magazine's Maker Faire. She'll be showing off some squishable but nevertheless electronic items, and discussing some techniques for making them.


Make Your Own Tribbles
Tribbles and ViBillows
Snailbot Races
Big Warm Fuzzy Secret Heart

Please mail Karen Marcelo (dorkbotSF [at] dorkbot [dot] org) if you would like to open dork (10-15 min mini-presentation)

2002 Archives:   Jun 12 2002   Aug 14 2002   Sep 11 2002   Dec 04 2002

2003 Archives:   Jan 15 2003   Feb 12 2003   Jun 4 2003   Sep 24 2003   Oct 23 2003

2004 Archives:   Jan 14 2004   Mar 10 2004   April 7 2004   June 2 2004   July 21 2004   Oct 27 2004   Dec 15 2004

2005 Archives:   Feb 09 2005   Jun 01 2005   Jul 20 2005   Aug 17 2005   Sep 14 2005   Oct 19 2005   Nov 30 2005

2006 Archives:   Jan 25 2006   Apr 26 2006   Jun 21 2006   Jul 26 2006   Aug 09 2006   Oct 11 2006   Nov 08 2006

2007 Archives:   Feb 19 2006   Mar 14 2007   May 02 2007   May 23 2007   Jun 06 2007   Aug 15 2007   Oct 10 2007

2008 Archives:   May 28 2008   Sep 10 2008

Tours / Related Events:

Press:

The art of living dangerously   by Annalee Newitz New Scientist July 2006 Issue 2560

dorkbot: Warehouse of Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Projects   by David Pescovitz   Make Magazine Premiere Issue 2005

dorkbot-sf is a spinoff of dorkbot-nyc which is
"a monthly meeting of artists (sound/image/movement/whatever), designers, engineers, students and other interested parties from the new york area who are involved in the creation of electronic art (in the broadest sense of the term.)"

the purpose of dorkbot is to

  • give artists/programmers/engineers an opportunity for informal peer review
  • establish a forum for the presentation of new art works/technology/software/hardware
  • help establish relationships and foster collaboration between people with various backgrounds and interests
  • give us all a chance to see the cool things that our neighbors are working on

If you would like to speak at a future dorkbotSF contact Karen Marcelo (dorkbotsf [@] dorkbot [.] org)

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