Published: April 13, 2009 in notes » work by Thomas Baekdal
Who would have thought that all it takes to show the real quality of people would be a simple robot. The Tweenbots is little friendly looking robots, that can only go forward in a straight line, so in order to get to its destination it requires the help of the mighty humans to help it on its way.
Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal.
The results were unexpected. Over the course of the following months, throughout numerous missions, the Tweenbots were successful in rolling from their start point to their far-away destination assisted only by strangers. Every time the robot got caught under a park bench, ground futilely against a curb, or became trapped in a pothole, some passerby would always rescue it and send it toward its goal. Never once was a Tweenbot lost or damaged. Often, people would ignore the instructions to aim the Tweenbot in the "right" direction, if that direction meant sending the robot into a perilous situation. One man turned the robot back in the direction from which it had just come, saying out loud to the Tweenbot, "You can't go that way, it's toward the road."
Take a look at this wonderful movie of a Tweenbots journey through the human world. And lets remind ourselves that the world is wonderful place filled with friendly people.
Mission 1: Get from the Northeast to the Southwest Corner of Washington Square Park / time: 42 minutes / number of people who intervened: 29
This project was created by Kacie Kinzer, an art student of Tisch School of the Arts as an experiment into human nature. And, there will be more friendly robots coming in the future, so if you see one - give it a helping hand.
(via Tweenbots)
Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer
follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or visit my website
I think that was the point - they needed help :)
Cute!
I bet that would work in any modern city centre out there. Makes me want to try it!
Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer
follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or visit my website
Me too :)
i draw little pictures on my bedroom walls.
follow me on Twitter, or visit my website
Another experiment in human nature would be to put a less-cute face and body structure on it. Would people be as likely to respond positively?
that leaves me thoughtful. seems like people will more easily help a robot than another person.
Perhaps it's because the robot will ask nothing in return and has no story other than it's stuck.
Maybe I'm being to optimistic but I like to feel people are fundermentaly nice and this just goes to show if people don't feel they're being abused they'll act in their nature.
i think these robots are cute. that's the reason why people are willing to help them.
normally, i don't think there is anyone helping an ugly creature.
Baekdal.com is (nearly) everywhere. Check out our social profiles:
FaceBook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
FriendFeed
Delicious
Apr 13
2009
Ovi Demetrian Jr
visit my website
Even despite the fact that the robot was so annoyingly slow and would stop at every crack in the road! I guess that was probably part of the setup though.