we_want_robots

this blog is about my diploma project “we_want_robots” for the subject “toy- and educationaldesign” which deals with robots. (yes!! you can study toydesign!! aaand it´s greeeat fun–>if you´re interested check in here)

My name is Markus Utomo and since I´m studying and working for 5 years(with some minor breaks) in the subject toy- and educationaldesign I now feel the urge to get the whole thing to a conclusion. And how to better end a thing than with the help of ROBOTS!!!

Hopefully my work will get some inside knowledge on robots in a historical, aesthetical, psychologica and cultural dimension, with a special interest in robots as toys. I would like to get some answers to questions like:

What kind of robots are out there(existing ones and those who are only alive in the pop and media landscape)? When do we recognize a robot as a robot? Does it need to have an artificial intelligence? Why do robots fascinate and on the same hand instill fear? Do we need robots? And if so for what purpose? As helper, slaves, comrades, lovers? (do we really want robots?)

What are the needs of a robot? What does it eat? How does it´s food look like? Does or can it have a sense for aesthetics? where is it´s favorite sleeping place? does does it age and if so how does this look, smell, feel? What kind of material does a robot like? Does it need to be buildt out of metall, plastic, rubber? Maybe it wants to have more natural material like wood, clay, chitin….?

Where does this all end? Well I got some visions but for now it´s all A SECRET! However, since this is the final stage of my studies I intend to put a loooot of effort, sweat, blood, soul and heart(maybe also some machine oil) in this project. So this blog will be updated constantly and I would be more than pleased if you follow me around on my robotic journey.

thanks for your interest and now get ROBOTIZED!!!