Maui Techies

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Comment by Larry Stevens on March 18, 2011 at 1:02pm

I certainly hope that in the land of the rising robots, they're using them to gain info and control over the mess. Has anyone seen anything on the subject?

Comment by John Hardin on March 18, 2011 at 11:20am

Also check out this:  Demand Peripherals.  It can be extremely easy to control moving parts these days.

Comment by Douglas Levin on March 18, 2011 at 11:20am

Responding to Reichart's comments and the link:

 

First, I don't mind the word tech at all, I don't see any negative connotations to the point I was surprised there was a perception of any.

 

Second, I'm curious about this idea of  "Lesswrong" group in his link.  I've never made more than a movie night with this group, is it quietly morphing into something like Lesswrong and I'm missing it?  If it is I'll have to start getting to events.

Comment by John Hardin on March 18, 2011 at 11:16am

But it would take a team of makers concentrating on different parts of the problem.  Some to make the movable parts.  Some to concentrate on actuators and sensors, and the control of them.  Maybe using an ethernet accessible unit based on one of the Microchip boards and controllable from software on the ipad.  Some to do the various control parts on the ipad.

 

Just a dream. But wouldn't that be cool?  And it's all doable with available tech.  Even if it initially didn't have the kind of mobility shown in the robot mule video.

Comment by John Hardin on March 18, 2011 at 11:11am

Check out this video of a solution to the problem of moving around in a post-disaster environment:  robot mule.  Imagine something like this with an ipad mounted on the top for remote control, cameras, etc.

Comment by John Hardin on March 18, 2011 at 11:09am

Maybe it's because I read to much scifi when I was a kid (okay, maybe not just as a kid) but I have this dream of building something cool.  A few years ago I helped write a book on Linux Appliance Design.  It was about a layer of reusable stuff on top of embedded Linux that would make implementing appliances much faster and easier.  But there's no reason an appliance has to sit on top of a TV or in a server room.  With all the problems at Fukushima, with the radiation driving away the workers, I've been thinking more of a robot that could do real work in hostile environments.  It wouldn't need to autonomous, just be mobile, remotely controllable, on board camera, accelerometer, etc..  I think all the technologies needed are available.  Heck, you could use an ipad for central control. It has front & back camers, accel. , etc.

Comment by Les Vogel on March 18, 2011 at 10:10am

John - I think of Makers as those who "do sh.." as opposed to those who "sell sh..", or write about it, etc.

 

I'm a software guy as well, though I do go to low levels, I also like higher levels.

Comment by John Hardin on March 18, 2011 at 10:08am

I'm still a little unclear about Maui Makers.  I immediately identify with techies (I'm a software guy), but "makers" sounds like people more into welding and lathes than keyboards and monitors.  Does software fit into the Makers realm?  I had a conversation with Jerry about this but am still a little unclear. 

 

I've been looking at the Arduino information in Make: magazine, but I'm not all that into low level stuff like making things beep.  What I find more interesting is accessing sensors and actuators remotely, like over the internet.  Would that be something Maui Makers would do?

Comment by Les Vogel on March 18, 2011 at 9:59am

Techies was jarring the first time I heard it, but I've come to accept it.  As I accept hacker, that many in the public seems to think only stands for those who break into and otherwise cause mischief.

 

LessWrong seems like a good idea.

Comment by Daniel Leuck on March 18, 2011 at 9:56am

That is an interesting point Reichart. I never thought about how people in general respond to the word "tech". I wonder if this has changed over the past decade as the average person seems to be much more tech savvy due to devices such as smart phones and the inclusion of more technology at the high school level. Nonetheless, I can see how a name like "makers" would be more appealing, and a place where "none Tech, but very smart or rational people to hang with other rationals" sounds good. You can create a LessWrong group here.

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