The WELL: inkwell.vue.181: Brad Stone, _Gearheads_

#39: &manbeast.hooved (satyr) Tue 13 May 03 12:07

Tue, 13 May 2003 12:07:00 PDT

If any of those of you here on the Well don't get enough of talk about robots, you might be interested to know that I host a humble little independent conference called <augbot.ind.>, which focuses on augmentation and robotics. Come on by. [Read entire topic]

#38: Jon Lebkowsky (jonl) Fri 9 May 03 19:24

Fri, 09 May 2003 19:24:00 PDT

Thanks, David! This one's been great, hope you guys keep rocking on! [Read entire topic]

#37: David Nunez (davidnunez) Thu 8 May 03 20:55

Thu, 08 May 2003 20:55:00 PDT

Thanks for all your insight, Brad! I, for one, appreciated your time talking with us here!

We didn't get around to talking about some of the latest stuff you've been writing about (particularly the Bezos Space Program ;)), but I encourage everyone to go to newsweek.com and search for Brad's articles in the past couple of weeks.

Also, he had a piece in the latest issue of Wired about Palm moving into the wireless space.

Thanks again and everyone, please feel free to continue the discussion! [Read entire topic]

#36: Jon Lebkowsky (jonl) Tue 6 May 03 17:53

Tue, 06 May 2003 17:53:00 PDT

Brad, I just have to ask: what's your favorite cinema robot? I'm into Robby, myself... [Read entire topic]

#35: Brad Stone (bradstone) Tue 6 May 03 14:49

Tue, 06 May 2003 14:49:00 PDT

um, I didn't get too far. 'nuff said. [Read entire topic]

#34: David Nunez (davidnunez) Mon 5 May 03 18:54

Mon, 05 May 2003 18:54:00 PDT

Brad, your book bio says you've been experimenting with robot building yourself... how's it going? [Read entire topic]

#33: Clare Eder (ceder) Mon 5 May 03 14:50

Mon, 05 May 2003 14:50:00 PDT

<scribbled by ceder Tue 6 May 03 14:09> [Read entire topic]

#32: Brad Stone (bradstone) Mon 5 May 03 11:59

Mon, 05 May 2003 11:59:00 PDT

David, I certainly hope so! I wrote a story in Newsweek on one such effort, the Stupid Fun Club of "Simcity" creator Will Wright. Here's the piece: http://www.msnbc.com/news/836164.asp

Wright and his crew say they are fielding much Hollywood interest in their various robot projects, including the one I wrote about.

Thanks for the great questions! This was fun.

Cheers, Brad [Read entire topic]

#31: David Nunez (davidnunez) Fri 2 May 03 20:12

Fri, 02 May 2003 20:12:00 PDT

Is there room, in this yet-to-be-reached Golden Age of Robotic Entertainment, for more "cultural" or "traditional" robotic performers?

In other words, will the general public be as interested in entertainment and performance of the poets, ballerinas, musicians, and Shakespearian actor bots that people are or will be building? [Read entire topic]

#30: Brad Stone (bradstone) Fri 2 May 03 15:50

Fri, 02 May 2003 15:50:00 PDT

Hi guys, sorry for the disappearing act. I got wrapped up in Newsweek deadlines.

Steve was cooperative during my research. Although he wouldn't meet me in person, we had many long talks and e-mail exchanges. When I asked to use his photograph though, he consulted his wife - a lawyer - and she advised him not to let me. When the book came out, his thinking on the project may have shifted a bit because he declined my invitation to send him a copy. I haven't really spoken to him since.

Regarding the future of robot TV shows, you named the three that are alive and kicking in the U.S. right now as far as I know. Unless you want to include other mechanical entertainment like Junkyard Wars, Monster Garage et al. (I tend to see those more as game shows than real competitions though.) I'm in pretty good touch with the guys at BattleBots and they insist they have irons in the fire and some promising projects underway. They have built a pretty good brand so I doubt they will just disappear. Then you have all the other types of robotic sports, from FIRST to the Grand Challenge to RoboCup... I don't think this sport is anywhere near its golden age yet. We are just getting started. [Read entire topic]