Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: sarge@Rational.COM (Matthew C. Sargent)
Subject: Re: Desktop robotics (Macintosh?)
Message-ID: <1993Sep14.200246.5339@rational.com>
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References: <dbell-140993140422@macf16.bucknell.edu>
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 20:02:46 GMT
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David Bell (dbell@coral.bucknell.edu) wrote:
: I am try to decide on ideas for a thesis in mechanical
: engineering/robotics.  I personally have an interest in Macintosh
: computers, and think that the GUI of the Mac would be great for a robotic
: controller (and the voice recognition of the new AV Macs would be really
: something) but our robotics lab is full of IBMs and my budget does not
: allow for the purchase of a new computer, so that idea is on standby unless
: I hear of some possible super-educational discounts (are you listening,
: Apple people?)

: Aside from that, I am wondering about some of the possible applications for
: desktop robotics.  Example:  if you could construct a robot to work on your
: desk next to your computer, what would you want it to do [and no, mix
: drinks is not an option].  Some thoughts I have had include:  possible
: chemical experiment control (manipulation of test tubes), plotting (fake
: handwriting from human examples?), and remote control of your desk from a
: remote location (i.e. call your computer and have it turn on the coffee
: maker, or back up your hard drive with floppy disks).
I saw this on beyond 2000 - little teeny tiny robots that live in your
computer and come out when it is off and pick up dust and move it to
a storage area. Or little teeny timy robots that live in the corners of
your computer screen and come out everyonce in awhile to clean the screen

   o maybe a robot for manipulating books (ie turn pages, get, put) for
     handicapped individuals.
   o Print burst and filer.


: So I put the question to you:  what would you want a desktop robot to do?

: Any info on Macs and robotics or desktop robot ideas would be GREATLY
: apprecited.  Thanks in advance.

: -- Dave Bell
: -- dbell@coral.bucknell.edu	

: "There can be only one."  -- Connor MacLeod

--
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| Matthew C. Sargent         |  My opinions are my own. Any |
| sarge@rational.com         |  similarity between them and |
|                            |  other opinions, living or   |
|                            |  dead, is accidental.        |
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