One Man Band: I bet he can't stand up to the robot.
Courtesy Vic EllisUsually it's the fan that chases the band around, checking up on its every move, emotionally connected to the music and members. But, have you ever heard of a band obsessed with its fans? So much so that it constantly checks up on its popularity and changes its music based on its mood. On top of that make it a robot band. Yes, a musical robot with feelings...

This self-conscience robot is called the Cybraphon. It was built by three musicians in an antique wardrobe using instruments, motors, and a computer. Checking in on websites such as facebook and twitter, it counts hits and compares the usage over a one to two day time frame. Using this information it calculates its popularity and adjusts its mood appropriately, displaying it on a 100 year old galvanometer.

The interments in the wardrobe include an organ, cymbals, and all the way from India, a Shruti box. All of the instruments have been modified to be played electronically using motors and solenoids. If the robot is in a good mood it can be heard playing an upbeat tune. Vice versa, in a lonely mood the music will be slow and sad.

Not only is this robot picky about its social standing but even though it is always on it will only play it's music aloud if there is someone to hear it. Using infrared sensors the robot will start to chime whenever there is an audience to listen.

Cybraphon is going on display in Edinburgh, Scotland starting on Aug. 5th. You may not be able to go see it for yourself but, you can track it's progress and boost it's ego on twitter, myspace, and facebook.

Tags : music, robot, Cybraphon

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Self-portrait by Matthias Buchinger: The forward-most curls on Buchinger's left shoulder near his collar are magnified on the right to show the inscribed hidden biblical text.
Courtesy Public domain via WikipediaI recently (and literally) stumbled upon a web page about this remarkable man from the 17th century. His name was Matthias Buchinger, and despite being born without hands, legs or thighs, this guy managed to live a full and amazing life with no less than 4 wives (!?), and fathering something like 11-14 children depending on the source. But even more incredible was how - despite his severe physical deformations - Buchinger was able to rise above Nature’s challenges and become an accomplished musician, inventor, artist, model-in-a-bottle builder, and magician.

Born in Anspach, Germany in 1674, he was the youngest of nine children, and became widely known as “The Little Man from Nuremburg” performing his feats of wonder across much of Great Britain and Europe. Buchinger was only 29 inches tall, and for hands had "two excrescences which grew from his shoulder-blades, like fingers without nails" but his skills in magic, marksmanship, and music were legendary. He played several musical instruments, some of which he invented himself, was accomplished at skittles (bowling), and could dance a hornpipe as well as anyone. He was also a talented calligrapher. His engraving skills are evident by the self-portrait to the right. Hidden within his curls are seven psalms and the Lord’s Prayer written in tiny letters. Buchinger lived much of his adult life in England and Ireland, and performed before King George and many of Europe’s royalty. He died in Cork, Ireland in 1732.

I don’t know about you but I find Buchinger quite inspiring. You can read more about this human marvel in the links below.

Matthias Buchinger
More about Matthias Buchinger
And yet another site

Tags : personality, music, inventor, human mind, human culture, human brain, anthropology

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