Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00475
To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Steven Bolt sbolt@xs4all.nl
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 10:21:22 +0100 (CET)
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Is a CYBUG BEAM?
On Tue, 16 Feb 1999, Justin wrote:
> > My CYBUG is BEAM in philosophy ( in my interpretation of BEAM ), but is
> > not in any way associated with the BEAM trademark. ]
>
> ?? Is BEAM a trademark? I thought it was (strictly?) a philosophy(?)
BEAM is two things. One is an effort to show newbies that
electronics can be fun and interesting; Ed Spike just posted the
background. The second is commercial. So it's alright to call
anything you make `BEAM' if you want to. But it would be impolite
if not illegal to stick a BEAM label onto something you're going to
sell.
> I have to say, I find the idea that `genuine BEAM robots are those
> patterned after Tilden's technology' repulsive and AFAIK, false.
In both the above cases, technology isn't too relevant. Almost any
`bot can participate in the BEAM Robot Games. And before calling
commercial hardware `BEAM', you should ask permission from those
who create the label.
> Founding BEAM (or anything else) doesn't mean that BEAM is restricted to
> his work (and derivitives thereof). BEAM is a philosophy (IMHO little
> else) and (also IMHO) is independant of the technology used.
Judging by Mark T's postings, he agrees with you. And anyway, Marks
work is a third subject. He keeps much of it secret. Here other
catchy labels apply, like `Nervous Net', `Microcore', `Bicore', and
so on. Mark has a flair for marketing, and also quite a few
original ideas. Not a bad combination :)
> > So, in my opinion, CYBUG's are not BEAM, they are BEAM-like, but not
> > BEAM.
>
> I'd say that they become BEAM when you consider BEAM as a philosophy
> rather than a technology. (And people can independantly arrive at the
> same philosophy, which throws even more mud into the equation :-)
The Cybug is a commercial product with its own rather nice label.
Don't discount the marketing power of CYBUG :)
Best,
Steve
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# sbolt@xs4all.nl # Steven Bolt # popular science monthly KIJK #
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