Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #02256
To: n9841011@cc.wwu.edu
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 19:45:24 EDT
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Beam genome
In a message dated 4/12/99 7:21:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
n9841011@cc.wwu.edu writes:
> By saying the names of the people who inspired or originated certain
> circuits or ideas, there is an oportunity for ambiguity. What if someone's
> claim to Beam fame, lets say Merv, is a particular solar engine design as
> well as a better bicore and a spiffier leg. In calling the robot a Tilden
> Merv Clarence, I would be leaving open a pretty wide door for
> misinterpreting the makeup of my creation, whereas calling it a 21x30x53mm
> territorial d1 photovore, I give more insight into what it is and does.
>
Hmmmmm, you have a point there. Maybe the problem is in the terms. I don't
really see the need for names. But I do see the need for some kind of term
for what the physical arrangement of your photovore is. Where are the
photodiodes? Does it have any distinguishing traits? Would you say it shares
physical traits seen in other critters? In other words, we've established
it's a dog, but without a lengthy description of what kind of dog I have no
idea what it looks like. I have a good idea of how it will behave by your
description, but I can't place it's physical characteristics. It would take
volumes to have a conversation about it, and you'd still need to whip out a
photo for me to see just what kind of beautiful new mechanics you just came
up with and how some other design lead you there. We would end up discussing
names and pointing to tutorials and making all kinds of round about
connections when a standardized term would suffice. Consider the way Tilden
makes the legs on some of his walkers wider at the bottom by incorporating
different diameters of metal tubing. It looks like they are soldered or glued
on and possibly improve the traction as well as aesthetics of the leg. Or. I
could have said "Tilden foot pad" or something similar. It becomes
standardized and widely known as to form and function, making it available to
more experimenters. Have you seen a tutorial, or explanation anywhere on how
to construct that footpad? It could be useful, and I think would promote
evolution of the BEAM species.
Jim
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