Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03624



To: sbolt@xs4all.nl
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 14:41:05 EDT
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: BEAM and machine evolution


In a message dated 5/24/99 12:08:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, sbolt@xs4all.nl
writes:

> BEAMer knowledge has difficulty expanding, because of the curious
> accent on tinkering as opposed to design. For instance, there is no
> way to get the various 2-transistor SEs `right', because there are
> fundamental problems with that design, which no amount of tinkering
> can solve. Hence these supposedly simple devices will forever be
> a source of much frustration.
>
Actually Steven, I think there is another more important hindrance to BEAM
knowledge expansion. In my opinion BEAM is a very tightly wrapped ball of
biases. Your suneaters are an excellent example. Suneaters solve many of the
problems with the S.E.'s, but almost no one builds them. You offer kits, but
I would say you haven't sold many. You are not Mark T. or Dave H. so your not
really BEAM. Even if you are, you aren't. The knee jerk reaction in the BEAM
community to different, and even better ideas is to pounce with ferocity on
the turf invader. Even if the ideas have merit, they are rejected as non
BEAM, impossible, unimportant, or unnecessary. BEAM is a technology that
revolves around the opinions of a small minority of people. They, through the
use of certain bias, really control the flow of acceptance. Particularly on
this list. Anything that deviates from the norm, even if sound and workable
hasn't got a prayer if not accepted by that group. That's why people fiddle
endlessly with FLED based poppers that barely work and completely ignore
better options like the suneater. Evolution? I'm beginning to wonder. If, as
Tilden suggests, robotics evolution is in us, then I'm beginning to wonder
about it's viability. We don't accept better ideas unless they come from the
perceived correct source. We shun better circuits and designs unless they are
offered or accepted by the hierarchy. In truth, I'm beginning to think BEAM
can't evolve. After all, BEAM seems to be simply a Tilden emulator. Most of
us just want to copy Mark's designs, or Dave's designs, and pull them out
every now and then to impress friends. I'm not so sure this is the way to
robotic evolution. Perhaps Dave is right, BEAM is no more than a hobby meant
to lead one to graduating to greater things. But, then there's that CPU bias.
I'm really beginning to wonder if there is, or ever will be a high end to
BEAM. I'm sorry guys, but when I saw Stryder shuffling across the screen on
PBS last week, I couldn't help but remember what Tilden said about Cog at
MIT. I mean, Cog is a very advanced system. It can recognize faces and
expressions, and respond in kind. That sounds like serious research to me.
But all Tilden could muster was that all it can do is barely keep from
beating itself to death. And this bias filters down to the BEAM community as
CPU's suck. Don't even look at them. As I watched Stryder stumble over one
bot it didn't know was there and finally bump into another Symet that
triggered it's leg tactile sensor, I thought, "This thing can barely walk."
As far as I can tell, it only lifts it's legs a couple of millimeters off the
table top. It's not even really walking. But, from Tilden's point of view, it
has more merit as a precursor to robotic evolution than Cog. That inside out
bias will forever limit BEAM to the hobby work bench. This attitude filters
down until it becomes BEAM law. I know I rant on these things to much, and
this is the last one. I am getting nowhere trying to explain what I perceive
as destructive and limiting attitudes. If someone is hell bent on stifling
their own creativity, there's nothing that will change it. I'm beginning to
think BEAM will forever be the crystal radio. Fun to play with, easy to
build, and a learning experience. But, it eventually has little to do with
the radio industry as a whole. It's a shame really.
Jim

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