People doing strange things with electricity

December 30, 2008 9:59 PM

Dorkbotis a "monthly meeting of artists (sound/image/movement/whatever), designers, engineers, students, scientists, and other interested parties who are involved in the creative use of electricity." Started in NYC in 2000 by Douglas Repetto, Director of Research at the Columbia University Computer Music Center as well as one of Wired's 10 Sexiest Geeks, there are now dozens all over the world. Past presenters have been featured here on the blue. For instance Jeff Han presented his multi-touch interface at dorkbot-nyc in April of 2006. Miru Kim presented her naked city spleen at dorkbot-nyc in October of 2006. Bummed that there's not one in your own city? Start your own!

The NYC meetings (first Wednesday of the month) are very casual and draw an eclectic range of presenters. A great mix of software and hardware mixed with various artistic influences. Would love to hear how they are run in other cities if anyone's been.

posted by funkiwan (19 comments total)

I do love Dorkbot and did a little demo there in March 2001... also very interested to hear about other cities.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:30 PM on December 30, 2008

Seattle's is a bit slow but sometimes someone has some pretty neat stuff.
posted by hattifattener at 1:35 AM on December 31, 2008

Dorkbot's great -- I keep on meaning to go downtown to see it in NYC. One thing -- the NYC Dorkbots are on the first Wednesday of the month, not Tuesday.
posted by suedehead at 1:58 AM on December 31, 2008

I actually already have a tab open to "Start your own" but I doubt my ruralish area could support it. But maybe I could start one at work, which probably could.
posted by DU at 4:28 AM on December 31, 2008

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: DORKBOTS NYC meets on the first *wednesday* -- not tuesday -- of every month.

From someone who knows.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:57 AM on December 31, 2008

Oh, and I see suedehead already corrected the meeting time. Maybe we can get a Mod to do it on the FPP?
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:57 AM on December 31, 2008

Yes indeed, the NYC meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month. I've notified the mods. Sorry about that guys. I knew this. When I recently upgraded my Ubuntu (Intrepid Ibex!) all of my calendar entries got converted to UTC time. This is the first official casualty.
posted by funkiwan at 6:20 AM on December 31, 2008

Wednefied.
posted by cortex at 6:35 AM on December 31, 2008

Dorkbot DFW here. The group just got started earlier this year.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 11:19 AM on December 31, 2008

I've been to two in Austin, both were great times.
posted by melt away at 11:26 AM on December 31, 2008

Hi from DorkbotPDX!

We do twice-monthly meetings. I first joined a little more than a year ago, and what a great way to learn about electronics and microcontrollers. Every meeting there's beautiful art and electronic projects.

Next meeting is next Monday!
posted by Laen at 11:52 AM on December 31, 2008

Hi from Dorkbot-SF!

The organizer's recovering from surgery, & there's no set venue or date. I try to archive recordings, but my expectations are confounded, especially with regards to actually, well, editing & posting them.
posted by Pronoiac at 4:46 PM on December 31, 2008

By "no set venue or date," I mean "we're always looking for locations."

And by the magic act of typing that here, I've had an insight into something utterly amazingly blatantly obvious, & I'm going to mail loquacious now.
posted by Pronoiac at 5:00 PM on December 31, 2008

Have any mefites inquired about starting their own dorkbot and gotten some evidence that someone actually reads those emails? If there´s a different person to contact now I would appreciate it if someone would memail me.
posted by yohko at 1:59 PM on January 1 [1 favorite has favorites]

DORKBOT SEATTLE: the last few meetings included "Evil Santa Workshop" making mutated toys for Santarchy, and "Electric music machines," with DIY motorized music makers playing themselves. On youtube!

DorkbotSea/Santarchy mutant xmas toys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LOqd5XZSU

DorkbotSea Electric Music: fingernails/chalkboard device
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mXsVz8_BOA
posted by billb at 8:37 PM on January 1

Ooops, that's:

Youtube DorkbotSea/Santarchy mutant xmas toys

Youtube DorkbotSea Electric Music: fingernails/chalkboard device
posted by billb at 8:41 PM on January 1

To yohko and anyone else trying to find info about starting a dorkbot -- please email me at [douglas at music columbia edu] and/or [douglas at dorkbot org].

It's super easy to start your own dorkbot, you just need a few people, a space, and some things you're excited to talk about!
posted by drepetto at 4:28 PM on January 4 [1 favorite has favorites]

[chagrined] I should probably have less of a hang-up about sending people a second email if I don´t hear back. Yeah. That would be good.
posted by yohko at 12:05 AM on January 5

There's a Dorkbot-SF tomorrow. Gigapixel panoramas are involved.

I think this post is unjustly ignored, due to closeness to New Year Eve.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:15 AM on January 12