Japanese algorithm dance

July 4, 2007 10:51 PM

Algorithm dance, from a kids' show, apparently. I found it quite funny. Is this the rhythm of an algorithm?
posted by Listener (14 comments total)

And then some Swedes get into the act,
in a public square.
posted by Listener at 10:56 PM on July 4, 2007

Algorithm dances should all be set to the music of Kraftwerk.
posted by sparkletone at 10:59 PM on July 4, 2007

I love this stuff, but am certain that this (Pythagoras Switch?) has appeared here before.
posted by bunglin jones at 11:10 PM on July 4, 2007

I'm just glad that in America prisoners aren't subjected to this sort of cruel and unusual punishment.
posted by Manjusri at 11:25 PM on July 4, 2007

That's no public square... that's the royal palace.
posted by alexei at 11:27 PM on July 4, 2007

> I love this stuff, but am certain that this (Pythagoras Switch?) has appeared here before.

yep - http://www.metafilter.com/62338/One-thing-leads-to-another

Fun stuff :) I would have loved this show when I was growing up, had I been able to understand Japanese.
posted by reptile at 11:52 PM on July 4, 2007

smash it up
posted by zouhair at 12:05 AM on July 5, 2007

The Algorithm March is a recurring segment of the Japanese children's show Pythagoras Switch, which also created the excellent Rube Goldberg-esque machines you've probably seen videos of.

It seems to be often used as a standby, and has had many different people doing it, including soccer/futbol teams,
researchers at the SOUTH POLE, and even
967 inmates in the Philippines. (There were also videos with flight attendants and Sony QRIO robots, but YouTube took em down.)
posted by Hargrimm at 12:07 AM on July 5, 2007

Wow, there's so many videos of the algorithm dance I can hardly wait for the Alanis version.
posted by Brittanie at 12:08 AM on July 5, 2007

with Ninja and everyone together, although the bus guides - ooh, la, la!

education should always be this much fun
posted by caddis at 12:11 AM on July 5, 2007

When I have a daughter I shall name her Pythagora Switch. She will grow to be a eccentric scientist, and will be worshipped as a goddess by mechanics, engineers and geeks everywhere.

That is all.
posted by Jilder at 12:35 AM on July 5, 2007

Not to spoil the excitement, but do any of these dances have anything to do with algorithms (as in "an algorithm is a finite list of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task that, given an initial state, will terminate in a defined end-state.")? Or am I missing the point here?
posted by Herr Fahrstuhl at 1:14 AM on July 5, 2007

Well, the dances/marches are definitely representative of "a finite list of well-defined instructions..." that subsequently fit together (ie. the "air pumping motion" ends up synchronized with the "filling up with air" motion) so in terms of visualizing the concept for children, I'd say yes.

And can one really go wrong explaining scientific concepts with ninjas? I'd say no.
posted by squasha at 2:10 AM on July 5, 2007

I once went to an Al Gore Rhythm & Blues Festival. Tipper was playing the drums.
posted by jonp72 at 6:17 AM on July 5, 2007