BlabDroid

Page for the Blabdroid in case anyone wanted more info on these cute little guys!
http://blabdroid.com/about/

ELIZA effect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA_effect

so this is the effect that saying people can talk to computer and things like that easier than talking face to face with humans and that robots have "the tendency to unconsciously assume computer behaviors are analogous to human behaviors,".  

These Adorable Robots Are Making a Documentary About Humans. Really.

Things I learned:

1. Created by artist and roboticist Alex Reben.
2. The BlabDroids are tiny, adorable robotic cinematographers.
3.  “ELIZA effect,” which found that people are inclined to anthropomorphize computers and thus engage emotionally with artificial intelligence. 

Opinions:

1. Kawaii!  So cute!  I want one!
2. I think this is interesting.  It's like texting vs. calling.  Most people prefer to talk to someone via texting than calling them (or at least I do).

Questions:

Do you think that some day we could see those rolling around the streets and it could ask you questions?  How would you act?

How Pixar Used Moore's Law to Predict the Future

Things learned:

1. Moore’s formulation was that the density of transistors on an integrated circuit doubles every 18 months.
2. The Moore Law was used to anticipate the future and make good business decisions through the long years and waited for the computer animations envisioned to become reality.
3. "Everything good about computers gets an order of magnitude better every five years,"

Opinions:

1. What?  So they used this method to say that technology was going to get better so they were able to see that the movies and the tech used to make the movies would get better?
2. This confused me....my brain hurt.

Questions:

So how much will the technology of animation change in the next ten years? 

Takeshi Miyazawa

The graphic artist for the new "Code Monkey" comics.  He is most famous for "Mary Jane" comics and Spider Man.  His art has a manga style to it.

http://takeshimiyazawa.com/

Code Monkey

Now after that article, I can't stop humming that song, or singing it in my head! So hear you go! "Code Monkey" by Jonathan Coulton. All rights go to Jonathan Coulton.  The music video goes to owlishlyyours on YouTube.

Lyrics:

Code Monkey get up get coffee 
Code Monkey go to job 
Code Monkey have boring meeting 
With boring manager Rob 
Rob say Code Monkey very diligent 
But his output stink 
His code not "functional" or "elegant" 
What do Code Monkey think? 
Code Monkey think maybe manager want to write god damned login page himself 
Code Monkey not say it out loud 
Code Monkey not crazy, just proud 
Code Monkey like Fritos 
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew 
Code Monkey very simple man 
With big warm fuzzy secret heart: 
Code Monkey like you(2X) 
Code Monkey hang around at front desk 
Tell you sweater look nice 
Code Monkey offer buy you soda 
Bring you cup, bring you ice 
You say no thank you for the soda cause 
Soda make you fat 
Anyway you busy with the telephone 
No time for chat 
Code Monkey have long walk back to cubicle he sit down pretend to work 
Code Monkey not thinking so straight 
Code Monkey not feeling so great 
Code Monkey like Fritos 
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew 
Code Monkey very simple man 
With big warm fuzzy secret heart: 
Code Monkey like you 
Code Monkey like you a lot 
Code Monkey have every reason 
To get out this place 
Code Monkey just keep on working 
See your soft pretty face 
Much rather wake up, eat a coffee cake 
Take bath, take nap 
This job "fulfilling in creative way" 
Such a load of crap 
Code Monkey think someday he have everything even pretty girl like you 
Code Monkey just waiting for now 
Code Monkey say someday, somehow 
Code Monkey like Fritos 
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew 
Code Monkey very simple man 
With big warm fuzzy secret heart: 
Code Monkey like you(2X)

"Painting the Roses Red"

Sadly this kind of thing happens a lot.  Someone makes their own artwork and someone uses it without the artists' permission.  And this happened to  Katie Woodger.  She made a fan art from "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. But then her image appeared on Disney cosmetic bags.  Disney never asked for her permission to use the image.  However this image belongs to Woodger because as soon as it was put down on paper, it was copyrighted to her!  Any use of it without her permission is violation of Copyright Laws!  The t-shirts have been stopped but still.....

My Opinion:

1. shame on Disney!!!!!
2. I hope Woodger at least gets some kind of apology and recognition for her artwork!

Question:

Can she sue Disney for this? (I think she could....although I don't know how far she would get going up against Disney).

Codey Monkey

"Code Monkey get up, get coffee. Code Monkey go to job...." (Code Monkey, by Jonathan Coulton).  We have all heard this song; those who were in the Animation class last year and the students that are in it now. 

Things I learned:

1. Making a comic based on Jonathan Coulton's hit song "Code Monkey".
2. Artist is  Tak Miyazawa
3.  "Code Monkey Save World" graphic novel is based on several songs, including "Skullcrusher Mountain" and "Chiron Beta Prime"!
4. Code Monkey teams up with the moody supervillain Skullcrusher to save Code Monkey's beloved co-worker Matilde from Laura the Robo Queen's slave colonies on Chiron Beta Prime.
5.  They are even bringing in inspiration from "Re: Your Brains".

My opinions: 

1. Thank you!  I am so glad that they are doing this! I mean we had to do a animation for these songs so to see it as a comic is just gonna be awesome...(where can I get it?)
2.  I can't wait to read this!

Question:

When/where can I read this?