Air-actuated inflatable structures are a very unusual technical choice. They have some novel properties that are very valuable for close-up interaction with people. They also have some practical limitations that set boundaries what the experiences can be. 

This talk will cover some of the robots Richard has made, what interactions audiences have found with them, and some speculations about what might be next. 

If we can find enough space in the Studio, we’ll also have one for you to play with.

Richard is a software engineer and roboticist, with an interest in soft, tactile, and emotionally-effective interactive robots. He’s worked with Rusty Squid on a number of projects, including Channel 4’s “How To Build A Robot”. At the moment, he’s mostly working on whiskers for underwater robots.

This Lunchtime Talk is part of Open Studio Friday, which takes place at the Studio every week.

Do you want to find out what is going on at the Pervasive Media Studio? Are you interested in meeting our residents, talking about a specific project or curious about pervasive media? Why not pack a sandwich and join us for one of our Lunchtime Talks and Open Studio Friday. Lunchtime Talks are informal presentations by Studio residents and associates. They normally take place at 1pm on Friday, are free and open to everybody who’s interested in what we do. After the Talk, we also invite you to stay with us for the afternoon to continue the conversation or work on your own projects. We provide chairs, tables, wireless and a great space. You bring what you need to work with (laptop/mobile). Our open afternoons close at 5pm. Let us know if you’d like a tour of the space and we'll be happy to show you around just before the talk. Send an email to: studio@watershed.co.uk to book your place on a tour.

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