Ad Spiers
Ad's main research deals with haptic technology (devices that interface with a user via the sense of touch) which he believes has great uncharted potential.
Projects
The Question
In a pitch-black theatre, a lotus flower unfurls in the hand of its keeper. This watchful apparatus guides the audience through an unseen space, helping them to navigate sensory ‘islands’ through touch and sound.Whilst in residence at the Studio, Ad (Adam) Spiers was also a research associate at Bristol Robotics Laboratory. His main research deals with haptic technology (devices that interface with a user via the sense of touch) which he believes has great uncharted potential. He has been investigating this technology for a number of different applications, from enhancing the abilities of surgeons to accessible immersive theatre.
Ad has had an obsession with all things robotic since seeing the movie Short Circuit as a child in the eighties. Since then he has studied robotics extensively and built a number of electronic / electromechanical systems for both scientific and artistic endeavours. He has contributed to a number of technology based installations and also likes robots that draw, flashing lights and making people say ‘wow’.