Robotic Ecologies

Roland Piquepaille writes "The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Architecture has started a new program about 'robotic ecologies' which wants to answer the question: Will robots take over architecture? As said the program leader, 'This research is not just about architectural machines that move. It is about groups of architectural machines that move with intelligence.' Apparently, buildings tracking our movements and adapting their shape or texture according human presence are not far fetched. Maybe one day, we'll talk to our homes and they'll answer."

Comments

Will bots replace Roland?

[Harmonious Botch]

1)Make a bot that scans tech-related sites.
2)Upon seeing new content, bot posts it to slashdot.
3)Bribe the editors regularly.
4)Put ads on your site.
5)Link everything to your site.
6)Profit!!

Re:If...When

[Craptastic Weasel]

"Maybe one day, we'll talk to our homes and they'll answer."

Basement! I need a status report! Set sunlight shields to block! And where the heck is the virgin I ordered in the holo deck?

Re:Flaws

[IgLou]

You're fine so long as you're not having sex on the counter. In which case the most likely thing would be a floating point error that causes speakers to blare out "Warning! Warning! Unauthorized biological organisms on the cooking surface! Sterilize! Sterilize!" That's when you regret your gas stove that it quickly adapts into a flame thrower.

This post has just saved a life... I know it.

homes as a species

[anarchy_man3]

I was discussing with one of my friends about how we don't use houses, houses use us to build them and spread across the world. Houses as a species have evolved to adapt to all parts of the earth and even into space. Dude, like whooaaah...

Re:homes as a species

[crabpeople]

"I was discussing with one of my friends about how we don't use houses, houses use us"

Are you perhaps in Soviet Russia?

Contextual instructions

[tttonyyy]

When I utter the instruction, "Squash!" to my building, I sincerely hope it delivers a diluted, fruit-flavoured drink rather than attempt to compress me into a small cube...

Re:Contextual instructions

[PequalsNP]

Don't worry, we have beta testers to work out that sort of thing. By the time it makes it to market, the obvious ways of killing you will be gone, only the sly self-aware HAL style of killing you will remain.

oblig

[Digitus1337]

I for one welcome you to my new house overlords.

the unblinking eye

[Scrameustache]

What if a building could adapt its shape, texture, light, sounds, and heat to your presence?
Only if it can also read our moods. How would it know if I am in the mood to read a book (good light source) or to watch TV (dimmer)? Good choice, Dave, the on-line reviews are very positive.
When you're done, would you like to play a game of chess?

YOU live in it!

[Lazerf4rt]

What if a building were equipped with sensors to track your movement through a space and could adapt its shape, texture, light, sounds, and heat to your presence?

So, we're talking about a thousand-ton slab of moving floors and sliding walls, changing its heat and lighting... with you inside it? Constantly transforming and shapeshifting, all running off some intern's Java program?

All I can picture is that garbage-compactor scene from Star Wars.

Re:YOU live in it!

[glittalogik]

I lived in a house like that for 4 or 5 hours. LSD for the win!

Re:Flaws

[Anonymous Coward]

What if we want to have sex on the kitchen bench, instead of cooking?

Note to Self: Never eat dinner at biocute's house...