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Shape-Shifting Navigation Device Points You In the Right Direction

Posted by samzenpus on from the point-the-way dept.

Zothecula writes: Developed by Yale engineer Adam Spiers, the Animotus is a wirelessly-connected, 3D printed cube that changes shape to help direct you like a haptic compass. Gizmag reports: " Spiers designed Animotus when he was involved in a performance of Flatland, an interactive play based on Edwin A. Abbott's 1884 story of a two-dimensional world. As part of the stage production, audience members – both sighted and visually impaired – were kept in complete darkness and walked four at a time though the performance space with narrative voice overs and sound effects telling the story as they wandered through. In their hands, each participant held an Animotus that guided them by changing shape to point them in the right direction. With a multi-sectioned body created in a 3D printer, that Animotus alters shape in response to wireless instructions to indicate the user’s position in their environment. To do this, the top half of the cube twists around to point users toward their next destination and then slides forward to give a relative indication of the distance to get there. As a result, rather than having to look at a device, such as the screen of a smartphone, the user was able to determine their path by touch."

22 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Brilliant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ooh ooh I just love the fact that it's "3D printed" and it uses the Interwebs, and I love the word "haptic". This hits three of my technological erogenous zones. And then there's the Ivy League tie-in, and the incredibly tenuous link to Flatland. This is just so wrapped up in "right now" that it deserves to be on Slashdot.

    Other than that it's completely fucking stupid.

    1. Re:Brilliant by konohitowa · · Score: 1

      Meh. Was expecting an IoT device. Never mind the fact that it does nothing to address the -isms in STEM.

    2. Re:Brilliant by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      This hits three of my technological erogenous zones.

      The thing slides back and forth and twists, so it can be used on your actual erogenous zones too.
      I know this is /. so I'll add that with the right instructions, it can also help you find those erogenous zones...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    3. Re:Brilliant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Hi there, I am the creator of the device. I see you are a grumpy internet person who does not take the time to read things. Let me address your points:

      1. "3D printed" - why is this in inverted commas? Yes it is 3D printed on research grade stratsys printers with high resolution and dissolvable support, this is my preferred fabrication platform for most of my research tools, it is not possible to fabricate many of the internal mechanism structures by conventional means while also replicating the device in small quantities.

      2. Interwebs - Not sure again what your issue is. The device, like many navigation devices is wirelessly connected to a host service to provide it with navigational information (just like a smartphone).

      3. "Haptic" - I am a haptics researcher, I study the sense of touch and create technologies that interface with the sense of touch. In my previous work I have studied touch feedback in remote surgical systems. This device was presented at the World Haptics conference in Chicago, a highly prestigious event with a high impact associated journal. As this device communicates via touch is a haptic device, so again, why the inverted commas?

      4. "Tenuous link to Flatland" - not tenuous at all really - the device was developed as part of a theatrical installation of Flatland which involved a professional and long standing dramatic team and significant funding from the premier arts funding body in the UK. The story was adapted in it's entirety for the environment we created and involved a number of professional actors and sound engineers. Almost 100 audience members took part in the production. How is this tenuous?

      Here is the original article, I would recommend you read it before posting negative comments based on things you have not take the time to consider or understand: http://news.yale.edu/2015/08/26/shape-shifting-navigation-device-both-sighted-and-visually-impaired

    4. Re:Brilliant by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      "Other than that it's completely fucking stupid."

      You are stupid. It's a WIFI-handjob-machine for nerds.

    5. Re:Brilliant by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 1

      Bingo.

      --
      They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
    6. Re:Brilliant by davester666 · · Score: 1

      Just imagine how it will feel once it crawls it's way to your penis-zone.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    7. Re:Brilliant by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      OP was much funnier.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    8. Re:Brilliant by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Wow, you really must be new here.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  2. Given the choice by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Given the choice between this device and a rock. I'd choose a rock, because at least I'd know what to do with the rock

    1. Re:Given the choice by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      Smash a window so you can escape from the interactive play?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:Given the choice by KGIII · · Score: 1

      It might have been his name but it made me think of an agent who is acting covertly and wanting to follow exact directions without being obviously following a GPS device. I could see it being something that can be updated remotely so that they can direct someone and check to see if they have been followed. Then, if followed, they can direct them to another site entirely and go from there. I can think of a few generic military applications, if I really stretch, as well.

      I am not sure which form these devices should take but I can see some potential value in the idea. I have to work to find that value but...

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    3. Re:Given the choice by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      Only Linux.

  3. "Shape-shifting"... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not really what I think of when I hear "shape-shifting." A regular compass shape-shifts as much as this thing does. It just... moves.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  4. Smart phone warble by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I remember this walkers navigation app, did a warble to show the direction:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=13&v=fHvHFNUO_8s

    You pulled it out of your pocket, angled it down, it makes a sort of warbling sound. Turn it, the tone changed pitch so you know where to head, put it back in your pocket and it stopped making a noise.

    I quite liked that feature, sadly I haven't seen it on newer Android apps.

  5. Useful by sociocapitalist · · Score: 2

    Seems like this might be usable by blind people in an environment they don't already have memorized

    --
    blindly antisocialist = antisocial
  6. Of all posts not to have a video... by LaurenCates · · Score: 1

    ...this has to be it?

    --
    Some people don't believe in fairies. I don't believe in The Patriarchy.
  7. Shape-shifting? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

    That thing isn't "shape-shifting", we're not talking about a cube that can become a sphere here. It's a simple cube with two halves where the upper half can rotate and slide forward/backward. In the same line of thinking, a Rubik's Cube is a lot more "shape-shifting" than this thing. But in the end, both can only be "cubes".

    1. Re:Shape-shifting? by SoftwareArtist · · Score: 1

      If a Rubik's cube were motorized so it could rotate itself, then sure, I'd call it shape shifting. But in fact, a Rubik's cube is just a block of plastic that doesn't move unless you move it. Whether that's a good or bad thing is a matter of opinion. It probably depends how good you are at solving it. :)

      This thing slides and rotates on its own, which is a pretty big difference.

      --
      "I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."
  8. So much... hate. by moorley · · Score: 1

    Despite all the negative posts this is actually cool... If you are a theater geek.

    When I completed my theater degree in 2008 they used throwaway phones to as prop thinking that as long as the stage manager was the only one who had the number they would be ok. (COUGH COUGH). I still cringe when I see a production use video projection and not hide the splash screen... of the DVD player.

    Here is a theater production that designed a custom device (albeit a dorky suit) to be an integral part of a theater experience. It pre-dates any decent Indoor Positioning Systems that we have yet to fully standardize and implement.

    All in all a good mix of art, theater and technology. This made my day!!!

    --
    "Don't fear death... fear not living..." -me :)
  9. this sounds oddly familiar... by pixelbroker · · Score: 1

    I wonder if this may have been the inspiration:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGujzulsas

  10. Re:Electronic Compass For The Blind by tehcyder · · Score: 1

    Without wishing to defend this, I think it's fair to say that having a hundred smartphones yapping out instructions would somewhat spoil the play.

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it