Beggar 2.0

a robot for the materially deprived in Tokyo

NEW VIDEO!
Beggar 2.0 in Tokyo (short version)
3'20''
12.6MB windows media player

The Beggar robot is above all the messenger of the news that too much of the world is getting poorer not richer and that's unfortunately bad news for us all. Beggar 2.0 is a robot for the materially deprived which is made of old electronics and computer spare parts. The original 1.0 was tested in Slovenian shopping malls where it is forbidden to beg, but no such rule was made for robots. The experiment showed that richer part of society shows more sympathy towards the marginalized groups if they communicate from a safe distance and via technological interface.

The new upgrade version of Beggar robot made at IAMAS institute in Japan was tested in the beginning of July on Tokyo streets where begging isn't really a frequent phenomena and where interface communication is ubiquitous. The new version runs on Linux (written by Yu Fukui) and will be soon available on this web site for anyone to download the program and copy the robot.

BAGGAR 2.0 version was made at IAMAS ( Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Science)

IAMAS cooperation:
Yu Fukui (Linux programming),
Hiromi Imamura (face animation)
Hiromitsu Murakami (face animation, photo)
Takanori Endo (sensor unit development)
Miki Fukuda (organizer)

Special thanks:
Lada Cerar
Pavle Sedla č ek
Sipronica d.o.o.

VIDEO AND INSTRUCTIONS COOMING UP SOON !!!!!

____________________________________SPECIAL NEWS__________________________________

Zavod P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. together with Foundation for Civil Societyand Trust for Mutual Understanding from New Yorka, is starting with OHO award for young artist (under 35 of age) from Slovenia .This year award winner is Sašo Sedlaček and his work Ž icar/Beggar.

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BEGGAR 1.0

robot for materially deprived

The robot for the materially deprived is constructed entirely from old computer hardware and a few spare parts that can be obtained at no cost. Computers are nowadays more or less treated as basic home equipment and cultural code, no longer reserved for a few privileged individuals as a technology. This is why "Žicar/Beggar" can step up in the name of the materially deprived, while at the same time preserving their anonymity and dignity. It has access to areas normally off-limits to beggars, such as shopping malls and community events, where the richer part of the society frequents - the part of society that is only able to show some sympathy towards the marginalized if they communicate from a safe distance and via a technological interface.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Instructions 1.0 : technical data

                                                       
Free instructions for the robot                                                   Face animation clip (Slovene lang.)


The robot can work on 220V or on a battery. Except the DVD (or WHS player) which works the whole time, all parts of the robot are started by detector of motion which switches on TV with face animation and hands that collect money. Selection for face animation is optional and up to creator, nevertheless if you want the same animation on your robot as on the clip above you can get the whole thing here :) momentarily available only in Slovene language.


Ingredients for the robot 1.0:

2 - 4 old computer boxes
Accumulator or Computer power supply (both can be included)
1 or 2 CD-rom units for hands
Small TV
Sensor of motion
DVD or WHS player
1,5 A voltage regulator 12/5 V=
Inverter 12V=/220V Hz 100W
Relay 220V Hz
Pulser 0-20 sec. and Relay 12V=
Amplifier for speakers (optional)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dokumentation...



Watch video: windows media 8.4 MB, Begging in the shopping mall test #1

The past few years have brought about social changes, which have introduced an increasing percentage of poverty into the general picture of the society. Living in poverty or on the fringe thereof are marginalized groups such as impoverished individuals and families, refugees and asylum seekers, elderly people, disabled people... Most of them, hidden from the public view confined in their homes, will never step onto the street to beg, except in most dire circumstances. Because of technology expansion today, there are many new ways of begging; e-mails with spare some change content, begging web sites, multiplayer games begging. and a robot for materially deprived.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Realization & thanks:

Technical realization of the robot: Pavle & Sašo Sedlacek
Speech: Speaker 1.1 / Synthesizer of Slovene speech, Jure Leskovec, Jozef Stefan Institute
Used computers: thanks to all the donors (who wished to remain anonymous)
Special thanks: Sipronika d.o.o.
The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Ljubljana - Culture Department