New Publication: The asymmetry between discoveries and inventions in the Nobel Prize in Physics

We published a new article in the Technoetics Arts journal:

Bartneck, C., Rauterberg, M. (2008). The asymmetry between discoveries and inventions in the Nobel Prize in Physics. Technoetic Arts: a Journal of Speculative Research, 6(1), 73-77. DOI: 10.1386/tear.6.1.73_1

Abstract – This paper presents an empirical study on the frequency of discoveries and inventions that were awarded with the. More than 70 per cent of all Nobel Prizes were given to discoveries. The majority of inventions were awarded at the beginning of the twentieth century and only three inventions had a direct application for society. The emphasis on discoveries moves the Nobel Prize further away from its original intention to reward the greatest contribution to society in the preceding year. We propose to strengthen the role of inventions for the Nobel Prize, which would encourage inventors to tackle important problems, such as global warming or the gap between the first and the third worlds.

DOI: 10.1386/tear.6.1.73_1 | CITEULIKE: 2687653
HTML: http://www.bartneck.de/publications/2008/nobel/

ResearchBlogging.org

Neural Network Manager for Lego Mindstorms NXT

The Neural Network manager for NXT is a Java Graphical User Interface which allows Lego fans to easily create, manage and train a neural network which can be exported and used in any program to be designed to run on the LEGO NXT. The total system comprises of two main parts, a UI running on the NXT and the Neural Network Manager running on the PC. The Neural network is created by the Neural Network Manager and can once trained be exported to a Java file that should be compiled and uploaded to the NXT. The NXT side of the system handles the I/O with the sensors (in our application the LEGO Sound sensor) and the communication with the PC. It pre-processes the data and sends it to the PC side via a bluetooth or USB connection. Continue reading “Neural Network Manager for Lego Mindstorms NXT”

HRI2008 Student Design Competition

I organized the HRI2008 Student Design Competition this year. We had seven teams from around the world, each giving the jury (Hiroshi Ishiguro, Kerstin Dautenhan, Peter Kahn, Karl MacDorman, audience) a five minutes presentation. The students created marvelous robots in the short time that was available to them. In the end, the team from Amsterdam won with their Phobot.

The teams with their robots.

The teams and their robots.

Press coverage of the HRI Converence

Design Competition event: