Techno Teddy

Catch up on stories from the past week (and beyond) at the Slashdot story archive

Techno Teddy 99

Posted by michael on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:26PM from the flugeldufel-flugeldufel-flugeldufel dept.

jazzman writes "In an attempt to push technology into realms it had better never set a foot on, the guys from flugeldufel have modified some consumer hardware and created a unique musical instrument: it looks like a teddy bear, feels like a teddy bear, and transforms gestures into 44kHz breakbeats."

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Load All Comments

Search 99 Comments Log In/Create an Account

Comments Filter:

As a wise man once said (Score:3, Insightful)

by Starship Trooper ( 523907 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:30PM (#3670095) Homepage Journal

Programmers are so obsessed with the fact that they can, they don't stop to think that they should.

Share
twitter facebook
- Re:As a wise man once said (Score:2)
  
  by telstar ( 236404 ) writes:
  
  Sadly most of the ones I work with don't even START to think if they can...
  
  ...off to monster.com [monster.com].
- Re:As a wise man once said (Score:2, Insightful)
  
  by FrostedWheat ( 172733 ) writes:
  
  Inspiration comes in many forms. Doing something like this although seemingly pointless, will inspire others to do greater things! Many of these will be pointless, but some will not!
- Re:As a wise man once said (Score:1)
  
  by plnb ( 579253 ) writes:
  
  It's neat and all, but what the hell is the use of the bear?
- Those who stop to think if they should... (Score:1)
  
  by JaredOfEuropa ( 526365 ) writes:
  
  rarely move beyond that. Unless it is to tell everyone else to stop moving as well.
The Wrong Pill! (Score:4, Funny)

by nick_davison ( 217681 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:32PM (#3670106)

Have you seen the pictures? That's just not right!
Taking the wrong pill, the teddy remained connected to the matrix. [flugeldufel.org]

Share
twitter facebook
- Re:The Wrong Pill! (Score:1)
  
  by Mr Teddy Bear ( 540142 ) writes:
  
  Dude... I always knew I could get down with the best of 'em!
  
  Before you mod me as off topic, look at my nick. Now you get it... goood good.
- Re:The Mysterious Urge (Score:1)
  
  by ealar dlanvuli ( 523604 ) writes:
  
  amazing
  
  I give it +5 interesting :)
  
  keep it up
  
  mods: please refrain from killing my karma, thanks
wow! (Score:2)

by SquierStrat ( 42516 ) writes:

I admit i only glanced at the page...but i didn't see a how-to section...come on details please! that's so frigen kewl i gotta do it myself!
- Re:wow! (Score:2)
  
  by Manitcor ( 218753 ) writes:
  
  That's half the fun, he shows you how the hardware is hooked up and the [flugeldufel.org] hardware he uses [flugeldufel.org]. He even supplies you with the source code [flugeldufel.org]. He even goes through the trouble of supplying you with the actual GBA Compiled ROM [flugeldufel.org] itself.
  
  If you need more detail than that do a little research on electronics and the structure of GBA hardware.
  - Re:wow! (Score:1)
    
    by SquierStrat ( 42516 ) writes:
    
    Thanks, like i said, I only glanced at the page (was to busy doing calculus 3 homework.)
I don't even need to follow the link... (Score:1)

by PrimeWaveZ ( 513534 ) writes:

If it even closely resembles Teddy Ruxpin, the world is coming to an end.
- Re:I don't even need to follow the link... (Score:1)
  
  by pakchuie ( 300508 ) writes:
  
  I put a KISS tape in my little brother's Teddy Ruxpin. The head started spinning around a la Linda Blair and fire shot from its mouth
Gahh! (Score:3, Funny)

by sandidge ( 150265 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:37PM (#3670129)

To mangle a line from the Simpsons:

"Can't sleep, teddy bear will eat me. Can't sleep, teddy bear will eat me."

Share
twitter facebook
Re: (Score:1)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes:

Comment removed based on user account deletion
What does "unique" refer to? (Score:3, Informative)

by EvilNTUser ( 573674 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:39PM (#3670147)

If you mean unique as in "it's a teddy bear", then you're correct afaik, but using gestures to control instruments is not a unique idea [obsolete.com].

Share
twitter facebook
- Re:What does "unique" refer to? (Score:1)
  
  by jazzman'flugeldufel ( 584365 ) writes:
  
  You're right... and I guess I can't deny the Theremin served as an inspiration. See the Techno Teddy as the digital reincarnation of the utterly analog, 85-years-old Theremin.
A.I. (Score:1)

by mblumber ( 267394 ) writes:

How long until we have teddys from A.I. running around?
- He used to be a supertoy... (Score:1)
  
  by way2muchsense ( 513397 ) writes:
  
  but now he's old and stupid. You want him?
  
  DAVID: Yes, please.
  
  MARTIN: So, I guess you're the new supertoy now. What kind of cool things can you do?
With the right approach... (Score:3, Funny)

by ackthpt ( 218170 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:45PM (#3670166) Homepage Journal

This could be the next huge Christmas toy. Then we'd have slashdot carrying articles on how you can
Install Linux on it
Program it with AI
Hold LAN parties for insecure programmers
I'm kinda surprised I haven't seen something like this yet, but with all the dumb toys which have been -HOT- it makes sense something which appeals to intelligent people would be a flop. Stands to reason when you look at everything these days. Thanks to those few capitalists who actually do give tech toys a fair shot (and don't sue people when they get inside them)

Share
twitter facebook
Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:5, Interesting)

by Speare ( 84249 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:50PM (#3670179) Homepage Journal

I wonder why so many people choose teddy bears for their projects.
teddy bear spy camera [spytown.com]
teddy bear network switch [techtv.com]
teddy bear terror bomb [webdesk.com]
Strange geek fetish?

Share
twitter facebook
- Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)
  
  by speedfreak_5 ( 546044 ) writes:
  
  Please tell me they were joking about the terrorist teddy bear...
  - Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)
    
    by ObviousGuy ( 578567 ) writes:
    
    It's not a joke. [isoa.net]
- Reason for the appeal might be the GBL... (Score:1)
  
  by _N0EL ( 245472 ) writes:
  
  ... Gnu Bear License (not to be confused with GPL of course).
- Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)
  
  by Guppy ( 12314 ) writes:
  
  "I wonder why so many people choose teddy bears for their projects."
  
  You know, you just gave me a great idea for a teddy bear battlebot...
- Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)
  
  by Alizarin Erythrosin ( 457981 ) writes:
  
  You don't have a teddy bear from your childhood up in your closet? Mine sits on my bookcase even...
- Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:2)
  
  by Chris Mattern ( 191822 ) writes:
  
  > teddy bear terror bomb
  
  Whoa, Cowboy Bebop flashback.
  
  "YOU! Teddy Bomber, serial bomber!"
  
  Chris Mattern
Good for babies (Score:1)

by FullClip ( 139644 ) writes:

The ideal way to get a crying baby into a peacuful sleep: some hardcore breakbeats :)

Does it say: "I want a hug" or "I need to go to the toilet" occasionnaly too ?
- Re:Good for babies (Score:2, Interesting)
  
  by jazzman'flugeldufel ( 584365 ) writes:
  
  Believe it or not, but when we bought the teddy (some 15), it was already loaded with electronics. It had pressure sensors in different parts of the body, and would talk and teach you the names of its body parts ("Touch my tummy! Nooo... that's my right arm. Yes... that's my tummy! You're smart!"). The chip didn't look programmable though and sound quality was rather sub-par, so we ripped it all out and put in the Gameboy.
  - Re:Good for babies (Score:2)
    
    by arkanes ( 521690 ) writes:
    
    God, that's amazingly disturbing. And yet, my poor caffeine addled brain is already thinking up various perverse uses for such a thing...
Must resist... Can't hold out much longer.. Aagh! (Score:3, Funny)

by ackthpt ( 218170 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:51PM (#3670189) Homepage Journal

Imagine a Bearwulf cluster of these...
Hangs head in shame for moment of weakness...

Share
twitter facebook
The extra ingredient is love. (Score:4, Funny)

by Burgundy Advocate ( 313960 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @06:55PM (#3670197) Homepage

Raver Teddy

1 Techno Teddy
4 Lightsticks, assorted colors
1 Sparkly Shirt, toddler size
30 Count extacy hits
2 Bottles water, trendy brand preferred
1 Roll duct tape

Dress bear in shirt. Break lightsticks and attach to bear with duct tape. Place extacy hits on convenient locations on bear, using duct tape. Tape water bottles to teddy. Let sit for ten minutes, toss into pit of e-tards and let the fun begin!

Share
twitter facebook
- Re:The extra ingredient is love. (Score:1)
  
  by dotgod ( 567913 ) writes:
  
  I get it now...I've been doing it all wrong. So this is what true geeks play with while they're rolling. Guess now I can stop getting neck cramps from blowing myself up by staring at the lights on my NIC.
- Re:Undocumented feature of this teddy bear... (Score:1)
  
  by echucker ( 570962 ) writes:
  
  Everyone touts Teddy Ruxpin. My cousin had an AG Bear [applied-design.com]. AG mimicked the speaker's voice, and mumbled back to him, in a voice slightly reminiscent of Charlie Brown's teacher. It was a ton cheaper than Ruxpin, and had inifitely more play value.
- Re:Undocumented feature of this teddy bear... (Score:4, Funny)
  
  by ross.w ( 87751 ) writes: <rwonderley.gmail@com> on Sunday June 09, 2002 @08:29PM (#3670501) Journal
  
  Some friends of mine had one of these. they also had a small fluffy dog. The scene went something like this:
  
  Interior, a loungeroom. In the centre of the floor sits a Teddy Ruxpin, switched on. A small fluffy dog approaches
  
  Small dog (tentatively, not sure what to make of this furry creature): Woof?
  
  Teddy Ruxpin: Woof?
  
  Small Dog( backing away in fear): Grrr! Woof! Woof! Woof!
  
  Teddy Ruxpin: Grrr! Woof! Woof! Woof!
  
  The dog flees under the settee and cowers in fright at the fearsome Teddy Ruxpin. Onlookers roll about on the floor laughing as the scene fades
  
  Parent Share
  twitter facebook
Just imagine... (Score:1)

by FueledByRamen ( 581784 ) writes:

This could have so much potential. Ruggedize and waterproof it, add a built-in loudspeaker, and get a circle of friends together for some hackey-sack. Imagine the breakbeats you could pump out with a few good hackers (of the hackey-sack variety)...
David... (Score:1)

by amstrad ( 60839 ) writes:

Teddy [in deep, rough voice]: I'll break, David.
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes:
  
  Comment removed based on user account deletion
Politically incorrect (Score:4, Funny)

by iggly_iguana ( 36376 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @07:22PM (#3670265)

I read the headline, and immediately thought of girls in wearable computers......

It's hell being a geek...

Share
twitter facebook
Reminds me a lot of... (Score:4, Informative)

by twoshortplanks ( 124523 ) writes: on Sunday June 09, 2002 @07:25PM (#3670276) Homepage

This guy's [gehlhaar.org] work with making music with ultrasonic sensors. I saw his stuff a London dorkbot [dorkbot.org] meeting where he let us play with these things.
Waving your hands around in a analogue space above sensors to create music is a weird experience - quite unlike playing the keyboard or strumming a guitar.

Share
twitter facebook
- Re:Reminds me a lot of... (Score:2)
  
  by MartinB ( 51897 ) writes:
  
  Waving hands to create music? Sounds a bit theramin [unsw.edu.au]ish to me.
  - Re:Reminds me a lot of... (Score:1)
    
    by twoshortplanks ( 124523 ) writes:
    
    Yeah, but not quite.
    The theramin is used to create a direct location -> note mapping. What I saw was a much more complex system where the the ultrasonic sensors would be rigged to control the flow of several finite state machines.
    The finate state machines would loop round and play back repetative beats, or decay, or whatever the ibook had been configured to play. Basically, rather than just playing notes directly (which was still possible) the system could also be used to build up a collection of notes and 'develop' a tune rather than each action being directly mapped to a sound.
BECK (Score:1, Funny)

by snack ( 71224 ) writes:

Got 2 TeddyBears and a microphoooooone!

WHERE IT'S AT!

-Tim
- Re:BECK (Score:1)
  
  by DaCool42 ( 525559 ) writes:
  
  Actually, by the looks of it its more like:
  
  Got 2 Turntables and a teddy beeeaaar!
- Re:Great (Score:1)
  
  by jazzman'flugeldufel ( 584365 ) writes:
  
  Actually, I've been learning to play the piano for 13 years. The teddy, however, is not for musicians trying to express themselves, it's for geeks wondering what to do with the hardware they find in their little brother's room :D
sadistic (Score:1)

by meis31337 ( 574142 ) writes:

haha, this sounds like a few troubled musicians' excuse to smack around a helpless teddy bear and call it music!! :)
dirty dirty! (Score:1)

by ComSon0 ( 473373 ) writes:

I think only my job's server room is messier than the table in the pictures.

dirty dirty people I say. No respect for the pretty equipment :)

.
- Re:dirty dirty! (Score:1)
  
  by cyraxx'flugeldufel ( 584446 ) writes:
  
  It was just our table on the party .. and we had so much stuff and so little space there - and we were too busy and too tired to clean it up :)
Will it work with the teddy BORG? (Score:1)

by kireK ( 254264 ) writes:

The real questions, will it work with the previously covered [slashdot.org] teddy BORG?

What's next? A Teddy Bear based file server?
I love this teddy :) (Score:1)

by Ruliz Galaxor ( 568498 ) writes:

ohh... great!! now I can replace my pillo... I ment girlfriend!
weird insturments (Score:1)

by Cyno01 ( 573917 ) writes:

isn't this thing just a theramin in teddy bear form?
- Re:weird insturments (Score:2)
  
  by spoonboy42 ( 146048 ) writes:
  
  No. Theremins have two electronic sensors that, on two different axes, track position, with one hand controlling pitch and the other controlling volume. The theremin is a a very simple (but very cool) hand-position controlled synthesizer.
  
  This device, on the other hand, is more of a sequencer. If you take a look at the webpage, you'll see that the software plays whatever is currently selected (breaks, basslines, ambient FX, etc.) on loop. When a recognized gesture is made, it switches one of the loops to another sample in memory.
  
  In other words, it's a cute, cuddly MMT-8.
Neat idea...what if you... (Score:1)

by bandit450 ( 118835 ) writes:

Turned a gameboy advance into a portable mp3 player? I've sorta been wanting to do something like that, but lack the resources.
Recordings? (Score:1)

by DaCool42 ( 525559 ) writes:

There appear to be no recordings of it on the page. I wanna hear some 8bit teddy audio in its full glory!
Microsoft already did this (Score:2)

by Animats ( 122034 ) writes:
Surely you remember Microsoft Barney for Windows [microsoft.com].
- "The PC Pack includes a CD-ROM with ActiMates-compatible software activities and a transmitter that plugs into the MIDI/game port on your PC. Simply plug in the transmitter, install the software, and you're ready to go! The ActiMates character has no wires. It receives radio signals up to 15 feet away from the transmitter. Requires Microsoft Windows 95 or later or Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 or later with Service Pack 3."
Microsoft was, however, unable to achieve market dominance in the plush-toy sector.
- Microsoft Innovation (Score:2)
  
  by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) writes:
  
  Whenever somebody says Microsoft never innovates, I always mention the Actimates line. It was really quite clever. They had Actimates commands encoded in the vertical blanking interval of the Barney TV show, so the bear would react to what was was being displayed on the TV.
  
  Despite both Microsoft and Barney being reprehensible, the product was a neat idea.
  - Re:Microsoft Innovation (Score:2)
    
    by Manitcor ( 218753 ) writes:
    
    I always wondered how they would send the commands to the bear. Unless the Actimates had a very high res camera to actually SEE the picture on the screen I would imagine it would be something with bright flashes in single frames of the video.
    
    I played with a pre-cursor to this type of tech (anyone remember Nintendo's ROB the robot).
    
    The only thing I keep seeing though with tech like this is 4 year olds across the nation having seizures from the flashes used to execute such commands.
    
    One moment little Timmy is enjoying his show with that strange bear of his, the next moment little Timmy looks like he's overdosing on ketamine and ends up spending the rest of his life in a wheel chair with half his brain not working. "Timmah!"
This sort of reminds me... (Score:1)

by Tiado ( 556984 ) writes:

Of that creepy teddy bear thing from the movie Akira, I'm almost afraid that thing's gonna come to life and drip milk all over me.
Warning! (Score:1)

by 0x20 ( 546659 ) writes:

Site contains a link to Indiana Jones fan fiction [fortunecity.com] disguised under the heading "the greatest game of all time."

My eyes! It buuuurns!
- Re:Warning! (Score:1)
  
  by jazzman'flugeldufel ( 584365 ) writes:
  
  It was the only link I found to explain where "flugeldufel" comes from...
  - Re:Warning! (Score:1)
    
    by 0x20 ( 546659 ) writes:
    
    Please, I beg you, write an explanation of flugeldufel yourself and post it to your site. Don't spring LucasArts fanfiction on an unsuspecting public.
Old... (Score:1)

by ANTI ( 81267 ) writes:

I saw this thing live at MekkaSymposium 2002.
And that was easter... over 2 month ago.

Nice idea, but sounded awfull....
Controlled by a Game Boy Advance (Score:1)

by Xaoswolf ( 524554 ) writes:

Gotta hear what the Konamii code sounds like...
might be the next DDR (Score:1)

by weetabix ( 320476 ) writes:

Dance Dance Revolution, meet BreakBeat Teddy.

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

As a wise man once said (Score:3, Insightful)

Re:As a wise man once said (Score:2)

Re:As a wise man once said (Score:2, Insightful)

Re:As a wise man once said (Score:1)

Those who stop to think if they should... (Score:1)

The Wrong Pill! (Score:4, Funny)

Re:The Wrong Pill! (Score:1)

Re:The Mysterious Urge (Score:1)

wow! (Score:2)

Re:wow! (Score:2)

Re:wow! (Score:1)

I don't even need to follow the link... (Score:1)

Re:I don't even need to follow the link... (Score:1)

Gahh! (Score:3, Funny)

Re: (Score:1)

What does "unique" refer to? (Score:3, Informative)

Re:What does "unique" refer to? (Score:1)

A.I. (Score:1)

He used to be a supertoy... (Score:1)

With the right approach... (Score:3, Funny)

Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:5, Interesting)

Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)

Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)

Reason for the appeal might be the GBL... (Score:1)

Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)

Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:1)

Re:Teddy Bear appeal... (Score:2)

Good for babies (Score:1)

Re:Good for babies (Score:2, Interesting)

Re:Good for babies (Score:2)

Must resist... Can't hold out much longer.. Aagh! (Score:3, Funny)

The extra ingredient is love. (Score:4, Funny)

Re:The extra ingredient is love. (Score:1)

Re:Undocumented feature of this teddy bear... (Score:1)

Re:Undocumented feature of this teddy bear... (Score:4, Funny)

Just imagine... (Score:1)

David... (Score:1)

Re: (Score:1)

Politically incorrect (Score:4, Funny)

Reminds me a lot of... (Score:4, Informative)

Re:Reminds me a lot of... (Score:2)

Re:Reminds me a lot of... (Score:1)

BECK (Score:1, Funny)

Re:BECK (Score:1)

Re:Great (Score:1)

sadistic (Score:1)

dirty dirty! (Score:1)

Re:dirty dirty! (Score:1)

Will it work with the teddy BORG? (Score:1)

I love this teddy :) (Score:1)

weird insturments (Score:1)

Re:weird insturments (Score:2)

Neat idea...what if you... (Score:1)

Recordings? (Score:1)

Microsoft already did this (Score:2)

Microsoft Innovation (Score:2)

Re:Microsoft Innovation (Score:2)

This sort of reminds me... (Score:1)

Warning! (Score:1)

Re:Warning! (Score:1)

Re:Warning! (Score:1)

Old... (Score:1)

Controlled by a Game Boy Advance (Score:1)

might be the next DDR (Score:1)

Related Links Top of the: day, week, month.

Slashdot Top Deals