Lexington, KY - In some circles, March 14 is known as Pi Day, with 3/14 signifying the first three digits of the world's favorite mathematical constant, π. (The date also happens to be the birthday of Albert Einstein and distinguished Polish mathematician Waclaw Sierpinski.)
On the most recent Pi Day, Lexington science enthusiasts had an additional reason to be excited - March 14 marked the first local installment of Dorkbot, a grassroots gathering of inventors, artists, engineers, musicians and anyone else practicing or interested in creative uses of technology. Dorkbot was founded in New York City in 2000, with the motto "people doing strange things with electricity" being a guiding force and the only real connector between the various Dorkbot contingencies that have popped up in over 60 cities worldwide, from Copenhagen to Mumbai to Mexico City.
Dorkbot-NYC original founder Douglas Repetto said in a 2008 interview for the Helsinki electronic art festival PixelACHE that various Dorkbot factions have interpreted the motto in different ways. Repetto intentionally made the motto broad and inclusive, he added, in order to attract a wide range of people doing different types of things pertaining to electronic arts. An underlying service that Dorkbot provides is the chance for participants to receive informal peer review for their projects, and also to create a community for like-minded people with similar - and often peculiar - electronic-related interests, to meet and bounce ideas off of each other.
Senom Yalcin, the intellectual muscle behind DorkbotLex, said that encouraging technology-affiliated hobbies was a critical motivation in starting the Lexington group, which, like other Dorkbots, is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and professional fields.
"Technology is getting so advanced that people have to catch up," Yalcin said. And though she admits that it sounds a bit "sci-fi" to say it, she attests that we are living on the brink of "insane AI (artificial intelligence) stuff," which is one of the many reasons that it is important to keep up with rapidly changing technology.
"If we don't have a clue," Yalcin said, "if we don't have any hands-on experience, we'll be really far behind."
Yalcin said she had been contemplating starting DorkbotLex for a while, though she was initially hesitant - she wasn't sure if there were enough local tech-junkies or electro-dorks to sustain it, or if she would be able to bring them out of the woodwork. "Then I thought, you know, I should do it, so I can find those people and bring them together," she said.
The monthly DorkbotLex meetings have been met with success, with at least 10 different presenters - professionals and hobbyists alike - having shared their projects with informal crowds of 10 to 20 interested onlookers since March. Many of the projects have involved some sort of innovative music technology, which is likely a reflection of Yalcin's immediate circle of contacts, her affiliation with college radio and her strong interest in various experimental forms of electronic music. She is very encouraging of non-music related projects, however, and said she is looking forward to the point when more potential presenters with music- and non-music-related electronic hobbies alike will approach her requesting a spot on the DorkbotLex roster.
At April's DorkbotLex, self-described "field recordist, audio engineer and artist" Jameson Stemmen presented "Grynden," a radio static sound project created from a modified 1946 Bendix vacuum tube radio to be used in ambient music compositions. Stemmen's "love for radio sonics" began in childhood, when his grandfather, a radio technician, had him disassemble various junk radios to salvage the useable parts. Also in April, musician and artist Jason Corder presented "Phonograffiti," a community-interactive art installation featuring two canvases, a projector and microphones. As participants paint on the canvases, hidden sensors make sounds, creating a unique audio-video experience. "Phonograffiti" has been presented at various functions in Lexington, including the Beaux Arts Ball, and Corder will be presenting it at an art show in Boulder, Colo., in the near future.
At last month's DorbotLex, UK student and AutoCAD engineer Aaron Miller presented "I, Bots," a "machinima" war-commentary documentary he created by hacking and editing scenes from the multiplayer video game "Day of Defeat" (the characters in the film are actually bots, the game's computer-controlled players, enhanced by voice-overs by Miller). And in April, UK Assistant Professor of New Media Dmitry Strakovskya gave a circuit bending demonstration, in which he rewired a wind-up Easter bunny toy to create an electronic music instrument. Circuit bending is a practice using low-voltage consumer electronics (often toys), employed by musicians and other electronic artists seeking unusual sounds.
"He did some sick stuff to that poor robotic Easter bunny," said fellow Dorkbot participant Christopher Wininger. Wininger presented his own invention, "pongfong," "a musical instrument of sorts" created from a shoebox and the guts of an old tape player, at the first installation of DorkbotLex. More recently, in May Lauren Sherrow presented a homemade hula hoop that integrates internal LED lights. Sherrow said that viewing other Dorkbot presentations inspired her to create a project that she previously thought was beyond her realm of understanding or ability.
"While my knowledge of (electronics) is very basic, my desire to do it has increased dramatically after knowing that I can do it," she said. "It is very empowering to know I can do something without fully understanding it."
Yes, many of the projects presented at DorkbotLex so far have had quirky and bizarre leanings - Wininger admits that "pongfong" is best used to frighten small animals and generate noise complaints, and founder Repetto has emphasized that he doesn't want the event to be interpreted as "super self-serious." The fourth installment of DorkbotLex, on June 13, however, will focus on a topic that has been garnering an increasing amount of serious interest and relevance: sustainability.
The relationship between electricity and sustainability is straightforward, noted Yalcin. The widespread use of electronics has historically been a major drainer of non-renewable energy, and much national attention has been cast recently on the importance of developing a more sustainable approach to our country's energy system. In April, the 10-part NPR series "Electricity in America" scrutinized the current electrical grid system as being "outdated and unprepared for increasing demand and a future that includes more renewable sources of energy."
The American Clean Energy and Security Act, expected to see a vote in the House as early as the end of the month, outlines a potential major shift in the regulation of energy and carbon emissions. Should the bill go forth, Kentucky, which leads the nation in carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt hour of electricity produced, would potentially be the hardest hit state in terms of rising energy costs for consumers.
Ninety-one percent of Kentucky's energy comes from coal, and almost 90 percent of coal sold in the state goes to electric power plants. Kentucky's reliance on coal for electricity has historically kept the state's energy costs low (currently the fourth lowest in the country, according to the Kentucky Coal Association and the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy), but coal mining practices have come under fire for a number of reasons, from environmentalists and community activists alike. While the public generally remains divided on the issue of coal energy, with the looming threat of climate change (and perhaps more directly, the imminent threat of the climate change bill), developing a more sustainable approach to energy and electricity is extremely relevant, and June's DorkbotLex will give locals a chance to exchange ideas on the subject of sustainability and electricity, no matter how big or small.
"I'm really familiar with how intimidated adults are by technology," Yalcin said, going back to the reasons she organized DorkbotLex. "That's part of why I think that this should happen, to encourage people. That's kind of the attitude I want to have - you can do this."
"Technology as a medium is like an infinite palette, since there's all the old as well as new things happening all the time," Miller added. "DorkBot encourages the cross-pollination of ideas - who knows where they'll end up?"
Confirmed presentations for June's "DorkbotLex Green" include "The Berry Pedaler Project," which focuses on renewable energy through bicycle-powered blenders; other projects are still being confirmed. A concentration on sustainability issues is scheduled for the October meeting as well. Presenters have the option of sharing a project they have completed (up to 30 minutes) or an idea that they would like to see completed (up to 5 minutes).
If you have a project you would like to present at Dorkbot, contact Senom Yalcin at sonicim@gmail.com.