“Robot University” aims to transform negative attitudes towards robots. Western entertainment often paints robots as killing machines bent on our demise. It’s important that we consider the cultural impact of robots and how we interact with them now, so that we can better prepare ourselves for our ever-growing community of robots…a new species we’ve created.

The project is being created by Christy Dena for Australia’s first Digital Writing Residency. It was pitched for the residency, as an issue that people will be affected by in the future. It is funded by the Australia Council for the Arts and Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The grant, for $35,000, is to create a site-specific interactive work at QUT’s The Cube. The Cube is a $230 million Science and Technology center. It will involve using touch-screens and motion-senses to create a work for visitors of all ages.

Timeline: Residency runs from mid-July to mid-December, 2013. The project will be launched to the public early 2014.

Team

Christy Dena – writing, design, producing, directing
Adam Single – programming
Jacek Tuschewski – sound designing
Paul Stapelberg – 3d modelling, animation
Simon Boxer – concept art, environmental art
Oscar Guillen – interface art

Lubi Thomas – senior curator, The Cube
Rachael Parsons – project manager, The Cube

Creative Industries, QUT, will also be researching the development of this project.

Note: “Wholesome Family Scene” photo by Mike Baird is used in the installation, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.