digital love

Meet Tweenbot.



Hi Tweenbot!

Tweenbot is a social experiment and/or artistic statement - which one depends on your point of view. The little anthropomorphic cardboard robot's goal is to get from where it's dropped off to the place written on the flag over its head, like from the northeast corner of a park to the southwest. However, it can only move in a straight line, so in order to reach its destination, the people who encounter it need to help it, whether that means simply shifting its direction slightly, directing it around obstacles, or helping it out when its stuck.



Tweenbot's creator built them as simply and cheaply as possible, since she assumed most would be destroyed when she unleashed them upon a callous and uncaring New York City. However, each one reached its destination completely unharmed, as the people guiding it purposefully made sure it avoided danger. One man even turned the robot around, saying to it "You can't go that way, it's towards the road."

I love stories like these because they help confirm my suspicion that humanity, as a species, isn't complete shit. There are people out there willing to take time out of their day and help, even if all they did was nudge a little robot with their foot. Even better, there are people who are willing to play along with whatever little games life presents them, even when there is no reward or even a tangible result.