Rube Goldberg
I knew about the concept but I was unaware of how it was referred to.
US cartoonist Rube Goldberg gave his name to the incredible machines that perform simple tasks in indirect ways. See for instance the “Keep You From Forgetting To Mail Your Wife’s Letter”
As described by the Wikipedia:
“The term also applies as a classification for a generally over-complicated apparatus or software. It first appeared in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary with the definition “accomplishing by extremely complex roundabout means what actually or seemingly could be done simply.” Rube’s inventions are a unique commentary on life’s complexities. They provide a humorous diversion into the absurd that lampoons the wonders of technology. These send-ups of man’s ingenuity resonate in modern life for those seeking simplicity in the midst of a technology revolution.
Goldberg machines can also be seen as a physical representation of the ‘pataphysical—carrying a simple idea to a nonsensical, ornamented extreme.“
Why do I blog this? rube goldberg, as chindogu, are intriguing phenomenon and surely of interest in terms of design issues/opportunities. And I think it goes beyond simply making fun of some human tendency to make things more complicated than they are. I will surely check more what has been written on that topic
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:19 am
Inspired by cartoonist Rube Goldberg, college students nationwide compete to design a machine that uses the most complex process to complete a simple task - put a stamp on an envelope, screw in a light bulb, make a cup of coffee - in 20 or more steps.
http://www.purdue.edu/UNS/rube/rube.index.html
See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Robinson
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:35 am
Rube Goldberg machines seem to encompass what Jack Schulze calls a celebration of function. These things are (at least for me) interesting as they present something totally in opposition to the mainstream usability discourse and the notion of invisible technology. What is the ubicomp equivalent of a Rube Goldberg machine or can there be one? It should be more than just palpable computing or seamful design.
August 4th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
The mid-19th century israelo-colombian interaction design laboratory zazaziza also created interesting machines inspired by rube goldberg visions: http://www.zazaziza.com/fornogoodreason/2007/04/16/the-theory-of-everything-as-a-rube-goldberg-machine-sketch/