Title:
Furby Physiology: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of a Furby
Abstract:
The 1998 release of the Furby revolutionized mechatronic toys. It led the way for several Furby generations to come, as well as other early 2000s robotics toys. What set them apart from today’s technologically advanced playthings was what we see when we take off their fur. A series of sensors, gears, and wires can be seen and touched by any curious user. Every movement can be seen rotating the central CAM. Saddled up on its motherboard and two microchips, holding its brain, each electronic component is also visible. We take the ability to make modern electronics so small they’re invisible for granted, yet also seem to neglect the insight to be gained from investigating old technology. In a series of research and art projects, I have dissected and softhacked Furbies in an attempt to create something new, but also build educational resources for grade school students. Seeing a hands-on application of how electronics and mechanisms work together in a child-friendly setting is a rare opportunity I won't let go to waste. I first pursued my Furby studies as a high school senior, where I drafted a student guide to hacking a Furby and received funding from a corporation. The project, Jack and Jill, was inspired by the White Stripes music video for “I Fell in Love With a Girl.” I continued buying and repairing old Furbies until I did my first independent study at Drexel in Winter 2021. I once again ran mechatronics and music research, working with a high school intern through the ExCITe Center. Engineers from all over the world join forces online, contributing open-source information to what we know about Furbies. Because of them, I had a place to begin learning about them. I intend to pay it forward by contributing my own findings, but also using my passion for education as a way to make the community more inclusive. The inside of a Furby can give us not just insight to 90s technology, but a glimpse into what modern production doesn’t give away.
Furby Physiology: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of a Furby
Abstract:
The 1998 release of the Furby revolutionized mechatronic toys. It led the way for several Furby generations to come, as well as other early 2000s robotics toys. What set them apart from today’s technologically advanced playthings was what we see when we take off their fur. A series of sensors, gears, and wires can be seen and touched by any curious user. Every movement can be seen rotating the central CAM. Saddled up on its motherboard and two microchips, holding its brain, each electronic component is also visible. We take the ability to make modern electronics so small they’re invisible for granted, yet also seem to neglect the insight to be gained from investigating old technology. In a series of research and art projects, I have dissected and softhacked Furbies in an attempt to create something new, but also build educational resources for grade school students. Seeing a hands-on application of how electronics and mechanisms work together in a child-friendly setting is a rare opportunity I won't let go to waste. I first pursued my Furby studies as a high school senior, where I drafted a student guide to hacking a Furby and received funding from a corporation. The project, Jack and Jill, was inspired by the White Stripes music video for “I Fell in Love With a Girl.” I continued buying and repairing old Furbies until I did my first independent study at Drexel in Winter 2021. I once again ran mechatronics and music research, working with a high school intern through the ExCITe Center. Engineers from all over the world join forces online, contributing open-source information to what we know about Furbies. Because of them, I had a place to begin learning about them. I intend to pay it forward by contributing my own findings, but also using my passion for education as a way to make the community more inclusive. The inside of a Furby can give us not just insight to 90s technology, but a glimpse into what modern production doesn’t give away.