Tweenbot and the Awesome Power of Empathy (Video)

I'm always proud when someone at ITP, of which I'm an alumni, does something awesome that spreads virally.

Check out the empathy that this little bot charms out of everyone!

It reminds me of why Twitter was so well named and that little Fail Whale that become almost equally famous. In fact, the Fail Whale fan club is the number 1 Google result.

Which reminds me of the week or so after Google first launched. Inktomi and Infoseek and Altavista and then this badly designed logo with no graphic design work and when I first saw it I actually felt this well of empathy for the poor guys trying to do it. Yeah - I blew that one, but I think I've finally had my ah-ha as I watch Tweenbot struggle to cross a park and make it.

Tech inventions become art when they produce an emotion or sentiment. And what better emotion to produce than empathy! The little Linux Penguin that people helped along its way, and the hopelessness of Wikipedia at start.

Now that I think about it, on Easter here as a Catholic born in Mexico married to a Bulgarian. Jesus Christ! If you want to change the world or you at least you would like to follow where the world is changing - look out for evidence of mass empathy. This little TweenBot obviously isn't going to rule or change the world, but it's a great illustration of how it actually happens.

Comments

[MosesMa]

Hey Paul,

Interesting article! I'd love to present to you my blog article at Psychology Today about the psychology of twitter, and how empathy mechanisms can be engaged or thwarted. Here are links to the pair of articles:
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-tao-innovation/200903/understanding-the-psychology-twitter
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-tao-innovation/200904/more-the-psychology-twitter

Also, please connect with me at Facebook, I'd love to be pals.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=659266336

Cheers,

Moses

[GardenerNorCal]

Too bad the politicians always resort to manipulating fear and hatred first. Christ's teaching were based on empathy and charity and look how that grew and spread. And before anyone jumps me, yes I know many times it's twisted and manipulated for other purposes. But I think at the heart of all major religions lies the strength of empathy, the followers just lose track of it occassionally. But it's what I think holds people to their religions not fear and hatred of others.

[ihavenoname]

If it were all about the strength of empathy, there wouldn't be things like the threat of eternal hellfire and damnation, something that intrudes even on the Sermon on the Mount. Christ's teachings were based on punishment and reward, not goodness for goodness' sake.

On the other hand, what actually holds people to their religion isn't fear OR empathy, but notions such as personal and group identity. They think they won't be the same person if they stop being Christian (or Baptist or Catholic or whatever), and they think they'll lose all their friends who are classified the same way. It's not much different from people who strongly identify as Republican or Democrat, honestly.

Sorry, people still suck.

[Melissa Hapke - Huffpost Blogger]

This is really neat Paul. You're right about the Linux penguin too. When I see that little dude, Linux comes to mind!!!

I hadn't heard of Fail Whale, but will check that out. Who doesn't know that the puzzle pieces are wiki's representative?

Thank you!