FAQ

This chapter gives examples of question we have encountered and answers we have given when presenting DB.

Do the sensors influence my brain?
No, the sensors are completely passive. There is absolutely no emission from the sensors.

Does this experiment have any dangerous effects or consequences?
In a medical or physical sense there is no danger, none. In the sense you make of it, it has all the dangers you can associate with thinking.

Are you pregnant?
Thank you for asking! Yes, in the 5th month and yes it is a human child I am carrying!

What is this tent for?
The tent is here to ensure a sheltering environment for your experiment.

What is holding the tent up?
A ventillator constantly blows air into the tent creating roughly 1,15 bar athmospheric pressure giving structural support. A combination of a water filled valve and bags containing about 1 metric ton of sand placed around the base perimeters of the tent keep the air pressure at the required level and the tent from rising off the ground.

What is that zzz… noise?
The noise comes from the ventillator.

Where is the tent?
We now concentrate on the barebones version to show the technical side of Double Bubble due to challenged financing. The tent stayed in storage.

What is that fern doing there?
It graces a six-legged robot.

Why a fern?
It moves gracefuly.

Where are the other robots?
Due to challenged financing we only show the barebones version with Fernbot concentrating the presentation on the technical side of Double Bubble. Blackboxbot and Poisebot send their greetings to all and hope to catch up with you later.

What is that camera hanging there for?
That camera is an infrared camera (IR) that surveilles the playground and serves as a sensor for location and collision control of the robot. (For more on this see end footnote.)

Why are you dressed like nurses?
Because it is a "you-know-it" kind of and non-demanding outfit. Would you prefer bodybuilders instead? Meaning, maybe a more "fun" tuned uniform or another kind of extension to body capabilities?

Is this a medical experiment?
No the similarity is limited, it only goes as far as the outfits and the EEG part of the experiment. It is not about health rather about well being. Don't you like playing telekinesis? Don't you like your other-self running around?

Is this a scientific experiment?

No, in the sense that we do not experiment with you. You experiment with yourself for yourself, like learning to walk. What am I experimenting with?
Yourself! A robot!

Are you promising a new me then? Is Fernbot a new me that is nature sitting on top of technology?
We are sorry that challenges to financing limit your experiments from the outset! Would you like to at least look at the other 2 robots? Here you have pictures of them.

If I achieve coherence or control over the different hemispheres of my brain and remote control Fernbot do I get a cookie?
No, no cookies! Would you like a glass of water?

What does a successful experiment bring to me?
Let me quote/ show an email response of a previous participant, Tatjana Ganser:
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:29:05 +0200
From: tatjana
To: rolland@c3.hu
Subject: IAP exhibition Double Bubble

Hallo Herr Pereszlenyi,

As promised my experiences. Thank you, to begin with. It was quite entertaining. Following your suggestion, I have tried to think of themes with different moods. First, I thought I had mastered left and right movement (left- something funny, right - more romantic), however I was only able to achieve that twice. The third time I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for. Then I recalled you talking about the harmony between left and right hemispheres. After that, it was not a big deal to send the robot away or get it back close to me. When I was doing multiplications, he walked away. Poetry he liked more and walked back to me. :)
I have sent him app. 3 times to and fro after which I have tried to find something new. Unfortunately, I was not able to evoke strong characteristic responses. I wasn't able to become really sad, neither was I able to empty my mind.
As a sideline, I have noticed a few humorous little things. If I was reflecting on what poem I would like to read then the robot was making hectic little movements. For instance, he was circling around in one spot. And to get clear reactions it was helpful to speak my thoughts out loud. For instance to murmur the poem or math operation.
So that's about it. I cannot remember anything else in particular.

I wish you success and kind regards to the Little One. :)

Tatjana Ganser

What does an unsuccessful experiment bring to me?
Disappointment?

Is EEG a form of reading my thoughts?
Yes, in the sense that you use them and they use you, your brain. Where, by the way, many a things are happening simultaniously all the time.

Do you sense art here?
No interpretations before and during participation. Stop "waggling your pinky" let the idyll take hold!

What is the art?
No explanations before or during participation. Stop "waggling your pinky" let the idyll take hold!

Why do you work when being pregnant?
Does being pregnant mean disabled?

What happens with the results of measurements?
We store them for the purpose of enhancing Double Bubble. It is anonymous, it can't be traced back to you and we take care that no one else will have access to them.

How can I acquire results for myself?
We can give them to you on a CD but you would only be able to access the files if you purchased a program called Bioexplorer.

Why is that fern riding on a 6-legged robot?
The fern has been put there because it moves graciously. But don't worry no ferns were harmed in making Double Bubble. The six-legged robot was chosen because of its agility…

How am I connected to the robot?
Technically speaking: via Bluetooth.

Can I make Fernbot to come to me?
Can I make Fernbot to go away from me?

As some participants said:
…rememberred…the harmony between left and right hemispheres. After that, it was not a big deal to send the robot away or get it back close to me. When I was doing multiplications, he walked away. Poetry he liked more and walked back to me. :)