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UK Artists Invent 'Neurotic' Robot Band

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 31, 2009 8:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – Cybraphon mimics a neurotic indie band by obsessing over its online presence and knocking out tunes to express its fluctuating moods, Wired reports. Designed by three UK artists, Cybraphon is a musical robot stuffed with an organ, cymbals, a Macbook Pro—and a highly volatile emotion meter. "The Cybraphon has an almost egotistical desire for fame,” says one of its inventors.

Built into an antique wardrobe, Cybraphon combs the Web to assess its daily popularity and check comments on its blog. It also feels passersby with a motion detector and plays for them—but ultimately slips into despair when disillusionment sets in. Says another of its creators: “I’m surprised that the Cybraphon, a highly neurotic beast with some questionable electrical wiring, hasn’t hit self destruct yet."

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

One of Cybraphon's inventors describes how the robotic band mimics a neurotic indie group. (YouTube)

The Cybraphon at play. (YouTube)

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Inspired by early 19th century mechanical bands such as the nickelodeon, Cybraphon is an interactive version of a mechanical band in a box. (YouTube)

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