Back posting: On my trips to the Media Lab, I like to visit design engineer and artist Kelly Dobson to check on the progress of her creations. Kelly left an impression on me after my first visit because her sweet, gentle nature, and child-like engagement with technology stands out in a sea of rational innovation in the lab. In the first photo, she is showing me the new version of Blendie 2000 that doesn't require an external microphone. Blendie listens for and tracks a specific pitch out of human vocalization and responds appropriately by activating it's motor. This is what Kelly calls machine therapy where humans are invited to actively engage and empathize with machines to better understand them.

But I'm really enchanted with Screambody, the first in a series of wearable or hugable body organs. The basic function of Screambody is deliciously simple. It's a cloth or fur covered foam pod that you strap to your chest. There's an opening at the top. Let's say you are in a meeting that's going badly and you feel like screaming (been there?). Just press your face to the opening and squeeze the Screambody to activate record mode. Let out your scream to the fullest and squeeze again to stop recording. Now you can take your recorded scream outside for playback and release. Best of all, you can replay the scream release to blast someone repeatedly. In photo 2, Kelly is showing off the prototype of the kid's version! I made her to promise to help me build one for Cianna. Then I can tell other parents that I have scientists at MIT building toys for my daughter.

- mike lee - at the hotel bar at the westin palo alto, ca

Oy, there are 17 planes taxiing ahead of us here in Atlanta, and then it's 4 hours and 59 minutes more butt time. I am finally tackling the special issue of Newsweek which goes into a detailed behind-the-scenes account of both camps with what should be good but depressing reading. It's hard to ignore the big photos of s--t-eating grins, but hey, how 'bout Jenna Bush's green pumps! And who's the dork sitting to her right on the couch?

- mike lee -

Finally boarding the 737-700 for the long hop backwards in time from Atlanta to San Francisco. The weather that delayed us looks like it is still coming down in sheets.

- mike lee

My flight out of Reagan was delayed 90 minutes to 1:30pm due to bad weather at our connecting airport in Atlanta. We're assured that all flights are equally delayed, so we'll make our connections there. After having a deli sandwich at the Sam Adams bar, I picked up a nifty new pocket-sized SIM Card Wizard at the gift shop. Checking Google, I see there's a similarly priced device that backs up and allows you to edit SIM cards on your PC.

- mike lee - washington, dc

We made it in early today for this morning's division-wide staff meeting of about 100 people (pic 2) where a major re-organization and staff expansion was announced in our large meeting room. There will be a few jobs eliminated, and functional groups reconfigured, but the rationale looks sound and strives to position our company better to face the future. Our web operations group of 30 people was re-organized and expanded a couple months ago (pic 1), so we're not directly affected by today's announcements. Just as Q&A started, I grabbed the paper handout of the PowerPoint and my luggage to catch at taxi to Reagan airport for a flight to San Francisco. My boss and I are visiting Stanford University's Media X program tomorrow. And then I'm hanging out in the Bay Area to hook up with various people on Saturday. Maybe I'll take a taxi ride over to see the Danger headquarters.

- mike lee - washington, dc

I'm enjoying a bottle of Black Butte Porter that Denise brought back from her trip out west. The text on the neck of the bottle reads:

"Dark and distinctive like Black Butte itself, Black Butte Porter uses chocolate and crystal malts, crafting a rich, approachable porter. Settled on the banks of the wild and scenic Deschuttes River, Deschuttes Brewery's handcrafted ales are naturally made with pristine water from the cascade mountains. A fine layer of yeast in each bottle is a result of the kraeusening process, creating natural cabonation and distinct flavor."

I'm flying out to the San Francisco bay area tomorrow for a few days, so this Oregon-brewed beer is getting me into the west coast spirit.

- mike lee - baltimore

For some reason, I've been averaging one post a month lately originating from my other e-mail address. These posts don't appear in my main blog's RSS feed, nor are they accessible from the posts sent from my tmail account. Here are the links back:

11/10/04 - Projection Lamps At IKEA

10/23/04 - Solar Power Surfaces

9/25/04 - Hackable LED Flash Unit

8/10/04 - Some Close-ups Using A Magnifier Loupe

7/17/04 - My Photos On Maxim Online

- mike lee - baltimore

FedEx-ing two old friends to my brother-in-law.

- mike lee - washington, dc