Robots and Social Systems

Professor Ken Goldberg, of UC Berkeley, plays games with robots. Like his namesake, Rube Goldberg, he's interested in complex connections that lead to a simple outcome. At this talk, sponsored by Down to a Science (www.sciencecafesf.com), Goldberg explains the connection between robots and social networking, describes a robotic system he and his students devised for spotting the rare Ivory Billed Woodpecker, and discusses the mission of the the cross-disciplinary Berkeley Center for New Media. It's always good to stay one step ahead of our mechanical friends. After all, if the robots are watching the birds, who's watching the robots?
Mon., Aug. 18, 7 p.m., 2008