About the Builder
Ok. Here goes.
I've always had an unusual association with robotic beasties. We won't address the issue of "why". Let's leave that to my therapist.
Growing up in the 70's, I spent way to much time watching re-runs of sci-fi television, as did many kids of my generation. It was never the show itself I really gave a rip about. Not even close. It was the robot. Always the robot.
The main characters of these summer-afternoon melodramas could have been eaten by monsters, blown-up, disintegrated or turned into stalks of celery. It didn't matter. As long as the robot wasn't damaged, all would be good.
So I grew up, (contrary to popular belief) and went through all of the trials and tribulations that life in middle America has to offer. I have a great family and a career that I love. But no robot.
Of course, I have all of the toy robots one could ever want. But they are still toys. Small. They just sit there. They don't inspire a sense of awe and wonder like a full size robot.
Flash forward to the future. Let's face it, we're living in the future. The 21st century. Can you believe it? Shouldn't robots be doing our laundry, walking the dog, waxing the spaceship and preparing our income tax? That's laughable.
Despite this technological tardiness, who would of thought that in the early part of the 21st century we would have the means to build that very same robot that entertained us in our living rooms so long ago.
To say this robot building project is an interesting chapter in my life's story would be an understatement. But then again, those who know me well aren't surprised by any of this.
Stay tuned. It will be fun to see how it all turns out.
Jeff Barnes
