Silly Ideas Shitty Robots, and Poop Ice Cream
Barry Matthew Kudrowitz · 2023
One study used chindogu in engineering design education to force students outside their comfort zone to “promote fearlessness in problem solving”. The idea is that engineering students are often taught to place emphasis on usefulness to such a degree that it stifles creativity. In this study, engineering students were required to intentionally ignore usefulness to challenge their worldview and biases in favor of making bold creative decisions. This is the same rationale behind Hebocon—the Japanese sumo-wresting-inspired robot competition in which the worst robots win. The first filmed intentionally shitty robot is Charlie Chaplin’s “eating machine” featured in the 1936 film, Modern Times . Nathan for You is a television show that actively tries to push the boundaries of innovation while simultaneously parodying management consulting industry. In some manner, Nathan Fielder is to business plans as Simone Giertz is to robotics. In Nathan for You , the ideas need to be just feasible or valuable enough for the client to agree to participate.