My friend Max sent me this great video about a little robot named Tweenbot, who has a little flag attached to his head telling people he needs their help because he can only move in straight lines. It’s creator, Kacie Kinzer, wanted to see if it could get from the northeast corner of Washington Square Park to the southwest corner, completely dependent on people to steer it in the right direction.

The experiment ended up being a success, as it only took 42 minutes and 29 people to help it out. And while I think it’s a really cute experiment, it kind of made me think of the even bigger picture.

Why is that these people are willing to help a cardboard robot find it’s way, but not a homeless person living in a cardboard box? Obviously there’s much less commitment to a small cardboard robot that’s scooting by in a public park, but it’s still kind of odd to me. I’ve been thinking a lot about trying to figure out ways in which I can help people less fortunate lately. It’s kind of what President Obama has been talking about with his commitment to public service, and giving back to our fellow people. I’ll be posting more about my ideas soon, but if you’re an artist or designer or creative type in general, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Bobby