Talking Bug Identifier -- magnifying glass/expert system

Posted by Cory Doctorow, September 13, 2007 5:49 AM | permalink

The Spark Talking Bug Identifier is a magnifying glass with a bug-identifying expert system built into the handle. Find a bug and answer a series of directed yes/no questions and the glass will tell you what bug you're looking at (as far as it can tell, anyway).

Is it a cricket or a katydid? Help your budding entomologist identify more than 50 real live bugs - simply by answering a series of yes or no questions.

Link (via OhGizmo)

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Discussion

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#1 posted by Anonymous , September 13, 2007 7:29 AM

Maybe it's the nerd in me.... but i'm 24 and would love one of these.

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#2 posted by Thingamadad

, September 13, 2007 8:04 AM

"Turn the bug over with your finger. Does it have a red hourglass pattern on the underside of its tummy?"

[YES]

"Did the bug just bite you?"

[YES]

BZZT. BZZT. BZZT. "Go get your mommy and daddy now."
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But seriously, the product text states, "Alert warning sounds when dangerous bugs are found." I hope it asks you about the dangerous bugs before cycling through questions about safe bugs.

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#3 posted by Anonymous , September 13, 2007 10:39 AM

A talking 20 questions dichotomous key! I love it!

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#4 posted by Mark Frauenfelder

, September 13, 2007 10:50 AM

#1 Thanks for the laugh!

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#5 posted by Anonymous , September 14, 2007 9:59 AM

My first thoughts when I read this consisted of, "Oh so now the kid will know what kind of bug it is before he or she fries it under the harsh sunlight with a magnifying glass."

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#6 posted by Enochrewt , September 14, 2007 1:38 PM

In my experience you hold a magnifying glass over bugs to fry them. I hope it gives the comments in the past tense!