The new version of Florence could then carry out a variety of duties, from telling diners which dish to choose from the menu in a restaurant, to suggesting the books they should select in a library. This could then be mounted on a simplified, but equally decorative, wooden base. Many people have told me how useful they have found the videos which makes it all worth while! The next step is to develop a full sized automaton head, in which all the mechanisms and motors are contained. It has been a delight, especially sharing everything I have learnt and all my mistakes on YouTube and Facebook. From how to design and print a 3D head and how to record an automaton’s voice, to lip syncing the audio with mouth movements and recreating a Victorian shell lamp footlight through the use of photogrammetry. To cut a long story short 5 months later Florence the automaton was complete. I was completely unfamiliar with the process, but realised it could be used to create a hollow head shape reminiscent of porcelain that could include the necessary mechanisms to allow it to move. Having given it some thought, I realised the best way to construct a modern day automaton head, was to use 3D printing. My central circular drive with cams around it is a homage to this. I had always wanted to build an automaton and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity to create a sort of Victorian Alexa, who couldn’t tell you anything, except whether it was time for tea! The Victorians loved automatons, automated mechanical creatures and humans that would carry out amazing tasks and movements such as Jaquet Droz’s The Writer. Two weeks away from the ‘office’ and I managed to take over-complication to new heights (or depths, depending on your love of simple, clean design). Having set off on holiday, I received a message from a Facebook follower suggesting I design and make an ‘Is it time for tea?’ decorative gauge. A thousand uses around the home and retail emporium! Watch this space… Having mispronounced automaton throughout the whole making process, despite having it explained by a kind person on FB, (I responded by finding a new way to mispronounce it!) here is the correct pronunciation which I have now learnt to use: ô-tŏm'ə-tən She could also undertake such duties as running a quiz, to telling fortunes. I had always wanted to build an automaton and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity to create a sort of Victorian Alexa who couldn’t tell you anything, except whether it was time for tea! The Victorians loved automatons, automated mechanical creatures and humans that would carry out amazing tasks and movements such as Jaquet Droz’s The Writer. Having set off on holiday, I received a message from a Facebook follower suggesting I design and make an ‘Is it time for tea?’ decorative gauge.
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