Syfy's robot expert Mark Setrakian on 'the clicker,' titanium asperations and the Fortus 900mc 3D printer

Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.

In this installment of our regular session of inquiry, special effects and robot expertMark Setrakian (of Syfy's Robot Combat League) talks tools of the robot trade and cyberspace-augmented memory. Join us on the other side of the break for the full collection of responses.

What gadget do you depend on most?
Mostly my iPhone. But really I depend on my Haas VF-4SS, because you can't make a giant robot with a phone.

Which do you look back upon most fondly?
My Mac SE/30. Around 1990, I had it hooked up to a 19-inch greyscale CRT, and a Kurta tablet with about 100 Quick Keys macros around the perimeter of the pen area. System 6, Claris CAD, no internet, no email.

Which company does the most to push the industry?
Apple always seems to be five steps ahead of everybody, and their products have an elegance that belies how much work went into them. I have been devoted to Apple products for years, but lately I've taken a strong interest in Samsung (the clunky / awesome Galaxy Camera) and Microsoft (see below...).

What is your operating system of choice?
All of my engineering work is done in Windows 7 64-bit, often on a Mac with Boot Camp. Robot motion-control systems run under RT Linux. For everything else, OS X.

What are your favorite gadget names?
Tenori-on, a well-named piece of alien technology.

What are your least favorite?
Raspberry Pi - it's a great device, but seriously...

Which app do you depend on most?
On my phone, Safari. My phone is mostly a conduit for information and Safari is almost the only app I need. But I also love specialty apps like iEngineer and Circuit Playground. On my computers, Autodesk Inventor and Max/MSP.

What traits do you most deplore in a smartphone?
It's always on, always there, nagging with its unceasing onslaught of communication and its bottomless well of knowledge.

Which do you most admire?
See above.

What is your idea of the perfect device?
I like sharp tools. A device with focused function (some would say limited) and a user interface to suit the task, like a x0xb0x, or the Teenage Engineering OP-1. Can you tell my hobby is music?


"When traveling... I used to bring 10 pounds of hardware with me wherever I went; now I really only need my phone."

What is your earliest gadget memory?
My dad had an ancient TV with a remote he referred to as a "clicker" that turned on the TV and changed the channel by literally making a clicking sound. I carefully took it apart and discovered tuned rods that would be struck when the buttons were pressed. It was purely mechanical; no batteries, no electronics.

What technological advancement do you most admire?
3D printing. I've been using a Stratasys FDM Titan machine for almost 10 years and it has completely changed the way I make things and the way I think about design in general.

Which do you most despise?
OS updates that render my favorite apps obsolete.

What fault are you most tolerant of in a gadget?
Limited functionality. If a device does one thing really well, I don't mind if it doesn't do much else.

Which are you most intolerant of?
An inconsistent user interface.

When has your smartphone been of the most help?
When traveling. I used to bring 10 pounds of hardware with me wherever I went; now I really only need my phone.

What device do you covet most?
Short of an SLS machine that prints titanium, the Fortus 900mc is the 3D printer of my desire. But like the Haas, it's not a pocket device.

If you could change one thing about your phone what would it be?
Honestly, I just wish it had a longer battery life.

What does being connected mean to you?
I feel like cyberspace has become an extension of my memory. I know my own memories change over time, but being connected keeps people and experiences in my life alive in ways that I don't think were possible a decade ago.

When are you least likely to reply to an email?
When I'm focused on work, I often ignore my phone and my email for 12 hours at a time. It gets me in trouble sometimes.

When did you last disconnect?
While on vacation in New Zealand this year, I disconnected for a few days. Disconnecting for any significant period is almost unthinkable.

President Obama responds to PRISM concerns, clarifies scope of snooping

If you've missed the news on PRISM and the hugely disconcerting allegations that the NSA is basically tracking everything you do on the internet and every call you make on your cellphone, we're guessing that's because you're stuck in a cave that has access to neither technology. The allegations are incredibly troubling to say the least, and President Obama this afternoon took the time to address them -- albeit briefly. For one thing, he clarified that "nobody is listening to your phone calls," indicating that people are looking at metadata about those calls (destinations, length, etc.) rather than the calls themselves. Additionally, he clarified the internet side of the program thusly: "Internet monitoring is only for those outside United States; we have to balance keeping America safe with privacy concerns." That's great for Americans, but perhaps a bit troubling for everyone else.

This more or less echoes the statements made yesterday by James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence. President Obama also reminded that this program predates his taking office, and that he himself was skeptical but has come around to the program, stating that this is something "Americans should feel comfortable about." Well, then, how comfortable do you feel? Let us know in comments.

Update: The Wall Street Journal has a full transcript of President Obama's comments.

Plex updates Media Server software and highlights PlexConnect Apple TV client hack HD

The team behind the Plex media playback package seems to rarely rest, and has most recently pushed an update to the server end of the software. Now up to version 0.9.8 and nearing the lofty 1.0 tag, Plex Media Server is finally offering proper multiuser support, giving each user their own view state. That means your kids can have their own account, for example, with access to only certain silos of content. Even better, the Web, iOS, Android and Roku clients are already prepared for this, and the others are getting updates soon, although it's currently only enabled for PlexPass subscribers. Also new is a "now playing" status which carries more importance thanks to the previously mentioned multiuser feature, all viewable through Plex/Web or accessible via the API. The last major change is that it can create video index file that drops in thumbnails for each section of a video. That enables image previews while navigating on the Roku, and thumbnails of progress in that new now playing feature.

On the client end, the Plex blog highlighted an interesting project called PlexConnect which runs on the Apple TV. While that's not new by itself, the twist here is that it works on Apple TV second and even third generation boxes without the need for a jailbreak. This bit of magic is apparently achieved by spoofing Apple's Trailer app, which means it requires firmware 5.0 or higher to work. It doesn't have all the features of other clients (yet) and it will require a bit of Terminal know-how to get running, but there's plenty of information in the wiki to get you started.

Airbus Bag2Go smart luggage wields GPS, RFID to skip airport hassles

Many of us avoid flying with checked baggage when possible, and for good reason: even a simple delay can sour a whole trip. Airbus' new Bag2Go prototype could save us from having to pack light, however. The smart luggage carries a raft of sensors that work with an iOS app to bypass the usual airport drudgery. Its RFID chip lets travelers check in their bag and link it to every step of their itinerary; in theory, couriers can ship baggage to the hotel at a lower cost than usual. Bag2Go should also provide some reassurance through GPS tracking and alerts to any possible tampering. Airbus is still early into development, but it foresees a business model where customers can either buy a Bag2Go suitcase at a premium or rent one for a long vacation. As for us? We'll just be happy if our luggage avoids an unexpected detour to Belize.