We speak today about one of the most interesting virtual projects in Second Life. Bibi Bayliss manages the Museum of Robots (MOR) “Intersection of Culture and Science”.

Hello Bibi, tell us please, when did you began your museum?

Museum of Robots began in the fall of 2007, and we began having regular events early in 2008.

How many people (avatars) are involded? and Which is your objetive with this project?

The primary people responsible for the project are myself and my partner (and RL husband) Count Bayliss. We are very fortunate to have a team of people who understand our vision for the Museum and contribute ideas, feedback, organizational talents and SL skills that we lack: Padula Bing is our Events Development Manager, and contributes great ideas for the Museum, not just limited to events. Sitearm Madonna has been instrumental in event planning to meet our vision and was an early supporter of the Museum. Dublin Services provide assistance with staffing. Media Hax provides the audio scripts for our special exhibits – from recording with the artists to the technical scripts and execution. RamessesIII Pharaoh is our favorite videographer and his work really helps bring the Museum to life on video.

“From robots with artificial intelligence to whimsical robots of film and fiction” how many robots are you showing actually at the Museum? which are the remarkable “female” robots for you at your collection and sci-fi history?

click img to enlarge

Funny – I’ve never counted the robots! But I hear from people who would like to see a missing favorite, so we still have more to add. The ‘Celebrity Robots Hall of Fame‘ started with the work of a friend and RL client, Fred Barton, who creates full-size studio-licensed replicas of famous robots, and let us use his work. Our own robot collection provided more, and we’ve added as special exhibits and competitions are staged.

For female robots, we have “Maria’ from Metropolis in the collection, and an homage to ‘Rosie’ from the Jetsons. Actually, I think that the lack of female robots is remarkable. Most female robots are either beautiful-but-sinister, like Maria, or 6 from Battlestar Galactica, or workers, like Rosie.

You did the “Build-a-Robot Competition” in Second Life recently. How was this event? Explain us, please other activities you promote from your land.

The competition was so much fun and it absolutely exceeded our wildest dreams. We had over 50 entries, and the quality of the entries was astonishing. People spent a great deal of time and effort on their entries, and we were proud to be able to showcase that work. We plan to make it an annual event.

We have a weekly party, and we’re currently thinking of other events that can become part of our regular schedule. There will be more, and different types of competitions, and more special art exhibits as well. We’re about to start an extensive remodel on the Museum and its grounds so we’re excited about the new events and activities we’ll be able to offer.

Lets know a little about “Bibi Bayliss”, where do you live? can you explain us a little a bout your real life activities and how are mixed in second life?

In real life, I live in Northern California and co-own a design studio with my husband, so I was already comfortable blending my work and personal life.
Getting involved in SL provided us with another world in which we could explore creative projects together and independently. We collect robots – well, Count had a pretty extensive collection when we met, and we’ve added to it, so in RL we are surrounded by hundreds of toy robots.
Real life and second life blur a lot for me

At MOR website you sell robot museum´s products, isen´t it? how second life MOR project is visualized in real life?

We sell items in the gift shop, as any museum would, but we’ve taken it further.

Our focus is on functional items, and we have housewares and are currently working on new items for the line.

How do feel women are envolved in sci-fi & tech projects in Second Life?

I never assume that any woman I meet in SL in a woman in RL Having said that, I don’t find that gender plays a part in an interest in sci-fi in SL. Perhaps it’s because that the women who are in SL are more comfortable with technology than the general population, or are more open to new experiences, but I find as many capable builders, programmers and designers that are women in SL as I do men.

What can we found at MOR actually?

We’ll continue to have special exhibits. like the current Clayton Bailey exhibit, and more competitions. We’d like to have more live events, but that takes more planning so I’m approaching that carefully – I don’t want to do something until we know we can do it right.

About future projects, please, any news?

Eric Joyner Artwork at MOR

We are about to upgrade to a full-prim island from our current one, we are very excited at the opportunity to re-imagine the Museum.

Thank you very much to Bibi (Vicki Kung).

Links & LM:

Links:
• Museum of Robots
• http://www.youtube.com/user/BibiBayliss
• http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kubrick/98/161/27

You can find the LM to MOR from Todas House in SL too.