free hit counters

Site designed 4/21/08

Site last updated 7/6/08

SEE MY OTHER WEBSITES:

www.autoguitarhero.com

www.3MeterClock.com

Update - November 8, 2009 - We're building the LeaveMeAloneBox. It will be for sale soon, click here to send me email.

WELCOME - updated 8-23-2009 - I continue to add other LMAB videos from people that send me a note. There are now HUNDREDS of LMAB's listed on YOUTUBE. OVER A MILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE WATCHED THIS ON YOUTUBE! AND, MAKE MAGAZINE BUILT ONE, AND PUT IT ON THE COLBERT REPORT. THEIR YOUTUBE VIDEO IS SITTING AT 3.5 MILLION HITS! Funny is funny.

About 7 years ago I was reading an article on Claude Shannon and came across one of the funniest ideas I had ever heard. Claude, you see, was one of these incredibly brilliant engineers with an obviously great sense of humor. As I understand it, he, along with Marvin Minsky came up with an idea they called the "Ultimate Machine". Basically a plain box with a switch on the top. When you flip the switch, a hand comes out of the box and flips the switch off. Thats it.

Well, after reading the article, and laughing out loud, I decided that I HAD to build one of these boxes. So simple, and yet so funny.

A plastic box I had lying around, a couple of hobby servos, a PIC Microprocessor, and a little code was all it took. Over the years I've brought this box to friends houses, businesses, and bars. I get a pretty consistent reaction - First no one wants to touch it. Next, someone reaches out tentatively and flips the switch. After that, all you hear is laughter and everyone's trying it out.

It's been years since I read the article, years since I built the box, and for years I've wanted to put it up on it's own website to share it with the world. At last, it's on the internet.

- Michael Seedman

michael (AT) seedman.org

UPDATE: 7/4/2008

WOW, and let me say THANKS. There have been over 500,000 views on YouTube and over 130,000 came to this website to look around. I'm amazed and excited. For a couple of days in May, 2008 I walked around with a big smile on my face and checked the 'hit rate' often. I couldn't imagine that many people looking at the same time. And, the comments were great. Check them out on YouTube if you get a chance.

Ok, here's how I'm going to play this. Although a lot of people have asked if I would build one of these for them, I'm afraid my answer is 'no'. I just don't have the time. Maybe one of the more than 500,000 people who saw the LEAVEMEALONEBOX could get it manufactured. I hope to see copies of the box at my local toy or specialty store soon - maybe by the end of the year.

Thanks again for your interest. I WISH I HAD KNOWN HOW EXCITED PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WERE GOING TO BE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. HA! I'M SURE I WOULD HAVE BUILT SOME BEFORE I ADVERTISED IT. The internet is a wonderful thing...

Michael

Here's the LeaveMeAloneBox hall of fame! These people built one!

Thanks to Hugues DAUZET from France that sent me a link to his YouTube video of his LMAB. Great job, Hugues.

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Hi Glynn, nice job. Here's Glynn's LMA box built in Texas!

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Here's jim's original, no micro version

A new one from Jim in Vasteras, Sweden. The biggest, meanest LMA box yet!

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Franz from Austria just sent me his design. Nice job, Franz

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Here's one from Dave, a mad inventor from Ipswich in England. Thanks for sharing your LMAB with us!

Thanks to Sebastian Graf of the Distributed Systems Group
Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Konstanz

Thanks Heiko - his has no microprocessor - just electrical and mechanical!

Phillipp Hubner changes it up a bit by adding a variable delay between switch flip and the arm extending. Extra funny!

-Michael Seedman

Thanks to Kristina for sending me an old ad she found: