History
(David Durlach, founder/director)
In the late 1980s, I was searching for a way to combine two passions: my love of technology and my fascination with artistic expression, human emotion, and relationships.
Existing work environments I encountered seemed relatively one-dimensional: either technically sophisticated and innovative, but lacking artistry and emotion; or artistically and emotionally sophisticated, but technically naive. I was firmly convinced that the synergies of technology and emotion, science and art, could result in any number of exciting and enriching applications, in artistic, educational, and commercial realms. (On a more personal level, I was desperate to find a "home" where I could be fully "me" - where thinking and feeling, understanding and beauty, mind and body, were all "first class citizens".)
(The early years: Trying to find life balance by cycling)
(Still trying, 30 years later...)
I founded TechnoFrolics, my small but impactful high-tech design workshop, to put these passions and perspectives into practice (and to create "a home"). Here, I and my small team develop computer-controlled dancing artworks, educational exhibits, and commercial attractions. Using these physical creations as an introduction and "proof-of-concept", I also began giving talks on the importance of merging technical sophistication with emotional sensitivity. (I was delighted to find these talks received with equal enthusiasm in contexts ranging from the MIT Media Lab, to the College Art Association National Conference, to the law firm of Fish & Richardson.)
Since TechnoFrolics' inception in 1988, its kinetic artworks, educational exhibits, and commercial attractions have been exhibited throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and Mexico, in highly diverse contexts including art galleries, museums, trade shows, aquariums & zoos, press events, and conferences on socially responsible uses of high-technology.
TechnoFrolics' works have been presented on Good Morning America, National Public Radio, the Vancouver Winter Olympics, have won numerous awards, and uniformly delighted audiences around the world.
Over the years, TechnoFrolics has provided a diverse range of consulting, lecturing, design, fabrication, and documentation services. Some time back, we created a (beta) spin-off site, TemporalInnovations.com, to better introduce the professional (non-public) and Big Data applications of our FrameGlide | Spin Browser video explorer. Most recently, we created ChoreoV.com to address a new Choreography via Video environment. And for a fun lunchtime break, you might wish to check out a 3 minute video on Time I made back in 2009 - TheLensOfTime.com (< I am a URL addict...). Finally, should you be interested in learning more about my personal orientation towards life, please see "Connections and Play | Guiding Principles" on my personal site.
The unique opportunities that TechnoFrolics offers to build "Affectionate Technology" periodically draws students from area universities for internships and special projects.