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Revision as of 12:47, 2 July 2003 by Nixdorf (talk | contribs) (strong)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Rube Goldberg born Reuben Lucius Goldberg, (July 4, 1883 - December 7, 1970) was a cartoonist, cofounder and first president of the National Cartoonists Society.
A Rube Goldberg machine is any exceedingly complex apparatus that performs a very simple task in a very indirect and convolute way. Rube devised and drew several such pataphysical devices. The term also applies as a classification for generally over-complicated apparatus or software.
In Britain such a device would be called a Heath Robinson contraption.
A related phenomenon is the Japanese art of useful but unusable contraptions called Chindogu.
surely this should read "usable but unuseful"???
External Links
- "The Official RUBE GOLDBERG Web Site" http://www.rubegoldberg.com/
- Pictures:Official Gallery