About: from the Make blog:

kinetic installations by Kal Spelletich, a Bay Area-based machine artist and founder of the interactive performance collective SEEMEN. Spelletich's work compels audience members to fuse themselves with his machines and perceive the world and their place within it differently as a result. His materials consist largely of reapplied industrial items from junkyards and dumpsters. Participants control (or are temporarily controlled by) the art-bots, many of which are engineered to respond to human biological data.

from media lab website:

Born and raised in Davenport Iowa, recently named "America's Worst Place to Live." Started working at father's construction company once I could hold a hammer all day. Ran away from home age 15 and started squatting abandoned buildings and living on the streets. Worked as a dishwasher, cook, carpenter, auto mechanic, day laborer, street scammer, plumber, factory, grocery store, salesman, teacher, carpenter, stagehand, fix it guy. At age 18 worked in United Auto Workers Union at International Harvester factory with 4,000 workers. Discovered art through a camera.

Art: SEEMEN
Born in junkyards and dumpsters, these unusual art-bots invite you perceive the world and your place within it differently by interacting with them.