Hearts of Dorkness

Every Dorkbot group creates its own meeting format. In Washington, two or three artists present their work, followed by question-and-answer sessions. Techie jargon flies.

"It seemed like a good, creative mix of people with a high level of technological understanding," says Kaul. "I didn't try to dumb it down."

A recent Dorkbot meeting featured a "USB Voodoo Doll," says Thomas Edwards, who also helped start the Washington chapter. The doll plugs into a computer and, when someone sticks pins in it, messages come up on the screen like, "Ouch! You hit my heart!"

Edwards presented a robot programmed to follow people around and dole out compliments such as, "I like the way you did your hair today." Its name? Sycophant.

"It was based on a friend who went to a party and followed girls around complimenting them," Edwards says. "I guess it worked for him."

Dorkbot chapters use various tactics to create a sense of community. Most groups have e-mail discussion groups.

There's an official Dorkbot T-shirt, which, of course, is high tech. The T-shirts are designed so that fragments of ink will rub off, leaving unique patterns on the shirt.

The London chapter, one of the largest, goes to lengths to establish camaraderie. Repetto says London held a Dorkbot summer camp last year in -- get this -- Dorking, England.

"Dorks rule the world right now," says Gaitán, from the Washington chapter. "It's the age of the dork."

Dorkbot DC meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at Provisions Library, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free.http://dorkbotdc@dorkbot.org, 202-299-0460.