Rube Goldberg machine

Initially and still primarily used as form of humor. However, such machines are also used as art (scupture) by various artists and is actually defined as a unique artform in Japan (called chindōgu). Such machines are also buildt for competitive sport. Finally, they are sometimes used as aledutainment.

Alternate names:
Bruce Petty Machine
Franz Gsellmann Weltmaschine
Storm P machine
susine à gaz
Was-passiert-dann-Maschine
Heath Robinson contraption
Sukumar Ray khuror kol
Pythagorean devices
Pythagoras switch
PythagoraSwitch
ピタゴラスイッチ
Pitagora Suicchi
chindōgu
Kjell Aukrust invention
Reodor Felgen invention
Inventos del TBO
Inventos del tebeo
Zihni Sinir Projeleri

Some training programs, such as military, employ a type of anti-rubegoldbergdevice exercise. Trainees are given materials that purposely include seemingly usefull but actually superfluous parts to aid in a set task. They are told that all the parts for the task must be present at the conclusion of the task (but not told that all must be [used to complete] the task. Trainees are then judged on how quickly/efficiently they performed the task (using fewer parts in best) and followed instructions by not discarding parts the did not use.