A really weird question, but one for you techies!

Idiophreak

mrspepperpott wrote: »

The writer has it moving up and down quite frantically, but i suppose it could spin?
It moves when he receives news, so at specific times.

I'd see if spinning was an option. I think it would be a lot more visual, as you could have the thing spin quite fast and the hair whipping around. Would also be easy to put together...just wrap a bit of hair around a motor, then stick the spinny bit into the pony tail...wire down the neck to a battery pack and route a switch wherever's needed...

T_T_2

mrspepperpott wrote: »

How does that work? Air?

Well it's technical name is a bowden cable. It's essentially a wire that moves freely inside a tube. If you imagine on your bike you squeeze the brakes. You are actually pulling that inner wire a few centimetres (relative to the outer tube). This is replicated at the other end of the cable and pull the brake pad onto the wheel rim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowden_cable

mrspepperpott

Fifer wrote: »

Spinning might be easier. Ponytail attached to small battery operated electric motor (fixed to a wig maybe?) with cable running down back of neck and sleeve to a concealed handheld switch.

(You could maybe doctor something like this - it it comes complete with a concealed remote control button).

Never thought of the "spinning bow tie"!!!
That sounds fab!