Robots reveal their human side
Thursday, March 31, 2005 Posted: 11:43 AM EST (1643 GMT)

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/31/expo.robots/story.actoid.afp.jpg

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Kokoro, a humanoid receptionist, greets visitors to the trade fair in four different languages, but struggles to give a straight answer.


AICHI, Japan (CNN) -- The robots at the 2005 World Expo have something to prove: that they can be human too.

More than 100 robots have been put to work at the high-tech trade fair in Japan, performing tasks ranging from greeting visitors, tidying up, providing security and entertaining the crowds.

But it is the machines with the ability to mimic human characteristics that have captured the imagination of visitors.

"Humanoids are really exciting," Richard Walker of the Shadow Robot Company told the New Scientist magazine.

"People immediately love them because they think they are a lot cleverer than they really are."

Toyota's robotic band, which features seven trumpet and horn players and a lead singer performing tunes like "When the Saints Go Marching In," may not have cost the world's virtuoso musicians too much sleep but they have been selling out 13 shows a day.

Meanwhile, Kokoro, the Expo's humanoid receptionist, has been busy greeting guests. The brunette "actroid" speaks four different languages and is designed to look and act as human as possible.

Visitors seem to like her, even though she can't always give a straight answer.

"I'm sorry, I was dreaming of Kyoshi," she says, raising her hand to her mouth distractedly, in response to a question she fails to understand.

Japan is already the world's most robot-friendly country, employing more than half of the 800,000 industrial robots currently in use.

But many experts see the success of robots at the Expo as evidence that they are now set to emerge from the factory.

Tetsuya Yamamoto of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) research institute told The Associated Press that robots could be put to work in offices, hospitals and stores within a few years.

"Until now, robots were used at factories, in assembly lines to make cars or semiconductors," said Yamamoto. "In the future, they will be used in homes, offices, hospitals and amusement parks."

According to NEDO predictions, the Japanese market for service-orientated robots could be worth $17 billion within five years as everyday products such as vacuum cleaners and refrigerators became "robotized."

At the Expo's "Robot Station" many of the prototypes of those service robots are already on display.


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One of the most popular is a childcare robot called PaPeRo -- short for "Personal Robot." Although it looks more like a toy or a character from a children's story, PaPeRo can recognize faces and voices and even respond to changing facial expressions or physical contact.

It can take a roll call, quiz kids on their homework, play games and even report misbehavior to parents via a built-in mobile phone and Internet connection.

"Parents outside home or elementary school can call to PaPeRo," explained Dr. Fujita of NEC, which developed the robot. "Then they can watch how their children are doing through the eyes of PaPeRo."

And while many mothers might be reluctant to leave their offspring in the care of a three-foot plastic nanny that is more R2-D2 than Mary Poppins, some are already convinced of PaPeRo's merits.

"Many moms have jobs these days," Yumiko Takemoto told CNN. "This robot is a good substitute for a pet or a friend to play with. It would be great if a robot could keep a child at home alone company."


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Toyota's Robot Band have been performing for packed audiences 13 times a day



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Guard Robots, develpoed by Japans Sogo Securities Services, have been patrolling the expo's site <end>



Heres the link: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/03/31/expo.robots/index.html

the japanese seem to be a really bored, easily amused, and very strange people.

Ahhh Dunkirk ya found it lol, i was looking everywhere for that receptionist robot information and couldnt find it.

Great post, and this is just one of the reasons why im moving to Japan the first chance i get. I love Technology and its just moving so fast in Japan, Cybernetics, Robotics, :) its going to be an truly amazing century.

Originally posted by Dunkirk101

One of the most popular is a childcare robot called PaPeRo -- short for "Personal Robot." Although it looks more like a toy or a character from a children's story, PaPeRo can recognize faces and voices and even respond to changing facial expressions or physical contact.

It can take a roll call, quiz kids on their homework, play games and even report misbehavior to parents via a built-in mobile phone and Internet connection.

"Parents outside home or elementary school can call to PaPeRo," explained Dr. Fujita of NEC, which developed the robot. "Then they can watch how their children are doing through the eyes of PaPeRo."

And while many mothers might be reluctant to leave their offspring in the care of a three-foot plastic nanny that is more R2-D2 than Mary Poppins, some are already convinced of PaPeRo's merits.

"Many moms have jobs these days," Yumiko Takemoto told CNN. "This robot is a good substitute for a pet or a friend to play with. It would be great if a robot could keep a child at home alone company."



I find this quite scary. Kids need to interct with real humans, not machines. They will spend enough time in front of computer in their lives, at least give babies a little human love !

In fact I am very reluctant to give babies and kids electronic or even electric toys. My opinion is that there the simplest the toy, the best it is : a classic doll, a ball, a plastic truck, are way better than their electronic equivalents that are always stuck in a few repetitive roles, even when they're very sophisticated.

Originally posted by astrapol2
I find this quite scary. Kids need to interct with real humans, not machines. They will spend enough time in front of computer in their lives, at least give babies a little human love !

In fact I am very reluctant to give babies and kids electronic or even electric toys. My opinion is that there the simplest the toy, the best it is : a classic doll, a ball, a plastic truck, are way better than their electronic equivalents that are always stuck in a few repetitive roles, even when they're very sophisticated.

I feel your missing the point however, These electronic toys would push the childs limits by learning and adapting its teaching methods thus enabiling your childs mind to be constantly fueled and powered by the learning of new things.

The downfall is that they will create emotional bonds with these "toys" and it will begin to get difficult to take it away. This is the future and as robots get smarter and better we are going to see fully interactive robot toys capable of wonderful things.

I do see what ya mean though, no robot is going to replace say going outside and kicking a ball around with ya dad. Or playing hockey in the street with your mates etc. But for the sort of 2-5 years i think its an amazing way to fastrack your childs ability to learn.

Its clearly been documented that the parents who simply leave their child in front of the tv and dont motivate its learning find it difficult in early school and often this leads to learning difficulties whilst the parents who spent time with their children, teaching and playing with them are able to pick things up faster and the like. These toys will be an extension of this.

Originally posted by Lokideviluk

Its clearly been documented that the parents who simply leave their child in front of the tv and dont motivate its learning find it difficult in early school and often this leads to learning difficulties whilst the parents who spent time with their children, teaching and playing with them are able to pick things up faster and the like. These toys will be an extension of this.


I fully agree with the first part of your statement, but still, I feel robots are not a good solution.

Letting kids alone in front of TV or videogames is not a good thing, that does not mean a robot, even a perfect one, is a better solution. The best solution is a human being. Precisely because kids need emotional bonds more than anything - they need attention more than brain stimulation.

Robot nannies, IMO, are very representative of two of our societies major problems :
- the fascination with "progress". The idea that the more modern, the more sophisticated, the better (as you wrote "This is the future and as robots get smarter and better we are going to see fully interactive robot toys capable of wonderful things.") I don't see technological progress as a necessity or as a real improvement in many cases (that does not mean it is always bad, of course).

- the temptation to solve social problems (what to do with kids when both parents need to work to earn enough to live) with purely technical solutions (electronic gizmos) rather than with real politic answers (help parents to pay a nanny, or to stay home longer, or open more nurseries...).
In a word, the idea that any problem can be solved if you buy the right product.

It would be a beautiful place if such a thing were to happen, but it appears that the ever rising cost of living coupled with the never rising pay wages means that parents are forced to both have to work and the costs of "human" nannys can seriouslly cripple a family.

The idea of a one off payment and your child is looked after and protected daily may have to be the answer in the future.

I (obviously) love technological progress and cannot wait so excuse my biased views. I do totally agree though a child needs receptive human emotion at times.

Politics are the answer. We live in societies rich enough to take care of kids and old people - all we have to do is set priorities. Is it more important to cut taxes of middle age people so that they can consume more and get new cars, or is it better to finance social workers or longer parental holidays (thus creating new jobs)?

In France nurseries costs are often linked to your income level and nannies fees may be deducted from your taxes. That makes possible for people with a low income to work and know someone with a proper training takes care for their kids. This system is far from perfect (the income tax deduction favors richer people who pay more taxes, and there are not enough nurseries in many places) but that shows it is possible to do something.

This said, I leave this forum for a couple of hours since I am going to buy a new digital camera and DVD recorder ;)

Getting back to the original question, no, it won't catch on in the U.S. We're just not as into technology for technology's sake as the Japanese. For instance we're resisted the computerized toilets that the Japanese so love.

I am more impressed with the robotics used to build/paint our cars. All of the assembly line type units are fully accepted by industry in this country. I realize they took jobs, but the point is they are practical and do the job well.

There are also types of robots that can deliver mail in larger/richer office buildings, as an example. Yes, they assembly robotics can't raise my kid and doesn't blather information usually hidden from the public in secret places called ...................books. The point really should be, robots should not raise my child and I am not so busy that I can't read.

They reason people don't think robots are around in this country is you don't see them or revel in them. Also, robots are apparently not cool unless given a humaniod shape. They are all around you most likely and you don't even know it.

007.