The robot revolution has been imminent for several decades, ironically. Regardless of timeframe, the fact of the matter is that we’re now pushing and developing at such a pace that it’s inevitable – at some point robots have to match our sci-fi expectations – and I think it’s now actually factually …
PARO is supposed to represent something related to Robots Taking Care of the Elderly. I’m all for the idea in general, but do the elderly really want a cutesy robotic stuffed animal friend? Seems to me it’s kinda, oh I don’t know… revoltingly condescending. But okay, while I understand that in the referenced piece it’s merely presented as a thought exercise, one would expect it to be a bit closer to something people wouldn’t want to club to death. The study is going on in the middle of good ol’ America, so just when I thought I’d never again have to [read full post]
BCS says NBI co-workers is an impending reality. NBI job satisfaction will likely be very high, until interaction with problem customers alters their learning algorithms to the point that they themselves(?) become jerks. Those with an interest in understanding their future co-workers should have a look at “Tempbot,” Neill Blomkamp’s (Alive in Joburg/District 9) oddly melancholy and thoughtful short film. [ARTICLE VIA BCS – TEMPBOT VIA SPYFILMS]
I’ll first send you over to humor site Cracked.com, and “6 Shocking Ways Robots are Already Becoming Human.” This piece deals mostly with our current efforts toward teaching machines about human emotions (very much the cutting edge of intelligence). Cracked.com digs hard at human society with wit and profanity – ANTHROBOTIC recommends! Next up, from MIT Tech Review we have a super-interesting concept: Love and Robotics/AI. I will not, however, repeat the title of this piece because a (probably extremely bright) researcher is trying to give this field an embarrassing fanboy otaku name. Props to him for the seriously interesting [read full post]