Japan Looks to a Robot Future

ap ^ | Sunday March 2, 7:26 am ET | By Hiroko Tabuchi, Associated Press Writer

[Flavius]

Far Ahead of Other Countries, Japan Experiments With Robots As Part of Daily Life

TOKYO (AP) -- At a university lab in a Tokyo suburb, engineering students are wiring a rubbery robot face to simulate six basic expressions: anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust.

Hooked up to a database of words clustered by association, the robot -- dubbed Kansei, or "sensibility" -- responds to the word "war" by quivering in what looks like disgust and fear. It hears "love," and its pink lips smile.

[Flavius]

For Japan, the robotics revolution is an imperative. With more than a fifth of the population 65 or older, the country is banking on robots to replenish the work force and care for the elderly

no need for quest workers, or i suppose any workers down the road

how c00l

[InterceptPoint]

With more than a fifth of the population 65 or older, the country is banking on robots to replenish the work force and care for the elderly.

Quite so. The birth rate in Japan is insufficient to maintain the population over the long haul. Having recognized this early on the Japanese have wisely invested heavily in the development of robots. A rational thing for them to do and it is highly likely that they will be the world leader in this technology in the near and possibly far future.

[martin_fierro]

At a university lab in a Tokyo suburb, engineering students are wiring a rubbery robot face to simulate six basic expressions: anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust.

That's three more than this guy's got.

[usmcobra]

Pre-programed liberals?

[Flavius]

few codes away from

[mamelukesabre]

THe next step after that would be a robot carrying a robot.

[Flavius]

yes the human soldier will go the way of dodo

unless someone figures out how to turn them all off

and i know they are all working on it

[Atlas Sneezed]

engineering students are wiring a rubbery robot face to simulate six basic expressions: anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust.

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When they narrow it down to “cheery” “horny” “wanna beer” and “quiet”, they’ll have a hit with the single guys.

[Disambiguator]

When they narrow it down to “cheery” “horny” “wanna beer” and “quiet”, they’ll have a hit with the single guys.

I'm sure the sex model is in the works somewhere. Just give it time.

[Bender2]

Well, them Japanese gals always did have a really powerful... yen for me!