Video: Superhyped yet underwhelming toddler robot!
posted at 8:27 am on September 17, 2007 by Allahpundit
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From the man who brought you freaky deaky robot Einstein head comes Zeno, the world’s first “complete character robot.” He’s got rubbery skin, cameras in his eyes, mikes in his ears, and a cache of processors in his brain, all of which enables him to, er, change facial expressions slightly from placid to quizzical. The AP video explains it all to you.
The real advance here, it seems to me, is more conceptual than technological. Hanson Robotics designed him explicitly as a “social robot,” with no purpose other than companionship for human beings. “It sees you and recognizes your face,” says David Hanson. “It learns your name and can build a relationship with you.” A crucial advance, my friends, if we’re ever to get that Westworld outside Tokyo I keep whining about.
If any of you are anime fans and find that he looks familiar, there’s a reason.
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The unvoiced question, of course…”Why did you create me when you have real people all around you to interact with?”
James on September 17, 2007 at 8:34 AM
Get back to me when they’ve installed the jet boots.
ZK on September 17, 2007 at 8:38 AM
Why not just get a dog ?
elgeneralisimo on September 17, 2007 at 8:48 AM
Start making a female version and World of Warcraft players will never leave the house.
BadgerHawk on September 17, 2007 at 8:48 AM
But where’s the string of voice-command words you must tell it in an exact order to imprint “love” into it, a la A.I.?
My name is David, and I love you mom!
JetBoy on September 17, 2007 at 9:04 AM
That robot looks tired…looks like he’s got bags under his eyes.
flipflop on September 17, 2007 at 9:04 AM
Yeah, but will it pee on your back?
Coronagold on September 17, 2007 at 9:16 AM
I’d kindly ask that all posters please refrain from any reference to AI. I’ve spent years in therapy trying to forget I paid money to see that steaming pile.
P.S. I’m an anime fan and wouldn’t mind if they made a Faye Valentine version.
saint kansas on September 17, 2007 at 9:27 AM
A solitude blogger’s best friend.
Mcguyver on September 17, 2007 at 10:39 AM
GOD I hate the stylistic garbage that is Japanamation! It is ugly beyond belief, unrealistic, and overly stylistic. Worse, it is so entirely homogeneous that no sane person can tell one Japanime character from another.
I wish this junk would go away. It’s artistic murder.
Warner Todd Huston on September 17, 2007 at 11:04 AM
…because the clunky, boxy, three-fingered crap that is the American (Korean, actually) animation of today is soooo much better?
James on September 17, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Zeno wants be a real boy! He’s looking around the room for the “Blue Fairy”.
Oh and here is the money quote which pretty much sums up Hollywood.
kiakjones on September 17, 2007 at 1:20 PM
They don’t as it is.
Christoph on September 17, 2007 at 2:39 PM
…a sad, sad relationship built entirely upon fetching Hotpockets for its human overlord.
James on September 17, 2007 at 3:23 PM
Zeno the stoned robot. Great entertainment for people who are already easily amused with shiny things and bright colors.
JEFF_IN_NC on September 17, 2007 at 8:28 PM
It’s like an unsually dumb terrier, only it won’t crap on your rug.
Merovign on September 18, 2007 at 12:15 PM
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