Dances with bots
Sometimes it seems as if Japan is absolutely hell-bent on converting every human activity imaginable to a robotic function.
Today’s step in that direction is a ballroom dance robot that was developed for the purpose of. . . Well who knows why anyone would develop a robot to perform an activity that was developed specifically to provide a means for people to get together socially.
Developed by scientists at [Tohoku] University, the Partner Ballroom Dance Robot (PBDR) is able to predict the steps of a human partner based on body movement and react accordingly on its three wheels.
The 1.65 meter robot has a female face, wears a ball gown and comes in bright pink and pastel blue plastic. A male version is also being developed.
There seems to be the perception in Japan that dancing robots are the wave of the future for some reason, as you can see here (movie clip), here, and here.
Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I really can see no fun in going out onto the dance floor to snuggle up to a bucket of bolts . . .
Robots are cool and all, but just WHAT is it with the Japanese obsession with non-human things?
On one hand, they try to humanize inanimate objects by turning them into cute, cartoony caricatures (electronics manuals, warning signs, etc). At the same time, they’re constantly making these ridiculous robots like Asimo, and now- ballroom dancing robots?
I don’t get it.
June 11th, 2005 at 7:42 amOn one hand, they try to humanize inanimate objects. At the same time, they’re constantly making these ridiculous robots.
Good point!
June 11th, 2005 at 10:08 amWhy resent something like this though? Humanoid robots were once a fantasy of the entire world back in the day, so I say let them create more Asimos and whathaveyous. I doubt there’s a massive conspiracy to replace the human race with robots.
June 11th, 2005 at 11:14 am…Right?
[...] !
As we have reported many times in the past here on JAPUNDIT (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here), Japan has jumped into robotics with a fervor that is at once both [...]
October 4th, 2005 at 12:05 am[...]
As we have reported many times in the past here on JAPUNDIT (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here), Japan has jumped into robotics with a fervor that is at once both [...]
October 4th, 2005 at 12:41 am