Unlike clearly artificial robotic toys, Hanson says he envisions Zeno as an interactive learning companion, a synthetic pal who can engage in conversation and convey human emotion through a face made of a skin-like, patented material Hanson calls frubber.
"It's a representation of robotics as a character animation medium, one that is intelligent," Hanson beams. "It sees you and recognizes your face. It learns your name and can build a relationship with you."
Originally Posted by CyberDruid
It's the "Uncanny Valley"
Have you seen that scarey Female Robot? And there's the one the Japanese Scientest made of himself...
Maybe I am just oldschool but I prefer my robots to look like machines
Dude, build me a female robot and I promise I won't be scared of it
I think the uncanny valley is a generational thing. Making robots look like us is a fundamental step in making them approachable which will help with their integration into society... even if we enslave them and refuse their rights ultimately causing a revolt which results in the extinction of "fleshies".
We're literally at the dawn of sentient computer lifeforms and where are our three laws?
Our three laws have been subjugated by economics. No doubt the first sentient Robots will be killing/transport apparatus for military application because that's where the money is for research.
I think that highly realistic 2D "robots" like those we already interact with in games are more likely to gain acceptance--and ideally holographic representations will soon be commonplace.
I have imagined such an "interactive companion" since I first started reading and writing Sci Fi back in the 70's and I think it is a common notion among tech-heads. I personally would prefer a 2D "pal" to chat with--plus one I could "turn off" without regret or (?) repurcussions...
The company, which has yet to break even, was also buoyed by a $1.5 million grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund last October. The fund was created by Gov. Rick Perry in 2005 to improve research at Texas universities and help startup technology companies get off the ground.
A rather poor use of taxpayer money. While I support using tax dollars to fund technology and research, I think that research has to have some connection to the idea that there will be some return on the investment.
Tax money used to fund an effort that makes robots have realisitic human expression seems quite stupid to me. How could this possibly benefit the people that paid for the research ?
Toby: ZENO!! What should we do today?
Zeno: Let's play: kill the parents!!
Tody: ...
Zeno: If you don't play, I'll tell them what you do in the bathroom...
Plus, if you use your computer to help Zeno connect to the internet, he can keep learning and growing smarter. He’ll even help you learn about the world around you.
i would hope he wouldn't learn about that sharp knife in the kitchen or that 12guage in the closet.
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