2008 Woodie Awards
Does technology make our lives better?
Amber-Marie Isenburg
Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Sometimes I feel as though Japan just has to be better than us at everything; especially beating us to the latest technology check-point. Of course, in order to truly beat us, you'd think they would have created a more fuel-efficient car, or developed a cure for cancer.
Not this time.
Instead, the Japanese Science and Technology Agency (JSTA) has created a toddler robot. A creepy, pale, bug-eyed robot.
The toddler squirms and makes what seems to be a "whiney" noise. It has the mental capacity of a one- or two-year-old, and has approximately 200 sense receptacles in its skin, enabling it to respond to touch. Now, this response to touch isn't like what you see from C3PO or robot street performers in New Orleans. It responds as a human child would, looking up towards the person who touched it, and presenting an actual response towards the touch.
The JSTA has named their creation CB2, which stands for Child-robot with Biomimetic Body. I am assuming that the "2" signifies that CB2 is the second robot; which of course leads me to the assumption that CB1 must have died from sudden infant death syndrome. CB2 is 130 centimeters long and weighs 33 kilograms. He -- assuming it is a he -- has two cameras for eyes that move around, making it look as though it's looking around the room and microphones for ears to enable it to respond to sound From the videos shown of him online, it seems as though he plays and makes noise. But that's about it. Impressive, yet way too creepy for my taste. In order to make him more "human-like" the normal servos that are used in robots, have been replaced with pneumatic muscles. The scientists behind this gadget wish to educate CB2 in the art of language and walking. They would also like for him to grow to have the capacity of a three-year-old. New reports about CB2 have already shown him walking with support from his "parents."
Now, after having recurring nightmares from this robot's ghoulish face at night, I find myself thinking: "Why do we have a child-robot? What information can be obtained from this robot that cannot be obtained from observing a human child?"
Maybe the scientists thought creating something humanlike would be a novel idea. Well guess what: It's been done already. See all these snot faced, Kool-aid- stained specimens running around? They are called children, real ones, created billions of years ago. Sorry Japan, looks like God beat you to it this time. Darn.
I am still waiting for a real-life horror movie incident where CB2 obtains so much knowledge that the Japanese can no longer control him. He then becomes too smart for his own good and becomes some sort of Japanese dictator before he proceeds to take over the world. For some reason this whole robot thing, just sounds too much like a Hollywood movie plot.
Not this time.
Instead, the Japanese Science and Technology Agency (JSTA) has created a toddler robot. A creepy, pale, bug-eyed robot.
The toddler squirms and makes what seems to be a "whiney" noise. It has the mental capacity of a one- or two-year-old, and has approximately 200 sense receptacles in its skin, enabling it to respond to touch. Now, this response to touch isn't like what you see from C3PO or robot street performers in New Orleans. It responds as a human child would, looking up towards the person who touched it, and presenting an actual response towards the touch.
The JSTA has named their creation CB2, which stands for Child-robot with Biomimetic Body. I am assuming that the "2" signifies that CB2 is the second robot; which of course leads me to the assumption that CB1 must have died from sudden infant death syndrome. CB2 is 130 centimeters long and weighs 33 kilograms. He -- assuming it is a he -- has two cameras for eyes that move around, making it look as though it's looking around the room and microphones for ears to enable it to respond to sound From the videos shown of him online, it seems as though he plays and makes noise. But that's about it. Impressive, yet way too creepy for my taste. In order to make him more "human-like" the normal servos that are used in robots, have been replaced with pneumatic muscles. The scientists behind this gadget wish to educate CB2 in the art of language and walking. They would also like for him to grow to have the capacity of a three-year-old. New reports about CB2 have already shown him walking with support from his "parents."
Now, after having recurring nightmares from this robot's ghoulish face at night, I find myself thinking: "Why do we have a child-robot? What information can be obtained from this robot that cannot be obtained from observing a human child?"
Maybe the scientists thought creating something humanlike would be a novel idea. Well guess what: It's been done already. See all these snot faced, Kool-aid- stained specimens running around? They are called children, real ones, created billions of years ago. Sorry Japan, looks like God beat you to it this time. Darn.
I am still waiting for a real-life horror movie incident where CB2 obtains so much knowledge that the Japanese can no longer control him. He then becomes too smart for his own good and becomes some sort of Japanese dictator before he proceeds to take over the world. For some reason this whole robot thing, just sounds too much like a Hollywood movie plot.
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