ACM TechNews

Japan Looks to a Robot Future

Associated Press (03/02/08) Tabuchi, Hiroko

Engineering students at Meiji University in Japan are programming a rubbery robotic face to respond to different words with different expressions, including anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise, and disgust. "To live among people, robots need to handle complex social tasks," says project leader Junichi Takeno. "Robots will need to work with emotions, to understand and eventually feel them." In Japan, robots can make sushi, plant rice and tend paddies, serve as receptionists, vacuum office hallways, serve tea, feed the elderly, and greet company guests and tourists in public areas. The need for advanced robotics in Japan is critical as more than a fifth of the population is already 65 or older, and the country is counting on robots to replenish the workforce and care for the elderly. Over the past few years, the Japanese government has funded a variety of robotics-related projects, and the government estimates that the industry could surge from about $5.2 billion in 2006 to $26 billion in 2010 and nearly $70 billion by 2025. In addition to financial and technological advantages, Japanese culture is more accepting of robotic assistants than other countries, viewing robots as friendly helpers instead of the rebellious and violent machines often seen in Western science fiction.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5juBhAIIVcVl3YA-MLQDZZ0QtYoHwD8V4QCO00

---

© Copyright 2008 Information, Inc. This service may be reproduced for internal distribution.