[CTRL] What do the "lists" say the implications are if the Japanese Humanoid can cook better than Martha Stewart and has "more personality"?

Tue, 7 Dec 1999 17:50:11 -0800

 
Dear Waseda University:
                                     I note from your web site <http://www.humanoid.rise.waseda.ac.jp/> that your goal is "to develop an anthropomorphic robot named 'Humanoid' which will comprise sensing, recognition, expression and motion sub-systems to enable robots and humans to build common mental and physical spaces, co-operatively." I also note that you invite questions and comments. The Honda Humanoid <http://www.honda.co.jp/english/technology/robot/index.html> has a similar objective as according to educational television some $100 m. has been spent to date on P1, P2 and P3. We are also informed that 'Humanoid' is Japanese national science policy. Therefore I am wondering when we will see a practical, affordable, general purpose home and office personal robot on the consumer market? NEC <http://www.nec.jp/english/today/newsrel/9908/3101.html> has the prototype for a "friendly, walkin', talkin' people partner personal robot" to quote the press release. The NEC R100 personal robot would expectedly sell in the pc range. According to the web site it is a "button-less interface for people to a variety of electronic appliances." Also see <http://www.incx.nec.co.jp/robot>. The R100 has voice recognition sufficient to carry out a number of tasks on command, including Internet use.
   As a consumer I would be willing to pay in the automobile price range, not the pc range, for a pr.
Therefore I would like to ask some questions about current technological capabilities for pr's. In conjunction with <http://www.vcn.bc.ca/culturex/Machine-Psychology.htm> I am designing an educational television script and I would appreciate it if a spokesperson from Waseda University could answer the following two questions about your knowledge on the recognition and motion sub-systems to which you refer on your web site?
 
(1) RECOGNITION SUB-SYSTEM: Given that the robot visual modality can recognize faces, <http://www.faceit.com> , can it recognize a carrot in my refrigerator? Is there any kitchen object(s) it would have difficulty recognizing? If so, which object(s)?  Why would it have this difficulty?
 
(2) MOTION SUB-SYSTEM: If the personal robot can recognize a carrot, can it peel the carrot with a standard vegetable peeler? Is there any motion entailed in preparing a meal which a personal robot could not execute? If so, which motion(s)?
 
    Finally we should ask if Martha Stewart and her ilk have anything to worry about? Martha Stewart is one of the multitudinous and boring television kitchen "personalities" (and the word "personalities" is deliberately in quotes) who regale us with their ability to pass high school home economics 10. Some become quite rich with this dreary litany and we were recently told that Martha's net worth is $ one billion. (Maybe she will catch up to Bill Gates whose contribution to society is only slightly greater). Given this as backgrounder just think of the revenues a Waseda Humanoid with a REAL PERSONALITY and  a TV Cooking Show could bring into your university!
Sincerely-FWP.
 
 
 
 

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