Robots Television Documentary

ns001 · Post by **ns001** » Wed Apr 20, 2016 2:42 pm

Thanks Begog.

And do you feel that Realbotix will have competition from cheaper Asian manufacturers? Or are they too far behind to represent much of a threat to their hotly anticipated robots?

Nick

rubyfan · Post by **rubyfan** » Wed Apr 20, 2016 4:09 pm

It's not clear how much reality there is to things like DS Doll's purported robotics project. They've demonstrated essentially nothing, unlike Realbotix. My sense is that Western companies innovate more readily than Asian companies, but that Asian companies refine ideas more quickly than their Western counterparts.

So while I do think bleeding-edge ideas and products are likely to emerge from places like Realbotix, I expect the Asians to quickly emulate and refine such innovations. As with everything from televisions to cars to computers to smart phones, manufacture of such products will quickly migrate East, though there are likely to remain beachheads of design and development in the West, particularly as cutting-edge A.I. is still done in a place like Silicon Valley.

ns001 · Post by **ns001** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:27 am

Ah interesting.
So Realbotix will be the first.

Begog · Post by **Begog** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 1:32 pm

ns001 wrote:Thanks Begog.

And do you feel that Realbotix will have competition from cheaper Asian manufacturers? Or are they too far behind to represent much of a threat to their hotly anticipated robots?

Nick

Asian companies are always a threat to undercut pricing with cheaper labor and other advantages such as lower taxes, tariffs, lack of EPA, OSHA, NFPA, etc. Combine all that with the highest corporate taxes and labor in the civilized world and we Americans are at a disadvantage in almost any business venture. The Japanese have made great strides in robotics and could lead the way. I wouldn't underestimate the Chinese either. I don't think any company can be considered the leader until they start offering products. As far as I know, these robotic heads are still in the development phase. I hope we do not have to wait much longer to find out.

ns001 · Post by **ns001** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 4:39 pm

Thanks Begog.

Funnily enough, although China and Japan seem like a natural fit for robot development, I haven't seen a great deal in terms of companionship and sex out there. Unless I'm missing it? It's interesting and makes me wonder if, despite the love of technology generally, there might be taboos around certain types of robotics?

Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Haha!

rubyfan · Post by **rubyfan** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 4:49 pm

ns001 wrote:Thanks Begog.

Funnily enough, although China and Japan seem like a natural fit for robot development, I haven't seen a great deal in terms of companionship and sex out there. Unless I'm missing it? It's interesting and makes me wonder if, despite the love of technology generally, there might be taboos around certain types of robotics?

Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Haha!

Can't speak for China, but Japan's animist tradition and generally robot-friendly pop culture makes such a taboo seem unlikely. Chobits, for example, is the kind of thing thing that could only come from Japan: https://youtu.be/ingYFsjgaZ4

That said, I did find it strange how SoftBank made buyers of Pepper commit to not having sex with the robot. That isn't something you'd ever see in the U.S., probably because it would never occur to anyone (at least not anyone who isn't on this board!

)

I think one hold-up in Japan has been that for a long time most of the robotics work is done at these giant industrial enterprises like Honda and Toyota, and of course such places aren't going to be building anatomically-correct robots, or even attempting to create convincingly-human robots.

I would suggest you talk to Danny Choo, actually, as he would be able to give you enormous insight into these questions about dolls, robots, and Japan: http://www.dannychoo.com

Begog · Post by **Begog** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 4:26 pm

ns001 wrote:Thanks Begog.

Funnily enough, although China and Japan seem like a natural fit for robot development, I haven't seen a great deal in terms of companionship and sex out there. Unless I'm missing it? It's interesting and makes me wonder if, despite the love of technology generally, there might be taboos around certain types of robotics?

Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Haha!

ns001 · Post by **ns001** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:46 am

Those are awesome links Begog thanks.

And thanks Rubyfan - I remember seeing Danny Choo's blog years ago. He's Jimmy Choo's son right? Interesting stuff.

Kimbrafan · Post by **Kimbrafan** » Mon Apr 25, 2016 1:43 pm

Great video here that talks about humanoids in detail.
It mentions other humanoids that have been making headlines.

ns001 · Post by **ns001** » Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:00 pm

Great video. If only I spoke Chinese!

Though this Google translation is admittedly quite entertaining: ""Jia Jia" plump high color value stunned audience".