SANKYO TV Commercial Features Cute Humanoid Robot (video)
SANKYO, one of the leading Japanese suppliers of Pachinko equipment, has a new video featuring Yasuko Sawaguchi with a cute humanoid robot.
Like most Japanese television commercials it's hard to tell exactly what the connection is between the video content any actual product of trying to sell. Most Japanese television commercials are highly stylised and "good feeling – good image" in contrast to the commercials we see in the US.
The commercial doesn't show any additional information about the robot, though it appears from the design that Takahashi was probably involved somehow. It really has a close resemblance to his work.
Via: 【HD】2013/01/04 ON AIR CM (30s) No.012 SANKYO／企業CM - YouTube
60 Minutes Segment on Robots and Jobs Stirs Controversy (Video)
There is no question that rapidly advancing robot and AI technology are enabling companies to bring back work previously done overseas, especially in China. At the same time, they are eliminating the need for human involvement in the manufacturing and assembly processes, no matter where the 'manufacturing' takes place.
This excellent "Are Robots Hurting Job Growth?" segment on 60 Minutes explains the accelerating trend along with the benefits and the challenges it's creating. In the end, it may pose more of a severe problem for blue collar workers in China, India, and Asia than it will for their counterparts in 1st World nations, though no one will be able to completely escape its impact.
If I had to make one critical observation about the 60 minutes segment it would be to say that the title, "Are robots hurting job growth?", is misleading. To understand what is really taking place, and the eventual impact on individuals, governments, and societies, we need to take a much deeper, and more focused, approach. Robots, or more specifically 'robotics', is only a tool or technology.
The real 'problem', if we consider it to be a problem, is our focus on ever increasing efficiency and profitability, apparently without regard or a second thought to the impact on the quality of human life in general.
Robot Casting Call (video)
The success of the movie " AVATAR" proved that computer simulated actors could eventually replace their human counterparts. We're not there yet, but we're definitely on the way. It's only a matter of time.
But, what's it going to be like for the robot actors and actresses of the future? Will they face the same trials and tribulations, the same stresses? Looks like were going to find out…
Kondo Robot – Symbol of New Generation in iPhone Commercial (Video)
The Kondo KHR-3HV humanoid robot was selected by AU, a major Japanese cellphone network provider, for a new iPhone commercial embodying the hopeful, creative, enthusiastic spirit of up and coming young Japanese.
’Kondo Robot – Symbol of New Generation in iPhone Commercial (Video)’ continues
Korea’s Got Talent, and It’s Robotic (Video)
Seems like almost every major country has popular television program featuring local talent performers, and Korea is no exception. What does make the "Korea's Got Talent" program unusual is that some of the top performers are robots operated by middle school students.
Via: Robot performance, "Bunker" - Korea`s Got Talent 2, 벙커 - 코리아갓탤런트2 - YouTube
Robot Pro-Wrestling ‘Dekinnoka!’ featured on Biped Robot News
IKETOMU, a top level humanoid and multi-legged robot designer in his own right, and one of the few ROBO-ONE competitors to fight autonomously, published a detailed report of the Robot Pro Wrestling organization being featured on the UK Gadget Show TV program and also their expedition to RoboGames 2012 in the U.S.
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