The robotic breast examiner

Okay, all the 12-year-olds must now leave the room so we can have a civilized discussion about this breast examining robot that allows doctors to do sophisticated diagnostics from remote locations. It's controlled by a haptic glove whose fingers are each connected to a motion-sensing device. The operator's hand movements are measured, translated by a computer and sent to the artificial hand in order to mimic the doctor's movements. The robotic arm can also perform ultrasound at the same time — an advantage over the usual process in which the ultrasound and exam are performed separately. Unfortunately, tele-operated robots tend to have a problem with delay, so it may take years of clinical trials to develop a system reliable enough to be commercially viable.

[Thanks, William]

[sr @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

tee hee hee hee heee

[Itchy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I'm sure there's millions of women eager to put their breasts into the hands of a giant robotic arm. Make sure the doc shows it crushing a cinder block first.

[Kasamaan Drakon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I would hate to think what would happen if the doctors glove malfunctioned and he started to squeeze to hard :|

[Rich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

These jobs should be saved for us humans, and the robots should work at macdonalds or something.

I'd love this job :-)

[Henry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

May be this is better :)

http://goyk.com/video.asp?path=1760

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

This isn't a robot. It's a waldo, a teleoperated device. Robots make their own decisions, electronically. All decisionmaking for this gadget is clearly made by a human operator.

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

And, by the way, why is this only being "advertised" for breast exams? There are other kinds of touch exams. Is it useful for those? (Hey, fellow guys, guess what they're checking on _our_ bodies!)

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I don't think i'd like this thing checking my balls.

[RobERT @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Then I guess this robot painting is right at this website:
http://toontoonz.com/paintings/kaufmanart6.html
(2nd one from left).

[like I'm gonna tell you! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

oh, the possibilities...

/fetish

[Bollocks Mate @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

I cannot wait to see one of these MALFUNCTION without a Doctor's hand behind it, grab a real woman's breast and SQUEEZE it so tight that the breast POPS right in front of all the people watching!

Now that would be a good scene in a horror flick.

[gna-gna @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

uncontrolable gigling as I wrap my arm in tin foil, put a funnel on my head and start practicing my robot-voice...

[Nathan Otis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Henry #5 How bout an NSFW notice buddy?!

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Apparently the inventor is a leg-man...

[Captain Skull @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

This just seems like a step backwards.

we're using technology so we DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH BOOBS???

[Steve K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

LOL. As we speak, the ABA (for those not in the know, American Breastesesologists Association) is quickly rallying to lobby against this thing...

[embassy sweetz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Robogripper - 'WE touch boobs so you dont have to!'

[Moonshine @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I hear they are also developing a rectal examination model...

[Zeus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

The porn biz could really love this... The doc on the other end of this 'waldo' must be getting tactiles back from the haptic part, right? So my question is how long is it going to take before the pron peeps start using this for their business. ("Squeeze Jenna's enormously fake boobs!") I can see it now, people hooking up for virtual sex over the 'net or virtual prostitution even. Talk about taking 'teledildonics' to the next level. I guess it'd give a new meaning to getting a virus...

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Gives new meaning to the name Robo-Cop