Japanese prof thinks robots need emotional sensibilities

Aside from providing the world with great gadgets, entertainment devices and robots -- the Japanese have now answered the question that every robot enthusiast since Isaac Asimov has been trying to answer: how do we improve robot-humanoid interaction? Professor Shuji Hashimoto, director of the humanoid robotics centre at Waseda University in Tokyo, has a theory: robots need a solid dose of those Japanese manners (don't we all?) encompassed in the Japanese word kansei, which includes feelings, mood, intuitiveness and sensibility. Hashimoto spoke to a conference on "socially intelligent robots" at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, UK last week, saying that "Robots are going to need similar emotional capabilities if they are to cooperate smoothly and flexibly with humans in our residential environments." How would that translate from the theoretical academic ivory tower to the living room lab of a domesticated robot? According to NewScientist, who covered Hashimoto's UK talk, "if a robot's owner is sweating and has a racing pulse, say, the robot will sense this and decide that now might not be the time to offer them the TV guide or tonight's dinner menu." Still, we're sure that Hashimoto wasn't talking smack about our new favorite polite robot, the EMIEW -- otherwise we might have to sic a legion of BEAR robots on him.

[Thanks, Matt]

[Shannon Combs @ Sep 20th 2006 6:33AM]

nice

[Ndric @ Sep 20th 2006 7:32AM]

The beginning of the end, gents.

[Scott @ Sep 20th 2006 7:39AM]

First robot emotions, then robot mental health clinics.

[Gaz @ Sep 20th 2006 7:44AM]

Emotions....pah!

[J.Neutron @ Sep 20th 2006 7:46AM]

I for one welcome out emotional female robot overlords

[Alex in Japan @ Sep 20th 2006 7:52AM]

For what it's worth, the kanji in the picture can be pronounced "kansei" but they mean "complete" rather than "mood, feeling," etc.

[DarkFader @ Sep 20th 2006 8:21AM]

robots aren't 完 without 感 :)

[Rick @ Sep 20th 2006 8:25AM]

First emotions ... now, you just KNOW there's some Japanese engineer out there thinking, "hmm, wonder what it'll look like in a school girl attire".

[Cade @ Sep 20th 2006 8:36AM]

Put that in ones and zeros and then you're on to something.

[vince @ Sep 20th 2006 9:13AM]

Why do robots have to spell the end of the world? The future with robots could be like Futurama, where robots and humans and aliens exist peacefully...most of the time.

[kanseiken @ Sep 20th 2006 9:14AM]

単一人の歓迎として自分自身私達の良識があるロボットマスター

[Revels @ Sep 20th 2006 9:38AM]

Shit. We're done for.

[Todd @ Sep 20th 2006 10:04AM]

( heavy Austrian accent )"...first, Skynet was given emotions, then later achieve self-awareness...."

[o0adam0o @ Sep 20th 2006 10:21AM]

First you get our hopes up with human like skin for the robots, then you take it away by giving them emotional sensibilities??? They might as well be real women! :( Shame on you....

[SuperQ @ Sep 20th 2006 12:32PM]

A bunch of mindless jerks who'll be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.

[golden @ Sep 20th 2006 12:46PM]

That is so stupid!!!
That would mean that they can also become angry

[sbgoble @ Sep 25th 2006 9:46AM]

Its like the terminator all over again.