Apparently, not only will our robotic overlords be capable of crushing and / or dismembering us with their razor-like talons and arm-mounted machine guns, but they will also be able to perfectly mimic our oral movements when speaking. According to reports, researchers from the Tokyo University of Science and the Musashino Red Cross Hospital have created a robot capable of reproducing tongue and lower jaw movements associated with speech. The prototype -- a model of the mouth -- is able to perfectly copy the movements needed to produce vowel sounds. Using a silicon tongue, which is supported by three aluminum scaffolds and wired to eight pneumatic muscles, and a lower jaw which pivots on an axle, researchers are able to program the "mouth" with data based on magnetic resonance imaging. The next step, they say, is to create an artificial mouth which covers all movements (including consonants), allowing the bot to be used for speech therapy, foreign language training... or the basis for Terminator heads. [Warning: read link requires subscription]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dias @ Sep 24th 2007 3:47AM
Could be also used as sex tool (maybe in 2nd revision).
Jagannath A @ Sep 24th 2007 4:35AM
@Dias
I was already freaked out seeing the picture and when I read your idiotic comment I nearly died :S
Till I read Dias's comment I never understood why they printed standard warnings like 'Keep Away From Genitals' on Machine Saw like power tools. eeeeeeeekkkkk
Yoshi Likes Boys @ Sep 24th 2007 4:34AM
I don't usually like those little image things, but THAT is funny, I don't care who you are.
LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 24th 2007 8:40AM
Hahahaha, oh man, this image had me smiling away this morning. ;)
L. Cyphre @ Sep 24th 2007 6:11AM
Bah, I'm not afraid!
I mean, what'll it do? Talk us to death?
...Wait, does this come with teeth?
moondy @ Sep 24th 2007 7:46AM
Terminator 4 is coming out in 2009...maybe Schwarzenegger's replacement will be this talking mouth attached to a remote controlled robot.
DelayedZ @ Sep 24th 2007 9:28AM
Same acting talent anyway...lol
Ian Rendall @ Sep 24th 2007 8:56AM
Same difference methinks...
Tarvus Domicus @ Sep 24th 2007 9:11AM
Humans need to get over themselves! Try making something NEW instead of copying a biological machine that already exists. Why is there an unspoken rule that robots must resemble humans? NEWSFLASH!! So-and-so's bot can do this and it looks so life-like, or So-and-so's bot must not be created without two eyes, arms and legs. WHY? A robot will never wake up sheltering a daily-echoing depression because it was only given one eye. A robot will never slit its own wrists because one of its arms is actually a hand cannon. Give me a break! Try putting functionality before form to spawn something that actually has an efficient purpose instead of this wastefully overcast journey leading egos to fruition.
If you want to get in touch wi
oshean @ Sep 24th 2007 9:14AM
First words spoken will be grey goo goo, grey gah gah.
giganto @ Sep 24th 2007 9:52AM
i was thinking something like, "goodbye, world."
hemmy @ Sep 24th 2007 5:32PM
I was kinda thinking:
"Pass the Grey Poupon"
Abuzar @ Sep 24th 2007 9:32AM
hai to you.
dj_modus_ponens @ Sep 24th 2007 10:30AM
@Tarvus: the reason robotics tend to mimic existing biological systems is that
1a) they've been pretty well tested by evolution,
1b) biological systems tend to have the most efficient way of doing *something*,
2) they accomplish a social purpose (i.e. interacting with people, such as a robo-receptionist),
3) they accomplish a biological purpose (such as replacing human limbs)
sure, you could program a computer to 'speak' with you from its speaker, but where's the fun with that? i want my real talking head.
gotsmart @ Sep 24th 2007 10:31AM
Why do so many people get "silicon" and "silicone" mixed up?
granny down east @ Sep 24th 2007 11:04AM
It won't be able to pronounce "R".
Digital1 @ Sep 24th 2007 11:06AM
I for one welcome our robotic talking Terminator overlords.
tommy @ Sep 24th 2007 1:14PM
Will these talking machines have an Austrian accent?...T2 never gets old!
3rdsun @ Sep 24th 2007 1:19PM
Why not use a speaker and paint a smiley face on the damn robot
willettfx @ Sep 29th 2007 8:51AM
Well, Here is mine.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/willettfx/wirelip1.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1E-yWeUm4k
american red cross @ Jan 8th 2008 7:52AM
It´s an interesting article. But also, it´s to know the work that makes The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that is focused on preventing and preparing people for disasters and providing the necessary education to people so they know how to properly respond and help each other.
To know more, visit http://www.theamericanredcross.info/