Doka Harumi's robot dance routine fills us with shame for humanity, but mostly Japan
By Paul Miller 
posted November 30th 2009 1:03PM
posted November 30th 2009 1:03PM
posted November 30th 2009 1:03PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
The more they try to make robots look like people, the creepier the robots get. That's because we're very good at recognizing what people should look (and act) like. There's just so many subtleties, and this particular example has almost none of them: facial expression, eye movement, finger movement, a fluidity and balance to the overall movement, etc.
@CityZen that's called the uncanny valley, and it's the theoretically insurmountable divide between our perception of a person and a fake person. It's also part of the reason that Pixar, in the interest of having emotive, sympathetic characters, stuck with cartoons rather than photorealism a la Final Fantasy etc
Oh, I don't think it's "insurmountable", but rather just *really* hard. Many of these issues can perhaps be solved through appropriately configured neural nets and similar approaches. But even figuring out what all the issues are is a big problem in itself. I suppose in one sense it is a limited problem, since the number of muscles in the human body is limited. But the number of ways that they can be used together over time is infinite.
I really don't get it. What's the purpose of spending so much money in robotic research if all you're going to accomplished is a freaky robot (dressed like a school girl) DANCING? I thought that we needed robots to help us do things we can't do, but all they seem to do is mimic our simple movements. What's the point?
@damitron
I think this was an amateur contest not something from some research project, and it was remote controlled and not some complex thing.
I assume he built it in his garage from his own money and it's not 'research' really.
Here's another one from the same contest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuZ9uGQ40oc
@Wwhat
Maybe you're right on this one, but it's not the only dancing robot, most of them do the same. Check this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyXpqX4rEwg
@damitron
The fact that this is from a dance competition didn't give you a clue?
Nobody's said it yet, so I'll be the guy to do it.
I'd much rather see that girl in the back dance.
Disgusting.
"Have you every felt guilty" ???
seriously you guys.. seriously
Really? 4 whole minutes of that?
Props for a robot with pink crocs though. That takes balls.
@kam81
ovaries
@kam81 That's why I watched only 20 seconds of it.
Robots are going to invent time travel and destroy this... thing.
Doesn't Japan have laws so you don't discriminate against robots? Wonder how many people they threw in jail because of this...
okay, helicopter boys weren't disturbing.
THIS, on the other hand....
imagine waking up in the middle of the night with that vision of loveliness hovering over your bedside.
@OkayKris
I.... I think I hate you. *shudder*
The chick in the back is cute
Watching that video, I just had to laugh.
It was either that or cry, scream, or shoot something.
This is awesome, showing the progress in fast movement and balance. Only Japan has the mindset to do this, while we Americans will only think about making stuff to kill people. Just look at the comments here "I don't get it" "Disgusting" Yet if it's a robot invented by the US army to drop a bomb, people would probably cheer for it.
@pika2000
Uh...pound sand, bigot?
@(Unverified) Bigot? Yeah, maybe to those that thinks this is "disgusting" without thinking about the underlying tech. Oh, and look at the comments below, "japs need to get a life."
@pika2000
Yup, you're a bigot. Just because others may be bigots doesn't excuse your own bigotry.
@pika2000
And the technology sucks. It barely moves its lower torso, and it almost fell over (if its handler hadn't grabbed it, it would have). What it did in that clip wasn't much more advanced than what one might see from a simple animatronic puppet. There's no need to insult an ENTIRE COUNTRY just because some folks don't share your admiration for an amateur's erector set. Bigot.
I want see and know the key of this video which is how "she" could stand and dance with "her" robot legs, not faking face and dumb hands.....well, you editor don't really care about that.....
These japs really need to get a life......
Needs more tentacle.
@(Unverified)
Upvote this man!
She took all my moves!
Seriously, why even post this if all Engadget is going to do is incite racist comments?
Yes, it sucks hard, the robotics and the music both.
But honestly, there are a ton of crappy robots in the world that don't deserve attention, Engadget "feeling shame for humanity" and "Japan". We don't need to be every failed attempt at battlebots or crappy dancing robots if the only thing interesting is to pass judgment on other races based on an obviously crappy attempt at robotics.
@Temple
Engadget doesn't incite them its the mindset of their readers. We few who are interested shouldn't be shunned because the idiotic tendencies of many.
@Temple
I fail to see where race comes into the picture. You're seeing a problem where none exists.
I've noticed this happening a lot lately; people so focused on not being racist that they bring race into otherwise non-race-related issues. It's actually a form of racism in itself, as you're treating other races with an almost patronizing protectiveness. And at the same time, you're accusing someone who has done nothing to deserve your scorn, of a pretty severe kind of anti-social behavior. It's unfair to everyone.
@Gad Get
Racist comments on this site is much more prevalent then the other large gadget blog. When you put comments in your title that says "shame for humanity, shame on *culture x*" you have to expect racists to come out the woodworks.
Let's look at some sample comments on Engadget and the link:
"fuck japan, seriously '
"I feel shame for the crazy-damn Japs as well..."
"seriously... WTF is wrong with the Japanese? "
"These japs really need to get a life......"
... need I say more.
the awkward expression of the hostess in the back says it all ...
LOL @ Engadget's article.
I bet this will sell as toys soon. Just like most of those robots in Japan. Why can't they start making Voltes V or Gundam or even Tetsujin-28... that way it'll be a new symbol of power other than nukes. ROFL. Also, mechs that work not just statue or dancers. xDDD hehe j/k
Nice find. Glad to see robotics news though. Exoskeleton suit would be awesome to have... someday.
@isotrex Google "Titan the Robot" (or search on Youtube)
Some versions of it are a sort of exoskeleton while oters are remote controlled.
the announcer is hott
Looks like the robots were remote controlled rather than truly autonomous. So.... middle-aged Japanese robotics engineer dresses robot as schoolgirl, attempts to follow rhythm of J-pop music, translates his surely-stellar moves into remote control commands, and magic ensues.
Loving the Crocs :).
LOL>....shes got sum MAN HANDS!!
Crap. My eyes are bleeding now.
I see Posh has put a bit of weight on.
it honestly would of looked better if they just molded black plastic over the body and head and didn't even try to dress it up. While the fact it is balancing itself is pretty impressive, its motions are ugly. Using anything but gears is expensive though.
You.. want to see it NAKED?!
I think it's wearing Crocs.
That's how I dance... And no, people don't stare.
She can do the robot dance really well! Hahaha! Touché!
i actually like the song but it has nice movementi mean japanese are the best in tech i wont doubt them on what their doing i mean its your own choice of what you want to do in life
I have a friend that dances like that.
Obvious that robot engineering geeks program it to dance...