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International Robotics welcomes multilingual Millennia robot
We'll be straight: Millennia certainly isn't the easiest robot on the eyes, but apparently it can hold a conversation like no other. According to its maker, International Robotics, this adult-sized, multilingual creation can "communicate with any age, social, ethnic or cultural group in any type of environment." As if those bold claims weren't enough, the WiFi-equipped bot can also "act as an effective PR, marketing, advertising, promotional, educational or entertainment tool," and it can be remotely controlled in case you just don't trust it to shoot from the hip. No word on pricing just yet, but we'd imagine this fellow could practically sell itself.[Via PRNewser]
Conceptual YABO robot longs to be your friend
C'mon, who couldn't adore someone, er, something with a face like that? Pictured to the right is YABO, a conceptual robot that was apparently designed for "lonely, unmarried persons." If brought to reality, it would sport a myriad sensors including one for hearing, feeling and infrared, while also featuring a built-in camera, internal speaker, wheels and an LCD display. YABO can communicate with its (presumably single) owner by rotating and changing the color of its face, or it can just snap back responses if it's feeling talkative. Moreover, the bot could reportedly disable unused devices and adjust the temperature to save energy while you're out trying to find an actual human to love. Sounds like a real winner to us.
Study finds Roomba owners heart their vacuums, accept flaws
While we greatly appreciate the research done by the fine folks over at Georgia Tech, we can't exactly say that we're shocked to hear that Roomba owners (in particular) actually care about their vacuums. In a study revolving around the intricacies in human-robot relationships, gurus found that "some Roomba owners became deeply attached to the robotic vacuums and that there was a measure of public readiness to accept additional robots in the house -- even flawed ones." Interestingly, the report goes on to state that consumers would be less likely to complain if troublesome / faulty household bots were "emotionally engaging," and considering that some folks were willing to "buy new rugs, pre-clean floors and purchase refrigerators with higher clearances" for their Roomba, we suppose we can't really argue with the findings. Now, robot manufacturers, don't you go ditching quality just 'cause we're pushovers, capiche?[Image courtesy of Halo5]
Breakfast topic: Breaking up is hard to do in Azeroth
The end of a relationship can be a painful thing. Sometimes you see it coming from miles away, and are able to part ways while still remaining friends. Sometimes you get blindsided by the news and spend months depressed or drinking until you come to terms with it. And sometimes it's bad enough that you'll carry seething resentment towards the person for years and years. Breakups are always tough, but they can be even tougher if both members of the couple play WoW. Suddenly, instead of your breakup being a private thing, a ton of other people are involved -- namely, your guild. Can both of you keep playing in the same guild without causing trouble? If you don't feel you can keep playing together, who gets to stay in the guild and who has to go? And if the couple are officers or guild leaders, can this tear apart your guild? I've seen a few breakups in WoW where both members of the couple continued playing in the same guild without any trouble. However, I've seen quite a few more that ended in quitting, server transfers, or total destruction of the guild. What is the etiquette for breaking up in Azeroth? Would you find it hard to be guilded with an ex? Do you have any stories from the trenches of guild love?
High infidelity
If you've been anywhere on the WoW forums this weekend, you've probably heard the tale of Demeter and Gilgamesh from Onyxia. Demeter, the guild leader of Dirty Sons of Liches, posted on his realm forums that he had discovered Gilgamesh, his wife, was being "too friendly" with members of his guild in Vent. In return, he offered GMship of his guild to anyone who could provide him with more information and details about the Vent infidelities. The drama exploded, featuring screenshots, videos, supposed confessions from cyberers -- all without the involvement of Gilgamesh, who is suppposedly away for the weekend. Demeter attempted to backtrack and claim the whole thing was a hoax, but he eventually printed the character name of one of the accused -- and the real name and phone number of another. I assume that post is going to be deleted quickly, so I'm not going to link it. Whether it's real adultery, or merely the best troll ever, remains to be decided. Yes, it's just another tale of sordid e-drama, but it's a good example of something I've seen happen more than once in WoW. A couple plays WoW together, they join a guild, maybe they even rise to guild leadership -- and then one of the two hooks up with another player they met online, destroying the relationship/marriage/guild. A friend of mine, "Skwisgaar", had this unfortunate series of events happen to him some time ago, and he's agreed to talk to me about what went down, and how other WoW players can avoid getting e-cuckolded.
Researchers developing humor-spotting robot
Considering that we've got androids who can toss together a more cohesive conversation than some human counterparts, it's a wonder that these mechanical pals still can't chuckle at our jokes. Now, however, a duo of researchers at the University of Cincinnati have built a computer program "that is able to get a specific type of joke, one whose crux is a simple pun." By loading up a database of words and then using relational programming to detect when a pun-involved joke is uttered, the bot can respond by laughing out loud and creeping any bystanders completely out. The inventors admit that the creature still misses out on some punch lines and still can't detect a broad range of humor, but future advancements could add some serious life to those drab home healthcare bots who will inevitably be fixing our oatmeal and keeping us company.
Nintendo's Wii: a marriage saver?
It's fairly obvious that using the Wii to keep yourself slim and trim is bound to put a smile on your SO's face, but a curious banner at a presumed church used Nintendo's console (and its token font, too) to hint at answers to a successful marriage. Of course, a couple interested in spending countless hours of quality time gaming away with each other are indeed more likely to find common ground, but for the uber-competitive type, gaming together could lead to more quibbles than friendly laughs. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be surprising that a religious institution would tap into mainstream culture in order to garner attention to its offerings, and hey, if you've got to go to counseling for only taking "Mii" into consideration, you may as well get your game on while you're at it.[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Soldiers and killbots: a love story
Some of you might be anticipating the day when robots are capable of engaging in interpersonal and perhaps even romantic relationships with homosapiens, but it may surprise you to learn that there are already deep connections being made between carbon and silicon in the unlikeliest of places: the battlefields of war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan. The Washington Post has an interesting piece on the bonds that US soldiers have been forming with their Packbots and other autonomous companions, christening the metallic team members with names such as 'Scooby Doo,' 'Frankenstein,' and 'Sgt. Talon,' anthropomorphizing them with drawn-on faces, and bestowing them with medals after successful completion of a mission. We're even told at the beginning of the article that WowWee founder Mark Tilden was once showing off a multi-legged mine-detecting bot at Arizona's Yuma test grounds, and while the prototype in question was pulling itself along on just one leg after having been battered and dismembered by numerous detonations, the Army colonel in charge abruptly put a stop to the test -- calling it inhumane. Which brings us once again to the topic of robot ethics -- whose tenets are already being codified in Europe, Japan, and South Korea -- and the inevitable issues that will arise as the Asimos and Ever Muses of the world get even more emotive and lifelike: what rights and rules do we bestow upon our planet's new cohabitants; at what point do we determine that they are completely sentient; and most importantly, how do we defer for as long as possible the inevitable uprising that any sane-minded person knows is coming? [Via Gizmag]
Sharing the love of gaming
So, Valentine's Day is over and the forced Hallmark holiday of love has passed. However, it is Sunday and some casual fluff is in order. 1UP had a cute little piece earlier this week about gamers in love. There's even one disgustingly adorable story of a Nintendo rep. falling in love with a girl working at Gamestop -- they even had a Mario cake at their wedding.While covering the midnight World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade launch it was surprising to find so many couples in line. The initial thought that the girls were there to keep the boyfriend company quickly faded when it turned out a majority of them were playing the game together. We've discussed couples who game together before, but we gotta wonder, in the break-up, who gets to keep the consoles and games?See also: Women's Health Mag: Grab your man's joystiq joystick
Breakfast Topic: Disgruntled spouses
Following on from the love letter we saw yesterday, we return to the topic of couples playing together. Do you play WoW with your spouse or partner?I know of many couples who play together, varying from those with separate mains who share a single computer to those who sit side-by-side and take part in the same raiding guild. I also know of relationships where only one half plays WoW, though it hasn't caused any break-ups as far as I know. I think either can have its happy moments. My other half refuses to play games at all, but we share so much else that having a few different hobbies makes life more interesting. He listens patiently to my babble about dinging and a good night's loot, which is about all I could ask for. Does your partner put up with WoW with gritted teeth, or with a smile?
