Not quite as charming as Pinocchio, is he?

[Snowflake]

Artificial (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070913/ap_on_hi_te/robot_boy;_ylt=Av8.R8DX2Kez5ON6v9Ywoyys0NUE) boy and he does not look too happy.

I find this sort of disturbing:

They believe there's an emerging business in the design and sale of lifelike robotic companions, or social robots.

What, nobody goes out and plays on the street, in the park, with other kids?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've been trying to find video of Zeno and have been unsuccessful.

But I did find these: My name is Albert Einstein. I am a physicist (http://hansonrobotics.com/gallery.htm)

Consider me duly creeped out.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

The Yargh-Bot (http://hansonrobotics.com/assorted_video.html)might be a good addition to the Auctioneer (http://www.disneytravelagents.com/pirates/images/Auctioneer.jpg).

[flippyshark]

I'm not creeped out in the least by the technology, which just seems like a logical extension of the AA figures beloved by so many, myself included. The expression changing feature is not really new, either. The earliest Lincoln figure was reportedly capable of similar facial moves, though his show programming didn't use all of them, as the skin wasn't durable enough.

Where these are a bit creepy is in the "artificial valley" sense. Aesthetically, they aren't very inviting.

Also, I admit to having chuckled a bit that a company making artificial young boys is named Hanson. (Sorry.)

[flippyshark]

Now that I've actually viewed the Yaargh-bot, I must say, I expect to see a "Delos" park opening near me any day now.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm not creeped out in the least by the technology, which just seems like a logical extension of the AA figures beloved by so many, myself included. The expression changing feature is not really new, either. The earliest Lincoln figure was reportedly capable of similar facial moves, though his show programming didn't use all of them, as the skin wasn't durable enough.The unholy Albert Einstein/ASIMO chimera is creepy. You can't deny that.

[Snowflake]

The unholy Albert Einstein/ASIMO chimera is creepy. You can't deny that.

Nope, very creepy. I thought Zeno looked pretty creepy too.

I can't load the video of yargh-bot here, alas. Big Brother at the office, always watching.

[mousepod]

Zeno's in LA today through Sunday...

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I don't find lifelike robots too creepy. A human head on an ASIMO body - yeah, that's freaking odd. Why are they doing that? :confused: If it's ASIMO, give it an ASIMO head.

As for social robots - eh, just another computer toy. As long as they can't repair or defend themselves, I'm not worried about them. To me, a computer that looks like a computer but can anticipate, troubleshoot, and fix itself is far scarier....much like a dog that is large enough to kill me if it wants to.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I wouldn't complain if my robot companion happened to look like Jude Law in AI, a movie I didn't like all that much, but made me want to wear a t-shirt that read, "I support robot prostitution."

[AllyOops!]

"It sees you and recognizes your face. It learns your name and can build a relationship with you."

Well, that's all fine & dandy, but what I really need to know is this: will it try to build a sexual relationship with you? Because I'm already spoken for & really, how does one fend off the agressive advances of a horny sexbot? However, anything is possible and why wouldn't temptation be the lusty side-effect of droid ownership? I suppose, if I was forced to, I could imagine my very own boybot taking me into his wire-filled arms as I dreamily gaze into his glassy, plucked-straight-from-the-sockets-of an It's A Small World doll saucer-shaped eyes that never blink and appear to make him look as if he's in a constant state of surprise. I imagine running my fingers across his shiny, plastic mold-injected hair & when he shares his erotic fantasies in that sexy, monotone voice, it sounds as if Rosie the housemaid robot from The Jetsons is about to make love to me, and baby, I can't wait. As frenzied circuits throb & heated chips inginte, all I can think about is how happy I am to have fitted my Robolove with the very pricey but-worth-every-penny "jumbo-sized electric 5-speed turbo shaft complete with assortment kit of questionable attachments for human pleasure". Sparks will fly (literally, for him) but hopefully not too much, because nobody, and I mean nobody, wants pornbot lovin' interrupted by an emergency service call from The Geek Squad.

Oh, if only the love of the future existed here in the now. :rolleyes:

Seriously, I don't ever want to imagine a world over-populated with "robot companions", because unless they have the demeanor of #5 in all of his Short Circuity goodness, it just doesn't seem natural to me. Listen, if Sci-Fi movies have taught me anything, it's that these supposedly friendly mechanical terrorists will rise up one day to overthrow civilization & turn our planet into a post-apocolyptic desert wasteland where the few remaining human survivors are forced into slavery by new rule. Screw that! I may be way too dramatic for my own good, but I'll pass on owning an Allybot.
;) :p

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Listen, if Sci-Fi movies have taught me anything, it's that these supposedly friendly mechanical terrorists will rise up one day to overthrow civilization & turn our planet into a post-apocolyptic desert wasteland where the few remaining human survivors are forced into slavery by new rule.

Ah, see, if that doesn't happen before I die, I'm going to feel cheated.

Heh.

[Not Afraid]

Can I have a robot Lisa who will do my job while I sit at home and work on creabv tive projects?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Well, you already seem to have plenty of time for creabv tive spelling.

[Kevy Baby]

Well, you already seem to have plenty of time for creabv tive spelling.Damnit - I can't mojo you and that post deserves it.