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Dancing With A Smart Robot
Roland Piquepaille writes "Yes, this is possible, thanks to researchers at Tohoku University, reports Japan Today in a brief article [Warning: it takes a while for loading]. Equipped with a computer, sensors and batteries, it can move in any direction on four wheels and has memory for five steps necessary to dance the waltz. This sidebar contains a photograph of a student waltzing with the robot, MS DanceR (Mobile Smart Dance Robot), coming from another short story carried by Ananova."
Maybe not from 'her', but he has got a different, special robot at home for that purpose.
In ballroom dancing, one person (traditionally the man) 'leads' by moving his body in such a way that the other person (traditionally the woman) natural moves hers to match.
Learning to do this takes both a lot of theoretical understanding and a lot of practice.
On thing beginner leaders need is practice time with someone willing to literally follow them - not to 'help them out' by guessing at the figure and completeing it, but to do exactly what is lead, no more, no less.
In essence, the leader needs the freedom to conduct experiments of the 'what happens if I push THIS button' variety. Kind of boring for the girl (though she will appreciate the results when he does figure it all out).
So maybe if they got the robot to the stage where it would be a good literal follower, it could be usefull for helping guys learn to lead.
This require more than the simple 'refuse to move if the lead is too forceful' described in the article - rather it requires 'reflexes' that react to clear consistent motion. To put it another way, it should be programmed to try to maintain certain relationships between itself and the various points of contact in the dance frame. Then the leader can learn to guide it via the dynamics of the system.
Leading is almost like backing a trailer... you don't think about the car, but rather the trailer. Similarly, as a dancer you soon stop thinking about your own body, and start thinking about what you want hers to do, then make the necessary motions in yours to cause that.
Dance Dance Revolution, you probobly know what it is, if not, Google for it.
Actually, in shakespearian times, "nothing" is a euphimism for the female's reproductive organ. Armed with this knowledge, the play "Much Ado about Nothing" makes a LOT more sense, or at least, a lot more than you have thought possible.
The irony of your phrase, "the dancer getting 'nothing,'" need no explanation I suppose
My life in the land of the rising sun.