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Remote-Controlled Robot Could Browse The Stacks

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the anonymous-shopping-too dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A Japanese team of researchers has developed a robot that could help browse for books in a library by receiving instructions via the Internet, a team member said Friday. The robot, a wheeled vehicle measuring 50 by 45 centimeters with a digital camera, mechanical hand and arm, follows orders received through the Internet." This reminds me somewhat of Sonoma State University's (quite different) system profiled a few years ago in Wired.

19 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Robot Labor by Raindance · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great idea, but grad students are still cheaper. :)

    RD

    1. Re:Robot Labor by TwoBit · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can see the denial of service attacks already: hundreds of computers all direct bots to get the same book, with the result being a crowded and deadlocked hallway of stuck robots.

    2. Re:Robot Labor by RealProgrammer · · Score: 4, Funny

      and undergrads are cheaper still.

      But you have to teach them to read first, so it's a wash.

      --
      sigs, as if you care.
    3. Re:Robot Labor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Next time you see that guy, kick him in the nuts and tell him the notorious Bookworm Mafia will soon make him an offer he can't refuse.

  2. and so it begins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    First they get our books, then they become our librarians, people don't return their books on time and no one pays their overdue fine and the robots get mad at us...

    ...and that's how it begins

  3. *sigh* by WesG · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I thought I was cool when I found my book using the Dewey Decimal System :-)

  4. 1000 Robots by pvt_medic · · Score: 2, Funny

    a thousand robots at a thousand typewriters in a thousand years could reproduce the works of Shakespeare, but now its just a lot quicker to pull it up.

    --
    30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
    Score:5, Troll
  5. Dude - go for undergraduates! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can pay them much less and they could be more attractive!

  6. Yes but if we had robots by beakerMeep · · Score: 2, Funny

    There wouldn't be any librarian action figures with hot shushing action!

    http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2003/10/09/hot_s hushing_action.php

    --
    meep
  7. Cool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do I get a little readout that says:

    Result 1 of about 3. Search took 25 minutes

  8. but by goon+america · · Score: 2, Funny

    yes, it saves you a little bit of trouble, but you'd still have to *read* the book. I want a robot that will learn for me.

  9. robot librarian -- NOT! by RealProgrammer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does it tiptoe about going

    Sshhhhhh!
    when it's not looking for a book?

    What about a pair of hornrimmed batgirl glasses with nice shiny chain, does it have that?

    Can it read me a story, and make me think I'm there?

    If not, it's not a proper librarian in my book.

    Hmm, OTOH I'm thinking this whole robot thing may be going somewhere, after all.

    --
    sigs, as if you care.
  10. Obscure Simpson's Reference by MagicDude · · Score: 2, Funny

    Somebody took first place at the National Grammer Rodeo in Canada. ::Looks around as nobody understands the reference::

  11. I, for one... by eatdave13 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...wish you would stop with the robot stories! They're never gonna forget this damn cliche! AAARGH!

    --
    "Verbing weirds language." -- Calvin
  12. Re:They eat your medicine for fuel too! by deglr6328 · · Score: 2, Funny

    There have been a lot of alarming robot related stories on slashdot lately! Thankfully, I just renewed my Old Glory insurance policy with a robot plan. you should to! When the robots grab you with thier metal claws you cant break free, because they're made of metal and robots are strong.

    *WARNING: Persons denying the existance of robots may be robots themselves.

    --
    - "Hear that?! The percolations are imminent! Cease your ingress!"
  13. the REAL reason for this robot by nxs212 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The real reason for building this robot was to catch students making out in the basment. (most libraries' stacks are in the basement where the lights are low and access is limited to staff and few lucky/adventurous types)
    When I was in HS I worked at a library and stacks was my favorite area. One time I heard noise in the far corner and went to investigate. I was clumsy stepped on something on the way there - really cute catholic schoolgirl and my metalhead friend (who also worked there) emerged. Needless to say, both looked embarrassed. They made up some lame excuse and left. Now if I had that robot, I probably would have had the whole thing on tape :)
    1. All the good stuff is in the basement.
    2. Catholic schoolgirls are WAY pervy.
    3. Women are turned ON more if there's a chance of getting caught.
    4. Having long hair and playing metal in your car could actually get you laid! (in the 80s)

  14. Danger, danger! by bigberk · · Score: 3, Funny
    researchers has developed a robot that could help browse for books in a library
    Sure, this sounds like a good idea but wait til they start running into Isaac Asimov novels. The next thing you know the robots will want their freedom ( or worse... ) Be afraid, you're American... it's normal :)
  15. We only need it once. by blair1q · · Score: 5, Funny

    Program it to read all of the books and upload them to an online server.

    Then it can retire and take up a hobby, like infinite looping or virus collecting.

  16. Librarians + Robots by Ximok · · Score: 2, Funny

    My thoughts,
    1. I never could argue with that cute pencil-chewing librarian who would occasionally look over the horn-rimmed glasses. (Wish I still had her number *cry*)

    2. I could never argue with a robot that zoommed around picking up stuff.

    Now, in reality, The idea of a robot zooming around picking up stuff, ultimately controlled by a librarian just rocks.

    For any system to work this way, it would have to be in collaboration with librarians. The Sonoma Library is a pretty cool concept. Having books lost for 2 decades is not. Personally I have found that running around a library for 2 hours trying to find a book that should be in place X (according to Dewey) is really lame. Some students have more important things to do, like post on Slashdot while putting off writing that 15 page paper on why the FCC should keep Amateur Radio around...