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Linux-Powered Humanoid Robot on Sale Friday
An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices is reporting that a run of 100 Linux-powered humanoid robots goes on sale this Friday in Japan. From the article: 'priced at 1.5M Yen (about $14,000), not including 10,000 Yen (~$90) monthly service fees. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries conceived of Wakamuru as a pleasant companion offering a range of electronic-age valet services'."
First, its main function is to provide an augmented internet experience for its owners. It will read email, read news, etc. for the owner who would not then be required to sit at the computer. Having an always-on connection would allow it to update its internal data any time it wanted to.
And on top of that, if Mitsubishi needs to push out the service pack that fixes the "Push gramma down the stairs" bug, having an always-on connection will allow that to happen without the device needing to specifically connect for that (by which time it may be too late).
Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
Really? That's worked for me with every girl I've ever dated. Maybe you're just not good enough at it?
Try memorizing these:
"That looks great on you!"
"No, that doesn't make you fat"
"The red one(s) definitely go better with that"
"That was an excellent meal." (Bonus points for memorizing something like "How can a man NOT be happy when he eats like that?")
"She's not as ________ as you."
"Why would she say that to you?!"
Honestly, it shouldn't be very hard to memorize 20 or 30 of these and make most girls happy.
Why do I assume we're talking about women? If this robot was designed to cook, clean, and fuck, we wouldn't be discussing "meaningful conversation" right now, but rather crying that they're all sold out.
SWM seeks new sig for a brief fling
for a rolling duck with arms? I don't give a f*** what it runs inside, you can keep it.
is it available in any color other than bath-duck yellow?
Augh!!! my eyes...
need a free COBOL editor for Windows?
...if there's one thing that the history of technology teaches us, it's that successful devices do work by slavishly imitating the way a human being would do it.
In early SF, humanoid robots washed dishes. Automatic dishwashers are common, but they do not have robotic hands that pick up plates and scrub brushes over them and then wipe them with cloths.
We spend less time cooking, but not because we have robotic cooks. Or, at least, not in our homes. What we have instead is a distribution system for meals (or major components thereof--entrees, frozen vegetable mixtures) that are prepared and cooked factories, shipped frozen or refrigerated, and heated in microwaves.
We do not have humanoid robots that play pianos or violins. We do not even have player pianos or "orchestrions" in the home. Instead, we have CD players and iPods.
A humanoid robot may evoke a pleasant retro nostalgia, but it makes about as much sense as an ornithopter.
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!