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Korea Unveils World's Second Android

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the annoying-automated-system-face-to-face dept.

Chosun Ilbo is reporting that Korea has unveiled the worlds second android. From the article: "Korea has developed its own android capable of facial expressions on its humanoid face, the second such machine to be developed after one from Japan. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy invited some 60 children to the Kyoyuk Munhwa Hoekwan in Seoul to introduce Ever-1 to the public. The name combines the first human name found in the Bible, Eve, with the 'r' in robot."

34 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah by kitsunewarlock · · Score: 2, Funny

    The first andriod being Abraham Lincoln at Knott's Berry Farm. "Four Score and seven years ago..." *random flash photographer* "DESTROY! DESTROY!" But seriously, its kinda sad that Asia's mass media usually puts robots in such a good light (as oppossed to our western "there taking over!" luddite outlook) that we won't be producing anything like this for a while. I for one welcome our new robot masters, with their 6 facial expressions and 400 phrases.

    --
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    1. Re:Yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      "there taking over!"

      If these robots know the difference between "they're" and "there" (or "you're" and "your"), we are truly fucked.

      -Luddite Westerner

  2. terrible name by MS_Word · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's almost as bad as B-4

    1. Re:terrible name by foundme · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So it's better to name it 34B?

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    2. Re:terrible name by Dachannien · · Score: 2, Funny

      Better than "Wii".

  3. Second? by heatdeath · · Score: 2, Informative

    Uh...there's only been one before that? What do they define as an android? Because there's obviously a very low bar of quality if they consider that to be an android. Pretty sure all of the tin cans with legs from the 1950's should also qualify as androids if this does.

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  4. Now that we have two androids by koweja · · Score: 3, Funny

    the only possible solution is to have them fight to the death Rock 'em Sock 'em Robot Style

  5. "Uncanny Valley" by foreverdisillusioned · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I dunno, judging by the pictures it looks like we haven't quite reached the other side of the Uncanny Valley yet.

    1. Re:"Uncanny Valley" by hackwrench · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The thing most people don't realize is that people can be in the uncanny valley with respect to other people. This is one of the why wars are (must be?) fought. This is also why "but a gecko, he can be trusted".

    2. Re:"Uncanny Valley" by cgenman · · Score: 2, Funny

      judging by the pictures it looks like we haven't quite reached the other side of the Uncanny Valley yet.

      No, but I'm sure we're going to find the Creepy Valley Dwellers soon.

      --
      The ______ Agenda
  6. Re:Dupe? by datafr0g · · Score: 3, Insightful

    According to the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EveR-1 it made it's first public appearance on the 4th of May.

    Scary shit if you ask me... but pretty amazing what they did with a budget of $300K USD.
    If this had been built in the US they probably would had to have poured millions into development for the same result.

    --
    "Who says nothing is impossible? Some people do it every day!" - Alfred E. Neuman
  7. Re:Dupe? by afaik_ianal · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know I've seen this already, pics and all.

    No, not a dupe. You're thinking of Real Doll.

  8. Did anyone notice... by BitwizeGHC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did anyone notice that both the Koreans and the Japanese have done exactly what Saber Marionette, Mahoromatic, and Cat Girl Nuku Nuku have predicted, and that is direct their formidable robotics skills to the building of more and more realistic, supple-skinned robot women?

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    1. Re:Did anyone notice... by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 4, Funny

      /obvious

      I, for one WELCOME our supple-skinned android overlords!

      /!obvious

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    2. Re:Did anyone notice... by iNetRunner · · Score: 2, Funny

      So T3 is a more realistic scenario over T1 & T2. *That movie had such a lack of soul that you'd think it was directed by a robot too..* Or would BSG be a better looking scary future.. ?-) *Yes..*

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      Store with salt
    3. Re:Did anyone notice... by Frogbert · · Score: 3, Funny

      ... I fail to see the negative.

    4. Re:Did anyone notice... by patio11 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Working at a Japanese technology incubator makes me wonder whether I should laugh politely at jokes like this or slap my head in frustration (now, for the Insightful mods, thats a fairly obvious head-slap decision). "The Japanese" haven't invested in supple-skinned robots. One research institute invested in supple-skinned robots, and got some press because it makes good copy. Meanwhile, hundreds upon hundreds of laboratories, including one which is one floor below me, have made robots to do industrial work, assist old folks, do disaster recovery, explore the sea floor, provide pet-level companionship, help people with spinal injuries walk again, etc etc etc. Its like saying "You know what Americans invented the Internet for? Duh, porn, who couldn't have seen that coming. Oh well, everyone knew Americans were crazy sex fiends, as we could have easily gathered from a representative survey of American literature like Porky's, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and American Pie." These sort of generalizations contain a bit of truth with a whole lot of stupid. (Side note: stupid makes an excellent noun.)

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  9. World's most advanced kiosk? by corerunner · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So we no longer have to deal with an easily navigable touchscreen kiosk, we get to deal with something that exhibits emotion--I wonder if that includes confusion... It's also interesting that the capabilities include "reading to children" (as if video games aren't sufficient caretakers)

    --
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  10. Digi-Björk? by awtbfb · · Score: 5, Funny

    The fact that the robot resembles Björk just makes it creepier. Maybe they should have dressed it up in a swan dress...

  11. But the question is..... by 8127972 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..... Is it FULLY FUNCTIONAL in EVERY way?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_(Star_Trek)#Quot ations

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  12. Given recent developments... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the dream of the japanese people is finally coming true! First robot tentacles, and now robot women to use them on!

  13. Missing the point on "Eve", and wierd eyes by SuperBanana · · Score: 2, Interesting
    The name combines the first human name found in the Bible, Eve, with the 'r' in robot.

    I'm hardly Christian, but Eve was also the first MOTHER. Unless this thing cranks out robot babies, they've got a bit of a misnomer.

    Also...did anyone else get a wierd feeling looking at the close-up photo of her face? I finally figured it out- she is (or looks) slightly cross-eyed. Took me a while to figure it out, but the second I saw the photo I knew something was "wrong" (a phenomenon special effects guys know all too well. You may not realize it, but your brain immediately picks up on things like shadows that aren't in the right place and stuff.)

    I believe we are especially sensitive to the messages the eyes convey. So even if this thing gives the correct answer to "where can I find the Ministry of Whatever" or "have you seen my bento box", maybe it'll really disturb people on a level they won't immediately figure out.

    I'd love to hear what all those schoolkids said in the ride home or back at dinner with Mom and Dad...

    --
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    1. Re:Missing the point on "Eve", and wierd eyes by supertsaar · · Score: 2, Informative

      crosseyed:
      I once heard that puppeteers purpously make their dolls very very slightly crosseyed to generate the illusion that the doll is looking at you.
      They said that if you do not do this, the puppet will appear to have 'dead' look, or appears to be looking right through you. Maybe the Koreans tried this but overdid it?

      --
      The Bigger The Headache The Bigger the Pill
  14. Wouldn't Adam be the first by neomage86 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    human name in the bible? I mean from what I understand, Eve was made out of his rib ...

    1. Re:Wouldn't Adam be the first by JanneM · · Score: 2, Insightful

      human name in the bible? I mean from what I understand, Eve was made out of his rib ...

      That would depend on which of the creation myths in the old testament you chose to believe in.

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    2. Re:Wouldn't Adam be the first by Arthur+Dent+'99 · · Score: 2, Informative
      What exactly do you mean by which of the creation myths? There's only one creation story in the Bible.

      Genesis chapter 1 tells the story of the whole creation, from day 1 to day 6, in very general terms. Genesis chapter 2 retells the story of day 6 and forward in greater detail. It's very clear that Adam was created first, and Eve was created from Adam's rib (Genesis 2:18-23).

    3. Re:Wouldn't Adam be the first by Jester6641 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nice point, but there's more to it than just that.

      "Adam" does mean "man." Good for all of you that like to point that out. However, is it a name, too? Actually, yes. Hold on, it's going to get complex...

      1.) If "Adam" was not the name, then his name would have been given in chapter 3 when Eve's is (before then she's just called "the woman"). But since it holds through the next few chapters and even the rest of the Bible as "Adam," it's most likley that this is, in fact, a name.

      2.) For those of you Americans (like me!) who aren't used to your names meaning something, then this might come as a shock...but pretty much every name in the Bible means something somewhere. This is why Abram's change to Abraham or Jacob's change to Isreal were significant events. There are these kind of things popping out all over the place. Therefore just because a name means something doesn't mean it's not a name.

      3.) Articles are huge here. Looking at the Hebrew I don't see an article for the first time in Genesis 2:20. So? Point is, you don't put an article in front of a name. That's not how it works. But you do put an article in front of a species (think "a man" or "the man" but never "a Timmy" or "the John." Well, maybe that last one on occasion, but that's not the same).

      Having said that, the first instance of "man" is in Genesis 1:26 (and it is the same word for Adam, so you could really flip a coin to figure out if they were talking about the name or the species. Both work in context).
      The first time it is typically translated "Adam" is in Genesis 2:19, with most coming in by 2:20 and almost all in by 3:17. The 20 or so translations I checked all had "Adam" by the start of chapter 4.
      As for "Eve," that word doesn't show up at all until 3:17. Actually just a bit after the word "Adam" or "man" in that verse.
      At any rate, a few things to consider. They probably used a Korean translation over English (those jerks! Don't they know the Bible was written in King James English!) so I'm not sure where the first "Adam" would show up there. However, for logical reasons I tend to put it in 2:20 because of the article thing (point 3) and I think we'd all agree original language is probably better than Korean or English.

      Whoops. Did I just tip my hand that I'm one of those religious guys? There goes my credibility on /.. And I'd been trying ever so hard to build that up.

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      Warning: This sig may be legally binding in England.
  15. Who was the first? by cgenman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Keanu Reeves?

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    The ______ Agenda
  16. two female androids eh.. by spacerodent · · Score: 2, Funny

    so how long till someone adds the hot lesbian makeout subrutine

  17. Re:Well you see... by inode_buddha · · Score: 2, Funny

    Much like this?

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    C|N>K
  18. Re:Wheelchair by jftitan · · Score: 2, Funny

    who would do an android in a wheelchair...?

    oh wait, this is /.

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  19. Waaaaste by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Forget the damned facial expressions. I wanna robot to take out the garbage, fetch a drink, and do the laundry. And WITHOUT facial expressions. Otherwise, it is a fricken ewife.

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    Table-ized A.I.
  20. Feh by foreverdisillusioned · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Anyone who's ever been in a Sex Shop could've made the same prediction.

  21. How is a gyndroid's face.. by murderlegendre · · Score: 2, Funny

    Q: How is a gyndroid's face like a frontpage Slashdot article?

    A: There may be two other entries, just below it.

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