Robots Entering Daily Life in Japan

USA Today is running a story about the emergence of robots in common aspects of life in Japan. Many simple yet social jobs are being filled by robots of increasing sophistication. The article suggests that Japanese culture is more open to such interaction than the majority of other cultures. Quoting: "For Japan, the robotics revolution is an imperative. With more than a fifth of the population 65 or older, the country is banking on robots to replenish the workforce and care for the elderly. The government estimates the industry could surge from about $5.2 billion in 2006 to $26 billion in 2010 and nearly $70 billion by 2025. Besides financial and technological power, the robot wave is favored by the Japanese mind-set as well. Robots have long been portrayed as friendly helpers in Japanese popular culture, a far cry from the often rebellious and violent machines that often inhabit Western science fiction."

Comments

Robots are here

[BWJones]

Last time I was in Japan, (scroll down for the robot) progress in the Toyota Partner Robot development was truly impressive. They have amazingly smooth, articulated motions, can walk with close to natural gaits and can climb stairs. Robots, whether fully autonomous or semi-autonomous are here to stay in rolls from support like the ones being developed in Japan or for defense/warfare applications like I saw on my recent visit to Creech AFB. I gotta say though, that this robot has got to be one of my favorites and this robot has got to be one of the creepiest.

Children of Men

[Thagg]

I thought the most thought provoking movie of last year was Children of Men, about the collapse of society when there are no more children. It was one of those movies where a simple premise is carried to the logical extreme, and it's more than a little depressing.

But, coincidentally, the next day I saw a demonstration of ASIMO, Honda's self-contained little robot -- and it resonated so well with the movie that it's hard to believe in coincidence anymore.

The Japanese are already living in that Children of Men world, their birthrate is shockingly low, and they have almost no immigration, so the population is shrinking quickly, especially of young people.

So, what do the Japanese do? Rather than despair (as they did in England, in the movie) they just build a generation of robots...

Simplistic, I know.

Re:I hate this characterization of the West

[garett_spencley]

I think there is also a fear that robots (like other forms of automation in the past) will slowly "steal" people's jobs.

Robots are everywhere, but

[El Lobo]

Yes, people seem to be afraid of **androids***(robots with a human shape), but seem to naturally accept other kind of robots. Hmm... let me see: trafic lights, alarm clocks, car soldering machines, etc are more or less complicated robots.

Interesting, but in Korea, years ago, there was an experiment when trafic lights (or semaphores, whatever) were substituted by an android (a robot police man, showing some Stop and Go signals). The results were very negative. The respect that traficants normally have for ordinary trafic lights was sometimes nearly gone when the android was used... Fear? Disrespect? Whatever...

Re:Robots are everywhere, but

[schnikies79]

I can't find the link at the moment, but I remember a study where humans generally find almost human-like characters revolting. I believe it came out at about the same time as "The Polar Express." I know many people who said the faces were just too creepy and they couldn't watch it.

It was something along the lines of the brain treating it like a horridly disfigured person.

Re:I hate this characterization of the West

[vertinox]

This type of statement is frequently used to explain this is why Western society doesn't embrace robots.

It also might explain why western robots in development usually have guns on them. I mean iRobot is the most popular robotics company in the USA but most of their money comes from military contracts and not consumer sales.

Those Japanese birth rates

[Cathoderoytube]

I may be a bit cynical but I think the main reason robots haven't caught on in a lot of places outside of Japan is because our birth rates are still good. I've seen the videos of the robot nurse, and the robotic home care worker. It's extremely off putting. These are jobs in every other country humans are doing. And there's a thousand reasons why humans should always do jobs like that. Same goes for any other job that humans normally do. If they don't have people to replace the existing work force they should consider why there aren't any people and perhaps try to remedy that. I mean it's not like making more humans is any sort of chore.

Shows the deep-seated hatred of foreigners....

[freedom_india]

The extremes to which Japan goes to avoid importing foreigners speaks of its paranoia and deep hatred of non-japanese.
No other society would spend so much money and effort to build Robots to replace an ageing population.
Not even Germany is such introverted or had so much hatred in-built.

I remember reading somewhere:
1. France is the country with most restrictive laws on migration, yet is most lenient when it comes to accomodating foreigners.
2. Japan has the most open laws in books to allow migration, yet its officialdom is the most restrictive in implementing it.

Probably because unlike Reich, the Imperial Japanese military never was defeated wholly in their heartland. Instead they surrendered voluntarily thus allowing them to keep their introverted practices.

Japan still has shops, stores, etc., that do not service foreigners (especially the adult shops as my friend can testify).
And they STILL do not speak English beyond Tokyo.

I welcome the slow decline and ultimate disappearance of japanese society as a whole.

Re:Shows the deep-seated hatred of foreigners....

[kamapuaa]

Everything the guy was saying was, in fact, pretty much on-point. And frankly it is a little strange for a country where the economy is so thoroughly dependent on exports to be so throughly bad at English. It's not English-language chauvinism, it's just the way the modern world economy works.

Japan will also claim hotels are full when they're obviously not, policemen give passport checks to foreigners just walking down the street - I live in China and would never claim it's an immigrant paradise, but people's attitudes and the government's implemented policies are far, far more accommodating than Japan's.

Quite frankly something is wrong with a society that would rather build fanciful robots than allow other ethnicities to naturalize. A little criticism of Japan is just going to come in naturally to the discussion.

Re:Shows the deep-seated hatred of foreigners....

[freedom_india]

racism is still alive and well in the US, especially if you have an accent WRONG ! WRONG !
I have been to large cities (Boston, Hartford, NYC, SF) in US, worked there, and also stayed in small towns (Keene[NH], New Britain[CT], MA, TX) etc.
Not ONCE did i find even a trace of racism being shown by anybody (from my co-workers to the cops who stopped me because one of my headlights was not working).
The only time i was shouted upon was at the DMV in New Britain, CT when my hearing was bad due to a cold when they called out my last name for license. (i use first name and last name never entered my mind).
Not just officialdom: I have chatted with my taxi driver (a college student) everyday (Keene, NH), discussed movies (The Village was a bad movie) with Stop&Shop clerks (cashing a TC), long discussion with cops (lost my way and stopped a cop-:)) on best ways to avoid a ticket, Museum curators on whether Edison would be crucified if born today, etc.
I have also attended bachelor parties, SOX games, etc., with my hosts one time.

In fact, i prefer US more than i prefer Australia (which is to say a lot).

The model in US is simple: You are considered good and trusted unless you prove otherwise. If you do not betray the trust or work hard enough, Americans trust you more than others.
Of course if you screw up, you don't get a second chance. Which is acceptable.

In Japan, even if you are twice as good as they are (Am good in software design: Twice as good as any japanese.) they neither treat you as a human nor treat you like one of the boys.

Japan has it right; The rest of the west is

[WindBourne]

screwing itself. Look, America, and shortly European, jobs have migrated to China. Why? Because they have the yuan tied to the dollar. If we had a president with backbone, they would do something about it. It remains to be seen what will happen with the next one.

But in the mean time, the west would do well to create loads of automated jobs. It would also help solve such issues as illegal aliens in America. But the only way to go back to creating wealth here is to have honest cheap energy and automation on construction, agriculture and manufactuering. And that is VERY needed by EU as well as Canada.

politeness, restraint, and deference to authority

[m0llusk]

In America or Europe if a worker no longer serves the bottom line they are likely to be quickly discarded. Though they might seek other positions in the company, even training is likely to be their responsibility to have in order in advance. From hiring to firing the relationship will lack compassion and no one bows. Similar rules extend to family where a historically extreme level of independence is becoming the norm. People must find a way for themselves to get by.

In Japan employees or relations might find their roles changing to respond to circumstance, but leaving the group is typically a last resort. There from meeting to parting everyone bows to each other. People must find a place for themselves in a group.

In typical American or European conditions robots embody the cold displacement that all must fear. Robots become implacable competitors in almost any setting. Japanese social networks welcome the robots in part because they do not suffer the same endemic fear of rejection and displacement. Robots are suited to tasks that are difficult or not valued enough for people, so they are easily seen as cooperative.