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Panasonic To Unveil New Helper Robots

Posted by timothy on from the with-the-help-of-unveiler-robots dept.

cylonlover writes "With the aging of populations in many countries around the world, particularly Japan, there are ever increasing numbers of elderly to care for, but relatively fewer younger people to do the job. Robots have long been seen as a means of filling the gap and Panasonic is set to unveil its latest technology designed to do just that. The three robotic devices set to make their debut at the upcoming 38th International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition (H.C.R.2011) in Tokyo include a communication assistance robot and new models of the company's Hair-Washing Robot and RoboticBed."

25 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Helper robots? by PacoCheezdom · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are there stairs in your house?

    1. Re:Helper robots? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      does your grandma live with you?

    2. Re:Helper robots? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      dont make me shove you.

    3. Re:Helper robots? by skids · · Score: 2

      Why, do they also make a "trip granny down the stairs bot"? Oh wait, we already have cats for that.

      --
      Someone had to do it.
    4. Re:Helper robots? by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      Do not trust the helper robot. He is malfunctioning.

    5. Re:Helper robots? by Sarten-X · · Score: 1

      I have a friend with joint problems. She has difficulty walking up stairs, so she's been considering getting a stair lift to help. There's only one problem. She's concerned that the noise would drive her up a wall.

      --
      You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
    6. Re:Helper robots? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      I have a friend with joint problems. She has difficulty walking up stairs, so she's been considering getting a stair lift to help. There's only one problem. She's concerned that the noise would drive her up a wall.

      Nice, but the correct idiom would be "drive her up the wall", at least in UK English.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  2. Proposed helper robot name by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

    Woman 2.0

    --
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    1. Re:Proposed helper robot name by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      Oh sure, design a robot that has a segfault every time it tries to leave the kitchen.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  3. Helper monkeys? by ericloewe · · Score: 1

    How come I immediately thought about "helper monkeys" instead of robot apocalypse?

    1. Re:Helper monkeys? by crafty.munchkin · · Score: 1

      I also thought the same thing. I blame the Simpsons.

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      ... wait, what?
  4. The wheelchairbed doesn't look all that amazing by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    But it is an amazing idea. Soon, old people, and fat people, and fat old people can just roll from one piece of furniture to another, which will roll them up to the next piece of furniture...

    It doesn't seem to have the right kind of wheels to be as amazing as an iBOT, but if they can lick that then they'll really change the world, for both better and worse.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  5. Always needed a bot .. by ackthpt · · Score: 1

    To clean my house while I'm away.

    Odd, where's all my stuff and why is the bot sporting a tattoo and gold chains?

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  6. Hair-Washing Robot by Megahard · · Score: 2

    "Panasonic has updated this latest model to feature washing arms with more fingers - 24 up from 16 - and improved mechanics"

    Perhaps there are other markets for these robots.

    --
    I eat only the real part of complex carbohydrates.
    1. Re:Hair-Washing Robot by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      "Panasonic has updated this latest model to feature washing arms with more fingers - 24 up from 16 - and improved mechanics" Perhaps there are other markets for these robots.

      It would feel like three spiders wanking you off instead of two. Great.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  7. Roujin Z anyone? by tekrat · · Score: 1

    Looks like Otomo was right on the money _
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roujin_Z
    BTW: this is an excellent anime film.

    --
    If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
    1. Re:Roujin Z anyone? by severn2j · · Score: 1

      Indeed. I always wondered if that movie was also inspiration for Katamari Damacy...

  8. Smiley=Warm Fuzzies by mrtumnus · · Score: 1

    I'd be a little wary about putting my head in that thing...maybe it would be more helpful if it too had a display with a smiley face on it.

  9. Great... by _0xd0ad · · Score: 1

    Just the news I wanted to hear less than a week after watching Robotropolis.

    (Which sucked, by the way.)

  10. pak chooie unf by kirkb · · Score: 2

    I hate to let the cat out of the bag, but for for those young'uns who might not get this decade-old meme...

    http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/33440

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    Slashdot: come for the pedantry, stay for the condescension.
    1. Re:pak chooie unf by camperdave · · Score: 1

      I've never seen that before, so by all means - let the cat out of the bag.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  11. Great movie idea by Sir_Eptishous · · Score: 1

    Someone needs to make a film similar to Pirana 3D, but with robots... Just totally over the top, cheezy gore, with all manner of evil robot goings on. Imagine the scene with the robot hair washer... Or the robot bed... Ouch!

    --
    We play the game with the bravery of being out of range
  12. Relatively? by jeffmeden · · Score: 1

    here are ever increasing numbers of elderly to care for, but relatively fewer younger people to do the job

    I think you mean fewer younger people *willing* to do the job... There is clearly no shortage of unemployed youth in almost every market in the world.

    1. Re:Relatively? by Hentes · · Score: 1

      Not, it's fewer younger people relative to the number of old people. The ratio of young people and old people is getting smaller with fewer births and longer lifespan.

  13. Is it just me? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

    Or does anyone else think that the HOSPI robot look like it deserves a smack in the mouth?

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it