Discussion

“Future Realities”: RoboUniverse, Tokyo Bay

/ , , , , , , / 3 Comments

By Teresa Heffernan In early October 2015, we attended the CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) that included the newly formed RoboUniverse exhibition and an industry trade show. This year’s conference theme was: “NEXT: Today’s Dreams, Future Realities”; Sony, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, NEC and hundreds of other exhibitors displayed their wares. It took place in greater Tokyo at the […]

“Future Realities”: RoboUniverse, Tokyo Bay Read More »

Henn-na Hotel: Kawaii Robots and “the Ultimate in Efficiency”

/ , , , , , , , , ,

By Teresa Heffernan The bus ride from Nagasaki airport to the Henn-na Hotel in Huis Ten Bosch is lovely–we pass rice fields and orange trees laden with fruit, the hills are densely forested, lush and green, and the magnificent Omura Bay is calm and sparkling. Huis Ten Bosch Co., in Sasebo city, opened in 1992

Henn-na Hotel: Kawaii Robots and “the Ultimate in Efficiency” Read More »

Companion Species 2.0: Aibo’s Extinction Traumatic Event, Cruel Reality

/ , , , ,

By Karen Asp Sony has rendered its robotic pet dog “Aibo” obsolete. As The New York Times documentary “A Robotic Dog’s Mortality” shows, this extinction event has traumatized Aibo owners in Japan who are no longer able to repair or replace their beloved pets. A summary posted with the NYT documentary reveals that Sony had

Companion Species 2.0: Aibo’s Extinction Traumatic Event, Cruel Reality Read More »

The Rift between Science and Fiction: The Case of the “Family Robot”

/ , , , , , , , , ,

By Teresa Heffernan Jibo, a device that is marketed as more than a “thing,” is the latest creation of Cynthia Breazeal, who has taken a leave from MIT to start up a company to sell this “family robot.” In a crowd-sourcing advertisement promoting “his” many roles, Jibo is referred to as an educator, entertainer, helper,

The Rift between Science and Fiction: The Case of the “Family Robot” Read More »

Scroll to Top