Japanese develop 'female' android

[tocqueville]

By David Whitehouse
Science editor, BBC News website

Professor Ishiguru (r) stresses the importance of appearance
Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot yet devised - a "female" android called Repliee Q1.

She has flexible silicone for skin rather than hard plastic, and a number of sensors and motors to allow her to turn and react in a human-like manner.

She can flutter her eyelids and move her hands like a human. She even appears to breathe.

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguru of Osaka University says one day robots could fool us into believing they are human.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4714135.stm
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the perfect Republican wife ?

[tridim]

1. Uh oh..

It was only a matter of time before this became a reality.

Edit: What's up with the "man hands"?

[ironman202]

2. republican shmublican! I want one!

just kidding. sort of.

[phantom power]

3. This is going to be the best prom ever!

[beam me up scottie]

5. ROFL !

:rofl:

[aden_nak]

11. I read: "This is going to be the best porn ever!"

Wow.

[beam me up scottie]

4. Cheaper to maintain that

a Republican wife.

[edbermac]

6. Hmmm...does she also have a 'time of the month'?

Technology is amazing, isn't it? :silly:

[skids]

7. I bet they'd sell a lot more...

...if instead of looking realistic, they looked like anime characters.

[beam me up scottie]

8. Picture:

[beam me up scottie]

9. Those hands are

a little scary.
:scared:

[Democracy White]

14. Looks like lace gloves to me...n/t

[beam me up scottie]

18. I meant the size.

"Man hands" like on Seinfeld ?

[aden_nak]

10. The day these become consumer grade, dating becomes much weirder.

[lvx35]

13. Or even marriage...

"honey, stop. I have a headache"

"That's okay baby, I'll just pull out Matsumi the Gimpess and power her up."

[lvx35]

12. They're using MOTORS?

Haven't these guys heard of electroactive polymers? These are electric muscles:
http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/aa-hp.htm
And one form of them is made from silicone, which some sort of embedded attractors so when you put a current in it it contracts like a real muscle. The MINUTE I heard of these things I thought of the Real Doll(tm) Love Dolls, and the fact that the filler material in their bodies was basically the same stuff as these electric muscles without the attractors...But their still trying to make life like robots with motors?

[Democracy White]

15. I wonder if I can have one made...

that looks like Blu Sqorpion? That'd be coooooll!

EDIT: This reminds me of the Twilight Zone eppy: "The Body Electric" Is anyone else reminded of this?

Dee

[Caution]

16. Is that Cherry 2000?

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Beat me to it!

One of my favorite bad 80's SF movies.

[aden_nak]

20. Pris > Cherry 2000

[Historic NY]

17. Ah...but does she cook, clean and do the laundry?

If so put me on the list for one.

[Maple]

21. They had a female one

at their expo this year. Looked pretty good.

Better than 'Data' in fact.

Lots of robots in use in Japan, and sold elsewhere.

They figure it'll be a multi-billion dollar industry.

On edit:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05083/476282.stm