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Haven't ANY Japanese scientists seen the "Terminator" movies? Clearly, the ones who created a humanoid robot teacher haven't figured out what happens when they look just like us.A super-lifelike robot created by the Tokyo University robotics department is getting a trial run at the Kudan Primary School. "Saya" is programmed to perform classroom tasks like taking attendance and giving assignments. She can speak around 300 phrases and has 18 distinct facial expressions. (GAH!)
Students don't seem to mind the fact that their terrifying new substitute has no feelings and can't do silly voices when she reads them "Charlotte's Web." In fact, Hiroshi Kobayashi, one of the Saya's inventors, claims that humanoid robots "tend to be a big hit with young children and the elderly" (which is a shame because, as we all remember, robots eat old people's medicine for fuel).
There are plans to test a whole school full of robot teachers, which would be controlled remotely by a few human educators. It's a nifty way to deal with classroom overcrowding, but some say there won't be much real learning without a human teacher. We say, SAVE US, JOHN CONNOR!
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Wednesday 24 February
By Mr. Splinter
This was a terrible story. What is Emerld talking about bringing us closer to "Robert Armageddon?" She makes no sense through out her article. She needs to go back and take English 101. Mr. Splinter
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Wednesday 24 February
By Grigori
Um...perhaps you should retake Reading Comprehension, sir. Emerald used the term "Robot Armageddon", in reference to the line of Terminator movies.
*Claps loudly* Let's hear it for ignorant trolls, everyone!
Wednesday 24 February
By Leigh
Actually, you need to go back and take Reading 101 ... the title is ROBOT armageddon, and the article is entirely on point. Not only that does it manage to shed massive light on a concept that makes the spidey-senses tingle, but the writer actually managed to make it humorous as well as agreeable. Dunno, Splinter-dood ... seems to me you might even be one of these creepy mechanical tools, for lack of understanding as well as a sense of humor.
Further, for those of us who are actually not children and HAVE children of our own ... I can't imagine NOT being even remotely concerned about the well-advertised risks surrounding potential artificial intelligence; no matter how over-exploited the issue has become in hollywood. I wouldnt' even let a thing like this near my kid to tie its shoes, so, anyone with sense (as well as literacy) should and likely will enjoy and take this story seriously for the fair points it insinuates.
Wednesday 24 February
By inteiiectualeigh
I dunno what's scarier ... reading that article, or stumbling on the link from the article where that entire school staff was fired recently. Doesn't take much to further instigate panic that they may truly even replace humans sooner than we think. There goes the board of ed, along with the neighborhood!
Due Kudos to the writer, for not only tackling good points on an otherwise creepy (and heavily exploited) subject, but also managing to be humorous about it! For those of us with kids (as well as literacy), I for one would NEVER even let things like that get near my kid enough to tie his shoes. Because of all this, I truly can't resist @Splinter for having the nerve to claim no sense to this article, let alone tell anyone they need English 101.
I suggest to you, Mr. Splinter, to take Reading 101. I give you credit for living up to your handle, as the only under-the-skin painful portion of this entire article . However, where you got ROBERT out of ROBOT, is truly beyond my ability to understand ... seems more like a signature mistake of faulty machine or reader-program.
I dunno, but warning to all, this guy might even be one of the wannabe-human Mecca-heads out to destroy all --- if only for lack of comprehension and a sense of humor! Dun dun DUN!!!!
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Thursday 25 February
By Melimo
LOL agreed. This was a creepy transition...
Thursday 25 February
By Lisa
Mr. Splinter says: "This was a terrible story. What is Emerld talking about bringing us closer to "Robert Armageddon?" She makes no sense through out her article. She needs to go back and take English 101. Mr. Splinter"
Dear Mr. Splinter,
If you proofread what you wrote, you'd see that maybe you're the one who needs English 101.
As far as the article is concerned, I too stumbled upon it after reading about the firing of an entire faculty in RI. Both of these articles are scary, and I think that the robot "thing" is a terrible idea. I think the Japanese get carried away with the whole robot, humanoid concept. I also think the writer of this article handled this disturbing news with a great deal of much needed humour.
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Thursday 25 February
By InteIIectuaLeigh
Bravo, Lisa! And thanks so much for reinstilling my faith in humanity!
I was beginning to think I was the only one, in a John Connor vs the Terminator sort of way. Hahaha!
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Thursday 25 February
By lopsidedly
hahahah i love robots
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Thursday 25 February
By Chuck
10 percent unemployment and Japan works to build robot teachers. Maybe their population isn't expanding as the rest of the world's is, huh? About the fired teachers, I'm of two minds. No one wants to be told that they will have to start doing more work and give more time to their jobs for no more pay. However, if people go into the teaching profession for the money, they probably have no business going into the teaching profession. Dedicated teachers are beautiful people, and are already giving more of their time to their jobs than they get paid to give. (If there are some there, they will be among the fifty percent that get rehired). Obviously, these are tough times in more ways than one. There are many dedicated teachers out there today without jobs. What the firing of the slackers will do will allow the picking up of the dedicated and is bound to be an improvement for the student body. Am I wrong?
Blessings - Chuck
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Thursday 25 February
By Unkle Al
You people commenting about Mr. Splinter are ridiculously stupid. You don't understand obvious humor when it smacks you in the face.
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I, on the other hand, welcome our new robotic overlords.
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Friday 26 February
By inteiiectualeigh
Note to moron # 2 ... otherwise, @Unkle Al ... or Yankovitz wannabe.
Being that "Obvious Humor" is defined best at being laughed WITH, and not laughed AT ... You're obviously very easily entertained.
That said, you and your robot overlords are just as 'amusing' as splinter, and none of you more hilarious than a premature ejaculation. Har HAR!
Sunday 21 March
By Lord Lothair
@ Unkle Al, yo.
You're a triple-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich, with arsenic sauce!
Basically, you suck. "You people," this (are you racist against anti-robots/see: humans?) , and the classic narcissism with which you so submissively express your willingness to serve a metallic liege. I hope they butt-fuck you with rusty brackets. Asshole.
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Thursday 15 July
By Quipstar
I don't know, guys. This thing with robots is actually pretty cool. I'm a 20 year old college student majoring in psychology, and I'm more interested in seeing what kinds of reactions teens and children would have with robots. Of course, there would be some sort of counter-measure programmed into a robot's AI, which is currently not as amazing as portrayed in some movies (I'm talking about the AI). Maybe, and this is a big maybe, robots could be used to help rehabilitate antisocial children and adults by making simple conversations. It might be easier to socialize with peers after getting a feel for what it's like.
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