The most advanced humanoid robot in the world is not able to comprehend human gestures. Honda's popular robot faced problems with gesture recognition on its first day as a museum guide at the Miraikan science museum in Tokyo.
That's no surprise. It has taken millions of years for humans to evolve and develop language skills. The book, 'Clan of the Cave Bears' fascinated me when I first read it about thirty years ago. In the novel, Neanderthal and modern humans made first contact and used body postures to express most of their social dictates. How could modern man install intricate details that have led mankind to this point?
That's no surprise. It has taken millions of years for humans to evolve and develop language skills. The book, 'Clan of the Cave Bears' fascinated me when I first read it about thirty years ago. In the novel, Neanderthal and modern humans made first contact and used body postures to express most of their social dictates. How could modern man install intricate details that have led mankind to this point?
Associated Press reported the Japanese machine struggled to differentiate between museum-goers raising their hands to ask a question and raising their hands to take photos.
Asimo, developed in 1996 and working as a tour guide at the museum for a four week trial, cannot respond to voice commands. The robot is only designed to answer 100 questions selected via touchscreen from a written panel. During a demonstration, it froze and asked: "Who wants to ask Asimo a question?" repeatedly when people pointed their cameras at it. Asimo can recognize a child waving to it, but it's not able to comprehend the meaning of the waving.
Interaction with humans is the next big step for robotics. Experts are working on safe human-robot interaction. Rather than concentrating on making robots compliant, they want to instill advanced social intelligence. For example, if a robot is handing you something hot or sharp, it needs to know whether it has your attention.
Asimo, developed in 1996 and working as a tour guide at the museum for a four week trial, cannot respond to voice commands. The robot is only designed to answer 100 questions selected via touchscreen from a written panel. During a demonstration, it froze and asked: "Who wants to ask Asimo a question?" repeatedly when people pointed their cameras at it. Asimo can recognize a child waving to it, but it's not able to comprehend the meaning of the waving.
Interaction with humans is the next big step for robotics. Experts are working on safe human-robot interaction. Rather than concentrating on making robots compliant, they want to instill advanced social intelligence. For example, if a robot is handing you something hot or sharp, it needs to know whether it has your attention.
Experts tell us body language accounts for between 55% and 65% of our communication. Body language is carriage, facial expressions, eye contact and gestures. Different cultures have developed nuances of expression. The Italians use hand gestures to fill in what their language cannot express. English is said to be the most complicated of languages. There is a word for every nuance of thought. Gestures shouldn't be needed. However, some English-speaking people use their hands even when their partner is facing away.
I rarely use gestures when talking to my husband. Yet, when he's particularly agitated, his hands fly around, sometimes just missing my face.
Sitting at my computer most of the day, I don't have face-to-face contact with anyone. Maybe I've lost my communication skills. Last week, I went out to lunch with two women I'd only contacted through phone calls and via my husband. A strange awareness came over me while I was talking. My hands were joining in the conversation.
How about you? Do you make use of body language?
I rarely use gestures when talking to my husband. Yet, when he's particularly agitated, his hands fly around, sometimes just missing my face.
Sitting at my computer most of the day, I don't have face-to-face contact with anyone. Maybe I've lost my communication skills. Last week, I went out to lunch with two women I'd only contacted through phone calls and via my husband. A strange awareness came over me while I was talking. My hands were joining in the conversation.
How about you? Do you make use of body language?
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