Event 3: Masa Jazbec's Robot Demonstration

I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to have witnessed Masa Jazbec, currently a Ph.D candidate at Empowerment Informatics, University of Tsukuba, Japan and an android/humanoid researcher^[1]. Her talk showed me just how far humanoid robot development has come. From early versions, where the difference was very noticeable, we're slowly reaching a junction in time where advanced humanoid robots are becoming indistinguishable from actual human beings. Masa's research and work shows how artists and sculptors have managed to make robots seem like an average person^[2]. It also shows how far the code controlling the robots has come. From simple scripted speeches to advanced Artificial Intelligence algorithms with complex neural nets.

Masa and I after her lecture

Masa's work with professor Hiroshi Ishiguro was particularly interesting as it began testing the boundaries between being human and being a robot. It made me curious about what it means to be human and the intricate complexities of the human body. While professor Ishiguro's robot was not self-aware^[3], the controlling mechanisms were built in a way that essentially made it a surrogate for the professor. The robot was so detailed that the facial features changed depending on the professors, essentially enabling the robot to show emotion^[4].

One of Masa's early projects.

Masa and professor Ishiguro also conducted experiments using the professors wife and daughter to see how compatible the robot would be in social environments. The experiment showed that while adults, like the professor's wife, are more receptive to this technology, children, like the professor's daughter are more apprehensive and can 'feel' that the robot isn't who its claiming to be. This experiment showed just how close we are to truly integrating robot humanoids into our society. Many companies have started experimenting with humanoid robots and are working on creating them. Robots have started entering fields previously considered to be exclusive to humans, such as model-ing^[5].

The world's first robot model.

One thing's for sure, this talk has certainly got me excited about the future of robotics and its application to our daily life.

Resources

[1] "ABOUT." Maša Jazbec. Web. 23 May 2016. <http://www.masajazbec.si/>.
[2] Jazbac, Masa. "Vizualna Alternativa Trbovlje." RTV 4D. 10 June 2014. Web. 23 May 2016. <http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/prispevki-in-izjave-kultura/174279908>.
[3] Building "self-aware" Robots. Dir. Hod Lipson. 2007. Ted Talk. <http://www.ted.com/talks/hod_lipson_builds_self_aware_robots>
[4] Robots That "show Emotion" Dir. David Hanson. 2009. Ted Talk. <http://www.ted.com/talks/david_hanson_robots_that_relate_to_you>
[5] "JAPANESE INTRODUCE ROBOT MODEL - TheFashionSpot." RSS 20. 2009. Web. 23 May 2016. <http://www.thefashionspot.com/fashion-news/20065-japanese-introduce-robot-model/>.