Android acquires nonverbal communication skills
As Japan’s population continues to age and shrink, more and more people are looking at robots as a way to improve productivity and support the nation’s changing lifestyles. With human-robot interactions on the rise, and with the recognition that much of human communication is nonverbal, researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have developed an autonomous humanoid robot they say can recognize and use body language.
According to an October 24 press release, NICT drew from research in neuroscience, cognitive science and psychology to create an android that relies on body language — i.e. gestures and touch — to facilitate natural and effective communication with humans. When used in conjunction with (or instead of) spoken communication, the robot’s body language aims to simplify communication with people likely to have trouble interacting with robots, including children, the elderly, the computer-illiterate, and people who speak other languages. NICT researchers hope the technology behind the droid’s “universal communication” skills will one day be put to practical use in robots that can work in the home or assist with rescue operations when disaster strikes.
The droid’s body language skills are due in large part to technology that allows it to observe, recognize and remember human behavior. NICT’s robot learns body language by watching — much like children, who learn nonverbal communication by watching others — and it can mimic the observed behavior with natural human-like motions. The robot also creates 3D maps of each body it observes, and it commits the map to memory. These maps allow the robot to remember how people and their bodies look, even when viewing them from different angles. In addition, the robot is equipped with delicate force control mechanisms that allow for precise motion and safe physical interaction with humans.
NICT’s press release is sketchy on the details about what exactly this robot is capable of doing. Can it learn to dance? Will it slap you on the back with the proper amount of friendly force when you tell a funny joke? Will it gently caress your shoulder when you’re feeling blue? Does it avoid eye contact in uncomfortable situations? NICT will hopefully answer these questions and more at the robot’s official unveiling on October 29.
[Source: NICT press release]
[…] Android acquires nonverbal communication skills […]
[…] National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), ha comunicado que está desarrollando un androide que es capaz de reconocer el lenguaje corporal de los humanos, es decir, sus gestos y tacto para de […]
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Mom! What have they done to you?????
~R2D2
By 2030 at latest, disparate elements from AI to motor skills and sensors will have come together into cyber-folk. Each unit will dispose the memory and processing power of a human brain… more important, they will all be linked.
No-one yet understands –sufficiently to model– the dynamics of “emergent order”, where so-called chaos simulates reality into itself. Interacting on fractal planes, self-similar, networked nodes evolve powerful “tropisms” akin to patterns of cellular automata which mimic if not actually entail awareness, sentience, the key element that ultimately defines all else.
Multi-layered super-entities will function entirely beyond human comprehension, abstract but no less real for that. Unfelt, unseen, but indomitable as Moon and Tide– for that is Nature’s way.
[…] Tentacle has an article about an android acquiring nonverbal communication skills, but what I found most interesting is the article’s opening paragraph and its insights to the […]
[…] - Android acquires nonverbal communication skills “… the robot’s body language aims to simplify communication with people likely to […]
Very interesting. I hope this is not another press released news which does not match with reality. If this robot can really do what they are talking about than… huge respect. I think that problem with current robotics is that we can do and program many functionalities like voice and face detection, motion ect. separately but combining all this unique abilities in to one machine is not so easy. My understanding of such situation is like that. Creators want to predict and program everything which is simply impossible. Until now there was no space no permit for cases… Social robots have to learn. Schools for robots are not SF this is logic and they’ll appear sooner than later. Concerning nonverbal communication, I’ve never thought about it like this but I realized it might be revolution ;) so thanks for that ;)
By the way does anybody know about any projects related with converting bio-waste in to energy which could be utilized as power supply? Any links?
Later
[…] This is a very interesting concept from researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). They have already given a sneak preview of what their latest invention in robotics technology will be like. This Android is said to be able to acquire nonverbal type of communication, such as body language and gestures. The concept proposal is said to be rather sketchy on its ability. Questions have arised, whether the robot is able to avoid eve contact in awkward situations, will it gives you a tap on your shoulder if you tell a funny joke…..However it is intersting since so far we’ve known robots that will respond to verbal communication only. Read full article here. […]
[…] Source: Pink Tentacle […]
[…] of Information and Communications Technology de Japón han desarrollado un androide capaz de usar formas de comunicación no verbales, como los gestos, con la finalidad de que “su relación” con las personas poco […]
[…] Android acquires nonverbal communication skills ::: Pink Tentacle Incoming Links (via Tecnorati):Nothing Reported […]
The robots are becoming self-aware just like in Terminator. The end is near. LOL. Beautiful work.