Robots have been
staple science-fiction fodder since before Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke
were at the cutting edge of the genre. But, even though the gap between fantasy
and reality has been dramatically narrowed, the idea of relying on robots for
anything more than the most mundane tasks is naturally abhorrent to humans.
Perhaps it's precisely because we've been exposed to too many sci-fi scenarios
that involve gung-ho AI beings intent on destroying human-kind that we're
cautious. Perhaps it's because we don't like the idea of relinquishing control.
Regardless, robots are here and they're here to stay.
Japan leads the
robotics race. It's so far ahead of any other country that the Japanese space
agency intends using robots to colonise the moon.
Of more interest to
the man and woman on the street, however, is the burgeoning domestic robot
market. According to Narito Hosomi, president of robotics company Toyo Riki in
Osaka, Japan, ordinary Japanese are starting to show greater interest in
robots. He attributes this to people growing up with comic book figures, which
Hosomi believes lessens the fear of robots.
Since domestic robots
have been in production for over a decade now, exposure to the nifty devices
must also play a role in the Japanese population's growing comfort with the
machines.
In 2005, Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries started mass producing a one-metre tall humanoid robot called
Wakamaru. Wakamaru is designed to keep houses safe while the owners are away,
but is also capable of monitoring the condition of ill household members and
standing in as a secretary, keeping track of appointments and providing timely
reminders.
Just one month ago,
Panasonic announced its brand new hair-washing robot. It has two arms and 16
dextrous fingers with which to provide the perfect shampoo, condition, massage
and rinse. According to Panasonic, the machine is able to remember the
preferences of each person who uses it, and adapts each massage to the person's
head shape. As with many of the robots designed in Japan, its original
intention was to assist caregivers or the elderly and infirm who aren't able to
manage tasks such as these on their own.
