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The "Uncanny Valley" - Part II
Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot yet devised - a "female" android called Repliee Q1. This is the same robot that was premiered at the World Expo several months ago and it falls well on the uphill side of "The Uncanny Valley" of creepiness that I discussed earlier: it's really, really cute. "I have developed many robots before," Repliee Q1's designer, Professor Ishiguro, told the BBC News website, "but I soon realised the importance of its appearance. A human-like appearance gives a robot a strong feeling of presence." Actually, it depends on whom the robot is modeled after. Some people (friends of yours, I'm sure) are very mechanical in their motions and speech and would be indistinguishable from a machine no matter how long you hung around with them. I'd be careful from here on in; such a machine could easily be elected and end up running something. Why, come to think of it: how can we be sure that hasn't already happened? Pass the WD-40 please.
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