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Have you seen the latest robot from Boston Dynamics? Here is Atlas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY I

by ccozan 11y ago

Have you seen the latest robot from Boston Dynamics? Here is Atlas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY I don't think we need 30y for a real robot application for old people. This could be in less than 10 years.

tomp 11y ago
It's amazing. However, I don't think the problem is Robotics, I think the problem is AI. Will robots be helping us in 20 years? Possibly. Will they still need people directing them, supervising them, and doing the more complicated tasks? I'm inclined to answer "definitely". But I'd love to be proven wrong! :)
- keenerd 11y ago
  Would you consider an exoskeleton suit to be a robot aid? It neatly circumvents the AI issues. And I imagine most people would prefer to have their youthful mobility instead of a robo-butler. (I am dodging the other half of the question regarding who pays for it.)
  - tomp 11y ago
    That's an interesting idea, although I would still think it's quite far away (although would be much more viable if we invent better bateries/energy sources). However, this only solves part of the problem - the elderly won't need someone else to take care of them (because they'll be able to take care of themselves with their exosuits), but they still won't be able to retire (because they'll have to work - in their exosuits - to put food on the table).
- logfromblammo 11y ago
  Japan has a bit of a head start on this, recognizing early that it will soon have a lot of old people and not enough young people to both take care of them and keep the economy running. Honda's ASIMO is explicitly a mobility assistance robot. Osaka U. Actroids mimic human appearance. Mitsubishi's Wakamaru approaches the function of a receptionist. So far, no robot seems even close to taking on the everyday tasks performed by low-wage nursing home employees in the US. But take a look at "Babyloid" and "Pepper". They are robots designed to socially engage with people, so they don't get lonely and depressed. Japan's elderly may soon be conversing with chatbots more often than living people. Baby Boomers in the US had better take note.
  - tomp 11y ago
    > Japan's elderly may soon be conversing with chatbots more often than living people. I'm not sure that makes sense - don't TV and Skype solve that problem just fine? I mean, why would old people talk to robots instead of other old people - unless they want to, that is, but then I'd guess this trend wouldn't (isn't) be limited to just old people...

by ccozan 11y ago

tomp 11y ago

It's amazing. However, I don't think the problem is Robotics, I think the problem is AI. Will robots be helping us in 20 years? Possibly. Will they still need people directing them, supervising them, and doing the more complicated tasks? I'm inclined to answer "definitely". But I'd love to be proven wrong! :)

keenerd 11y ago
Would you consider an exoskeleton suit to be a robot aid? It neatly circumvents the AI issues. And I imagine most people would prefer to have their youthful mobility instead of a robo-butler. (I am dodging the other half of the question regarding who pays for it.)
- tomp 11y ago
  That's an interesting idea, although I would still think it's quite far away (although would be much more viable if we invent better bateries/energy sources). However, this only solves part of the problem - the elderly won't need someone else to take care of them (because they'll be able to take care of themselves with their exosuits), but they still won't be able to retire (because they'll have to work - in their exosuits - to put food on the table).
logfromblammo 11y ago
Japan has a bit of a head start on this, recognizing early that it will soon have a lot of old people and not enough young people to both take care of them and keep the economy running. Honda's ASIMO is explicitly a mobility assistance robot. Osaka U. Actroids mimic human appearance. Mitsubishi's Wakamaru approaches the function of a receptionist. So far, no robot seems even close to taking on the everyday tasks performed by low-wage nursing home employees in the US. But take a look at "Babyloid" and "Pepper". They are robots designed to socially engage with people, so they don't get lonely and depressed. Japan's elderly may soon be conversing with chatbots more often than living people. Baby Boomers in the US had better take note.
- tomp 11y ago
  > Japan's elderly may soon be conversing with chatbots more often than living people. I'm not sure that makes sense - don't TV and Skype solve that problem just fine? I mean, why would old people talk to robots instead of other old people - unless they want to, that is, but then I'd guess this trend wouldn't (isn't) be limited to just old people...