• Science

    Rent a Robotic Suit Named HAL

    By John Brandon Posted on 10.8.2008 12 Comments

    Starting this Friday, disabled and elderly people in Japan will be able to rent a robotic suit to help them become more mobile. Available in a two-leg (for a $2200-per-month rental fee) or one-leg version ($1500/month), the suit -- called HAL, for Hybrid Assistive Limb -- reads brain signals and directs leg movement. Yoshiyuki Sankai, the creator of the robot suit, is a professor at the University of Tsukuba and the CEO of Cyberdyne, which is manufacturing and renting the suits.

    10.23.2008 at 01:39pm - Comment by dolbydigital2

    HAL from Cyberdyne...this kid watches way to many american movies...real original kid. real original.

  • Science

    Video: Why Artificial Intelligence Threatens Actual Intelligence

    By Abby Seiff Posted on 10.24.2008 20 Comments

    Way back in 1919 Sigmund Freud postulated his concept of the uncanny. In the (cleverly named) The Uncanny, Freud explored a problem of aesthetics—when something is both familiar and unknown the experience of viewing it can be strongly unsettling. Fifty years later, roboticist Masahiro Mori presented his own work on the uncanny. Drawing heavily on his predecessor's work, Mori developed his "uncanny valley" hypothesis.

    10.2.2008 at 09:46am - Comment by dolbydigital2

    I'm going to have to agree with solace and say I believe it’s instinctual for us to fear anyone who does not look of the norm, are minds could interpret them as being diseased or mutated and I’m sure we could have evolved instinctual fears over time to avoid breeding with others who resemble having these disorders.



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