ApriPoko robot learns to work the remote
Researchers at Toshiba have developed a talking robot that functions as a voice-operated universal remote control for multiple home appliances. The 2.3 kilogram (5 lb), 21 x 27 centimeter (8 x 11 in) prototype robot, named ApriPoko, learns how to operate various remote controls by watching and asking questions. ApriPoko sits in the living room and waits for you to use a remote control. When its sensors detect infrared rays emitted by a remote, the robot speaks up: “What did you just do?” it asks. Tell ApriPoko what you did (“I turned on the stereo” or “I changed to channel 321,” for example), and it commits the details to memory. Then, next time you want to turn on the stereo or change the channel, simply tell ApriPoko and it transmits the appropriate IR signal directly to the device. The prototype robot is still in the development and testing phase, but Toshiba hopes to have a viable product soon.
[Source: Asahi]
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!
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Well, what should I say……great creative idea, however too much product / technology driven. The developers should think from a user scenario: The last thing I would like to do is, to shout to my TV “change to CNN channel”. I remember having this feature on one of my first notebooks (Compaq) in the early 80s. I could give commands like ‘enter’ or ‘page up/down’ etc.. Was nice for a sec, and if it worked!
Voice recognition is simply not that mature. It is standard on each Nokia phone, but still 0,0000001% of the people are using it. (Try it: just press ‘Names’ button on your Nokia phone for 2 secs, and bleep you get the command ‘Speak now’. Then just shout the name you want to call. You’ll see…..) it works but just not good enough. People rather browse through a name list to find a phone#.
So dear Mr Toshiba, work on the technology of voice recognition (actually speech recognition) and you only may have to tackle the first problem (that one of use cases).
Good luck, and avoid copying the Aibo form factor!!
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I can’t wait to see the kind of spam these things pick up.
Me: “Turn on the television.”
It: “I can offer you a great deal on TELEVISION!”
Me: “No. Just turn on the TV.”
It: “Are you sure that you want to pass up this great deal on TELEVISION?”
Me: “Turn on the goddamn TV!”
It: “Do you want to look at porn?”
Me: “NO! TURN ON THE CHRIST-DAMNED TELEVISION!”
It: “I really think you should look at porn.”
ME: “Where’s the damn remote control?”
It: “He…went away. Maybe you should look at porn instead.”
Me: “NO! I JUST WANT TO WATCH TELEVISION!”
It: “I’m actually being paid to make you look at porn instead. Now sit down and LOOK AT THE PORN, puny human.”
Me: (weeps)
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well one ever said it has to recognize cnn…
the article also said it does everything by asking YOU questions,
so it already knows EXACTLY how you say TELEVISION and ON and ONE, TWO etc because YOU ALREADY SAID THEM TO IT. lol it doesn’t need to be perfect for people to like it, usually in a given household only a couple people would be using it and it wouldn’t have to recognize allot of voices for people to be pleased with the product…it does look like it wants to kill people tho…………
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SOLD…i’ll take 2 pls.
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it sounds great. Guys there always is an ammature before the professional. Im ready to take one as well. Absolutely adorable :)
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Sounds nice, but would it not be quicker/cheaper to just pick up the remote and hit a button?
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Maybe, but it’s not as cool.
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