Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Robots help Japan's graying, shrinking population

By Hiroshi Hiyama

Lifestyle Oct. 30, 2011 - 11:46PM JST ( 19 )

Robots help Japan's graying, shrinking population — Panasonic's communication assistance robot

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19 Comments

-1

The758Oct. 30, 2011 - 08:48AM JST

Quite sad ... talking to a robot isn't the same as human interaction
-1

gaijinfoOct. 30, 2011 - 09:49AM JST

This is ridiculous. The cost of these robots is much more than immigrant workers to do the same thing. If Japan thinks it's going to sell these robots to the rest of the world, it must think the rest of the world is as xenophobic as it is.
0

borschtOct. 30, 2011 - 09:49AM JST

The758,

Not yet but when it comes to interacting with a machine, who better than Japanese innovators and engineers to build it? When robots and humans act and react the same, who will be able to tell which is which?
0

Goals0Oct. 30, 2011 - 11:03AM JST

There seems to have a been a big problem with the 2010 census.

the number of people of unidentified nationality rose by 568,120

Many of these were probably foreigners who didn't fill out the nationality question.

But the figure is too high. Many Japanese clearly didn't fill out that question either.

Unlike previous censuses you could mail it in yourself.

Who wants the neighborhood guy responsible for distributing the forms

to know anything about your annual income?

It's unlikely the number of Japanese in Japan actually fell.
-1

FoxieOct. 30, 2011 - 12:30PM JST

Japan surely lacks facilities for the elderly. They should invest more in those, that way more jobs would be created too. I don't want to spend my last days here with a robot.
0
frank07Oct. 30, 2011 - 01:58PM JST
two problems with these kinds of robots:
1. no human interaction.
2. costs far more than what any worker could do.
0

BlueWitchOct. 30, 2011 - 02:11PM JST

Along similar lines, technology firm Vstone has introduced “Torero,” a red panda that gives exercise instructions and words of encouragement to help elderly owners remain active.

What?! I thought "Torero" was the name of the character portrayed by Vin Diesel in the movie The Fast and the Furious... LOL!!!
0

sillygirlOct. 30, 2011 - 04:21PM JST

WOW this really speaks to the character of the japanese and not in a good way. so sad that HUMAN interaction is moved to the back seat. i hope when i am old here i have a PERSON to take care of me and not roomba.
0

BlueWitchOct. 30, 2011 - 06:56PM JST

Honestly speaking, I'd rather kill myself than spend my last days with some ROBOT.
0

SerranoOct. 30, 2011 - 07:15PM JST

BlueWitch - You say that because you're still young. Wait until you're old...
0

BlueWitchOct. 30, 2011 - 08:06PM JST

Serrano my friend...I'm 30...not so young anymore in this society. Still, I would prefer a human being with me over a piece of talking hardware. And if there is really NO ONE to be with me, then a loving dog or cat would be welcome.
0

AiserXOct. 30, 2011 - 10:34PM JST

This is ridiculous. The cost of these robots is much more than immigrant workers to do the same thing. If Japan thinks it's going to sell these robots to the rest of the world, it must think the rest of the world is as xenophobic as it is.

The thing is that, in a free market capitalism prices will come down eventually as products become more readily available. An IPod Nano was like $199.99 upon release. Now its like $129.99 or $149.99.The same pattern will happen to these Robots as they become more tech efficient and cost efficient. Eventually making those immigrant workers MUCH more expensive then Robots, especially when you have to factor in language barriers and rate of learning. Where as Robots are built with all the proper needed skills in very little time.
0

kurisupisuOct. 30, 2011 - 10:45PM JST

7 billion people in the world-some people will buy but not on a large scale until price and sophistication improve,,,,,,,,,,
0

JKatsOct. 31, 2011 - 01:10AM JST

So strange attitude... I met many who dont want to marry and not interested to have kids... they dont believe in family establishment, i guess... ruining own future and future of their country... so weird... :(
1

Ash 'Vanguard' BakerOct. 31, 2011 - 10:09AM JST

wasnt there a anime film about this? an elderly man lives in a sort of nursing robot like an advanced form of what was suggested above but the robot takes on the sould of the man's deceased wife..very good.
1

oginomeNov. 01, 2011 - 09:11AM JST

wasnt there a anime film about this? an elderly man lives in a sort of nursing robot like an advanced form of what was suggested above but the robot takes on the sould of the man's deceased wife..very good.

Sounds interesting. Does anyone have the name?
0

cactusJackNov. 08, 2011 - 11:36AM JST

Once they finally deploy the robot, it is already outdated.
0

wolfbiscuitsNov. 08, 2011 - 12:39PM JST

Sounds interesting. Does anyone have the name?

The movie is Roujin Z (老人Z). It was written by Katsuhiro Otomo (the same creator as Akira). It's an excellent film, and the first thing that came to mind when I saw these devices in the media. I guess it was only a matter of time. What a world!
-1

oginomeNov. 11, 2011 - 08:14AM JST

The movie is Roujin Z (老人Z). It was written by Katsuhiro Otomo (the same creator as Akira). It's an excellent film, and the first thing that came to mind when I saw these devices in the media. I guess it was only a matter of time. What a world!

Thanks wolfbiscuits and sorry for the late reply. Gonna go look for it now. :)