The Artificial Child - A Step Closer!

[Patrick]

A robot called the iCub, claimed to be the most advanced humanoid robot in Europe, has gone on display in Manchester.

Scientists have designed the robot to mimic the actions of a child - their findings could lead to the development of humanoid robots which learn, think and talk.

[trubble]

I feel like we have been ''just about'' to have humanoid robots in the home that do everything for you and think for themselves for the whole of my life. I am sure there was something on Tomorrow's World about these robots when I was a kid. And there were those virtual reality games where you would really feel you were in the game, what did we get? Wii. And CDs were going to be indestructible. And there were those heat sensitive PVC outfits that we were all supposed to be wearing by the millennium.

I don't believe them anymore.. It's all just a tissue of lies to make us get up in the morning.

[Patrick]

So. Did you get up this morning? Or are you still sitting there in you jimjams? ;D

..........and do I have to fetch the scissors?

I suppose for every large scientific plaything that we see there is always some smaller technical breakthrough that eventually filters it's way onto the market. Like Teflon non stick from the space industry etc. I wonder if with robotics they are now developing more sophisticated artificial joints and moving mechanisms which could possibly benefit the artificial limb - or even replacement limb and joint "market".

Talking of CD's, we once had fun with an annoying little chap at college proving that CD's did jump like LP's - and here I could deliver a punchline where we threw his hifi out of the window - but noting that horrible - just nudged it a little to show they weren't infallible. Was it Tomorrow's World that covered a disc in Marmalade? Or was that Paddington Bear!

[trubble]

I got up but only because I still believed in humanoid robots being invented in time to care for me in my old age. Now that I have given up on them I will have no reason to rise tomorrow much less eat CDs for breakfast.

[trubble]

And whoever allowed Paddington Bear to advertise Marmite instead of Marmalade should be shot.

[Patrick]

Feb 20, 2009 11:32:39 GMT trubble said:

And whoever allowed Paddington Bear to advertise Marmite instead of Marmalade should be shot.

I quite concur! Mind you - at least they used the original telly version rather than the dreadful Americanesque cartoon one that's been on recently.

I expect CD's would be good in bagels - if they were edible of course.