Robots Take Center Stage at World's Fair

[idlisambar]

NAGAKUTE, Japan - The rapper swiveled to the beat while exiting the dance floor, delivering his parting line with a lyrical "Love Robots, Too!"

You could say this rapper is biased. For he is a robot, made by Toyota Motor Corp. (news - web sites) to entertain visitors at this year's World's Fair. The squat, white machine with wheels for legs had earlier danced to a flawless rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" performed by Toyota's "band" of robotic trumpeters and horn players.





http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05083/476282.stm

[Maple]

1. Fantastic!

"NEDO, which stands for New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, estimates Japan's market for service oriented robots like these will mushroom from to $17 billion in five years from nothing now, Yamamoto said."

Now this is 21st century stuff!

[Cascadian]

2. It is sad that Americans aren't interested in World's Fairs anymore.

I kind of missed the golden age of world's fairs in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. I would have loved to go have gone to Brussels in '58. The 1962 Fair in Seattle and see what the now Seattle Center used to look as it was new. New York '64, Montreal '67, Osaka '71, and Spokane '74. They just don't seem to attract people as they used to. It is too bad.


John

[spinbaby]

3. Why not visit this one?

It looks neat and Japan is a great country to visit. Admittedly, it's not a cheap trip, but air fare can often be had for around $600 and Japan isn't as expensive as it's rumored to be.

[Tesha]

4. America isn't interested in the world or knowledge any more.

We, as a country, are interested in watching cars zoom around
around a track, hoping one will crash and explode.

We are interested in goulishly watching a woman starve to death.

We are interested in the sex lives of everyone, everywhere,
whether we have any business with them or not. Our interest
is further piqued if the sex acts in question are out of our
ordinary, day-to-day blase experience.

We are interested in trying to find out the exact day of our
favorite mythological action hero's return for his sequel and
we hope he'll kick the ass of everyone who isn't exactly like
us.

We are *NOT* interested in tring to learn about furiners or
the funny things they do.

We are *NOT* interested in trying to learn how the world works.

We are even less interested in trying to learn how the universe
(as a whole) works, especially when it might contradict our favorite
mythological action hero's explanations.

We will soon be totally and completely obsolete as a society.

We will deserve it.

Tesha

[truthisfreedom]

5. oh, i dunno. the kids in America are building lots of robots.

http://www.robotics.com/

[shanti]

6. they're great fun too

i've been to the seattle and new york world fairs, and still have vivid memories of them, especially the new york world's fair.

strawberry belgian waffles with whipped cream, yum!

[megatherium]

10. I remember the '64 world's fair.

I was 5 at the time. I remember eating sauerkraut and sausage at the German pavillion while the people-mover cruised by overhead. I remember the dioramas of future cities in the GM-sponsored American pavillion. And I remember the Unisphere, which I gather is still there in Queens.

The only other world's fair I've seen was the 1986 fair in Vancouver. That was a blast. I remember the antique flying machines in the Czechloslovakian pavillion; apparently they were early pioneers in flight. I also remember the passionfruit icecream in the very modest Caribbean pavillion. The US pavillion highlighted the planned Space Station. Right after the Challenger disaster, that was very sad. I suppose I should get out and see more fairs, but I lived in Vancouver at the time, so it was easy to get to. (I lived practically within walking distance of it.)

[alarimer]

7. They still have World's Fairs?

I had no idea. Cool.

[MadisonProgressive]

8. That robot in the green dress is hot!

I wonder how long before we can buy our own personal sex kittens?

[SaveAmerica]

9. It looks like she has a lense of some sort in her hat, I wonder if

she's a robot that has help from a control center somewhere that can see who's talking to her and hear the questions asked of her.

[idlisambar]

11. More on the 2005 world exposition, Aichi, Japan

for those interested...

http://www-2.expo2005.or.jp/en/index.html