tech

SoftBank says Pepper robot remains 'alive' and well

20 Comments
By YURI KAGEYAMA

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20 Comments
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Desert TortoiseJuly 2  07:29 am JST

Pepper is one of those things that is delightfully Japanese. Cherish it. The world needs more levity like this.

For all of us like me who are allergic to animal hair, these droids make good pets.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pepper is one of those things that is delightfully Japanese. Cherish it. The world needs more levity like this.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They need a stronger bodyshell. I bought one for my daleks to play with. It didn't last five minutes. They enjoyed popping the bubblewrap it came in though. Little rascals.

Can't imagine what folk with dementia think when they wake up and see one of these standing next to their beds.

Like most not-there-yet tech, they are a work in progress and a solution looking for a problem. Some tech has a long lead time. A couple of decades ago I was working on distributing intelligence throughout the structure of a robotic dog to mimic design issues in humans. In simple terms, we are physically built to walk. We don't really have to think much about it, because of how we are constructed. The intelligence is inherent in the design. That's what you have to mimic to build replicants, terminators and pleasure droids.

It is great that resources are devoted to the early stages of such technologies. Hopefully SoftBank's genetic labs are progressing well with the catgirls.

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I, on the other hand, have a soft spot for robots that can diffuse nuclear meltdowns and terrorists' bombs. Pepper, I can live without.

As a person working with a team of extremely talented engineers on them, Thank You. Glad to know that at least some-one appreciates our efforts.

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Can anyone explain to me why the japanese love robots so much ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"I am Pepper. Nice to meet you."

"Pepper! Please pass me the salt!"

(Blank stare)

"The Salt!"

"I am Pepper."

Uuhhhhh I think I'll go with the T-1000 instead.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And don’t call it a robot, please…lol That’s at maximum an extended tablet computer with modified moving/ talking input and output interfaces.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I remember taking one of my daughters to hospital with a fever when she was about two years old and they had a Pepper in the waiting area. She took one look at it and started screaming the place down. They had to let us wait in one of the empty examination rooms. Thanks Pepper.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Saw "Pepper" today in front of a store giving Covid prevention advice. I think it's a struggle finding things for this robot to do.

Like the poster above mentioned, I'm waiting for the lonely-guy companion model. She is kind of hot if you look at her for a long time.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

snowymountainhellToday  07:52 am JST

Experts often say, “Too much Pepper is not advisable”. Everything should be ‘taken in moderation’.

I'll take your advice with a pinch of salt

2 ( +3 / -1 )

To be honest, I actually had one of those things, but when it came to choosing between it and the Roomba, I got rid of Pepper.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

SInce it runs android 7 or something perhaps an upgrade?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Still holding out for the pleasure model.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japanese have a soft spot for robots like Pepper that look somewhat human and sometimes appear to show emotion.

I, on the other hand, have a soft spot for robots that can diffuse nuclear meltdowns and terrorists' bombs. Pepper, I can live without.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Creepy little gadget. I hate those things.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Perhaps more “*Bread & Circuses” *before ‘the REALLY BIG Circus’ that’s ‘coming to town’?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Seems to be a BIG push lately with “cute” and upbeat ‘feel good” Japan News stories, like panda births, rhino births, deer stories, . . .

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Experts often say, “Too much Pepper is not advisable”. Everything should be ‘taken in moderation’.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

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