A South Korean robot has become an unlikely actor in an effort to promote Korean technological excellence abroad. According to Lee Ho-Gil, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the institute hopes to improve the ability of its robot technology to the point where robots could actually do staging (moving sets probably) and run sound for plays, “We will try more plays this year with help from the National Theatre and the government”, however, there are some problems with acting robots, “Lee acknowledged that robot actresses find it hard to express the full gamut of emotions and also tend to bump into props and fellow (human) actors . . .”
Naturally, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) have created sexy new flavors for its own consumption, i.e., “robot convergence” and “robotopia“, to express its giddy hopes, which are far greater than merely replacing pesky, flesh-and-blood English teachers.
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Or…am I the replicant?
Given the present state of humanoid robotics their optimism seems grossly disproportionate.
Given the present state of the acting profession. which would make Lassie stand like a giant, robots may be a viable alternative
Actually the picture sort of looks like Jo-jo-san from the latest production of Madama Butterfly at the Met.
But of course, Jo-jo-san in Madama Butterfly doesn’t speak.
Has Disneyland been doing this for like 30 years or something?
Mildly off-topic: In a discussion about technology, I brought up the idea of robot English teachers with one of my classes. I have rarely seen students so fired up! They overwhelmingly consider this to be a very bad idea, perhaps even more so than I do.
Exactly but if one can have robot fights and sex, it will be wildly successful. Chinese, from all over China, will flock to cruise ships and sail all the way up the Han River, docking in Yongsan, just to see the show: Robotopia! I should also phone Interpark’s new president and let him know immediately. He could replace the whole cast of “Gone with the Wind” with robots that look like popular Korean actors, thus him saving money. It would surely make his reputation as well since it would be innovative.
Not to be picky, and not that the new name is any better, but the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy has been called the Ministry of Knowledge Economy since Lee Myung Bak took office in 2008.
Leave it to the Ministry of Knowledge to realize a ubiquitous robotopia through well-being robot convergence to help bring about the Korean information society.
It is still not a bad PR idea in itself since it is a unique way to promote the technological abilities of Korea. I fear that, when the PR people get ahold of this sort of thing, we end up with some silly slogans and red wigs.
This post is just asking for 20 Keanu Reeves/Hayden Christensen jokes in a row. Come on, guys.
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