Technology
Could This Robot That Reads Soon Be Your Restaurant Hostess?
- Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:07pm by
Liz Klimas
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Chyi-Yeu Lin and colleagues at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taipei have created a robot that can read music and sing — however poorly. This eerily lifelike floating head is being taught human expression and interaction and researchers hope it may one day perform tasks like being hostess at a restaurant.
New Scientist describes how the robot works. First it takes a photo of the music with a camera built into its eyes. Then, using an algorithm, it figures out pitch, rhythm and lyrics. For now the robot’s synthesizer sings in Mandarin.
See it for yourself here:
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Comments (92)
Cat
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 5:01amThe first pair of things to come to mind are attached to that bubbly blonde at Hooters.
Report Post »Every time that girl stands next to me and bends over …
Tretka
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 3:44amNo. Just no. And more no. This is more cheesy Asian crap. Have we not already been baptized enough in cheesy Asian crap. No more. No. No heads, no robots, no little cartoon characters, no stupid hair styles, and pointless trends.
NO.
Report Post »VegasGuy
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 8:09amWould you like some head with your fries?
Report Post »Ssenkrad
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:28pmEven worse, that thing is extremely creepy looking. I certainly wouldn’t want to look up from my menu to see that thing standing there, waiting to take my order.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 3:06amHAVE YOU SEEN THE ROBOT BABY… SCARY
http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2011/feb/baby_face_robot.html
Report Post »notmeatglennbeckdotcom
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 2:15amI’ll bet that teacher who got busted with the doll was wishing this thing was available then.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 3:01am.
Report Post »My GPS complains enough.
Gypsy123
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:53amJust like liberals talking heads with no substance;
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:02pmGypsy
Report Post »maybe this is what they can do after we boot them out of office!
work as a vacuous robotic hostess..es
but you will have to reprogrom them to be
nice and banal…
wouldn’t want to spoil our lunch now !
I cant think of a a better job for them to do in their life after govt
they even look the part!
heroc
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:50amIf it doesn’t make its way to a restaurant, I see a home for it in a b-side horror film directed by Sam Raimi. That Made the number four spot of things I will have nightmares over; right behind Big Lou robots, Little Miss No-Name dolls, a blind date with Wasserman Schultz.
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 6:30amAnd I thought the Birger King was creepy!
KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 7:26amThe Burger King is watching you…
And I just shuddered a little when I thought that this robot might be right next to The King, watching…
Report Post »Veritas
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:10amWhy do we need a waitress even now? Why not a touch screen menu at our table that allows us to order what we want when we want. They would only need people to bring it to our table. They could even employee people with a public HS education to pull off the “bring it to my table” portion of this suggestion.
Report Post »Bids
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 10:42pmYes, of course, that would be great! Even more jobs down the drain. Oh wait, why hasn’t the president created jobs? Does this article make the penny drop?
Report Post »Veritas
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:07amI do not fear this technology. People who do were the same kind that were so scared of replacing the horse and carriage with the automobile. We humans are the ones that create these things and at every great juncture, we launch into something new. I agree our children at this point should learn to write application software to run things like this, but it will also spur new mechanics and hardware and perhaps lead us to new heights in space travel. convenience and who knows what else. Do not fear innovation or mankind’s ability to out achieve it!
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 7:59pmIt‘s not the tech I’m scared of.
It’s those souless, dead, demon eyes. Just LOOK at it! That is nightmare fuel. I’d be fine with it if that horrid face was a something LESS creepy… like a blood-vomiting skull!
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on August 18, 2011 at 9:22am@VERITAS you sound like Obama, your mouth moved, but nothing of substance came out!
Report Post »mom4times
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:06amextreme creepy factor
Report Post »NewMOe
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:59amLooks like the new liberal voters, Main stream media in…
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:36amlol
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:48amunemployment is the best way to create jobs – N, Pelosi
Report Post »*Space alien invasion is the best way to stimulate an economy – Obama chief economic advisor Kruegman
ashestoashes
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:40amWell at least it won’t be screaming equal pay with benefits…No workman’s comp….no having to buy insurance or enroll them in government health care.. Fits right in with the communist agenda.
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 7:28amAnd think of the thousands of people that will be employed fixing the things when they start having mechanical problems…
Report Post »Bids
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 10:43pmAnd no jobs! Fits right in with the republican agenda!
Report Post »Middle Finger
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:35amAll head and nothing else?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:24amSo now they are working on doing away with waitresses… perosnally I wouldn‘t go to a restaurant who didn’t have the real thing. You know, living and breathing people!
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:16amI‘ll reserve my opinion until I see how long of a corn dog it can jam down it’s throat.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 1:23amI see, you cant get real women
Report Post »Bids
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 10:45pmAnother pig.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:05amA face that only Bill Clinton could love!
Report Post »Jediusetheforce
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:59pmYou guys work too much. I get 8 weeks of paid vacation living in France. Maybe you should tell the government to cut your taxes since they spend too much. No use in being a slave to the grind.
Blazin Glory
Posted on August 18, 2011 at 9:24pmIts called not being LAZY…. DUH
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:44pmLet’s put it in the Oval Office until November 2012! It would do a better job than Obama!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:48pmWe already know how it works in Daycare.
Biden is the first attempt, but his software is ful of bugs.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:57pmYou have that right; I will even help chip in funding for its deployment for the first Robo President.
Report Post »BannedByHuffpo
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:38pmThe tip is inversely proportional to the depth of the cleveage.
Report Post »Bids
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 10:44pmWhat a pig.
Report Post »RationalMan
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:37pmNo!
Here’s why because when I talk to a human being, I tell her/him, I don‘t want sit across from a family who don’t have there dam kids “Under control”!!!! I’m here with my date or wife not to hear these brats.
Just a nice peaceful music in the background and enjoying good food…
Can a robot handle that??? NO!!!!!
Report Post »Bids
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 10:46pmYour date OR your wife?
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:32pmThey’re taking over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:47pmDo you have to T.I.P. Them…..?
Report Post »I will never eat out where theres a robot waiting my table !
Automation is killing us ! there will be the Rich-the robots-and the slaves!
Just seen a commercial where some cell phone co’s bragging about forklifts driving themselfs !
Thats friggin scary ! Those were peoples jobs 25-40 in this one picture………………..
Man I wonder how kids today keep their sanity………no wonder all they want to do is stay in they’re rooms and play fantasy games !……………………….I tell my son He has to learn to program those operating systems ! ! !
Public Enema
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:52pmthe robots face freaks me out …looks like the pulled her mold from the nuclear site…the japanese and their creepy robots…
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 2:15amI, for one, welcome the coming or our new robotic overlords and offer to give them singing lessons.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:27pmOK, enough with the human faces… until it’s perfected, it’s just creepy.
STOP IT.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:43pmI agree.
Report Post »UrsaMajor
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 8:03pmIf it looked like R2-D2 or Johnny-5 or even the robot Rocky bought for Paulie it’d be awesome.
If I ran into someone with THAT face in a dark alley, I’d p00p my pants!
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:22pmThe Uncanny Valley can’t carry a tune.
Report Post »sing it out
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:20pmSo… does one tip a robot waiter?
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:45pmYes. Nuts, bolts and WD40.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 17, 2011 at 12:14amYou are describing a date with Pelosi, Yuck.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:10pmNo. Next question.
Report Post »