Robots start to interact with humans in almost human ways at the Bio-Likeness Prototype exhibition in Tokyo @gizmag

Yamanaka Laboratory at Tokyo University have been researching how we will interact with robots in the fututre and have just exhibited a series of sculptures that explore this issue in the Bio-Likeness Exhibition.

Robots will form a big part of our lives in the future, but despite the imagination and foresight of the best science fiction writers and filmmakers, it's still not exactly clear how will we accept and interact with them. (GizMag.com)

 The ideas, though seemingly simple, that are explored here open up a discussion, and form a load of questions, as to exactly how we will feel and interact around these mechanical brains that are bound to be such a big part of the future of electronics.



Here are a few of the exhibits:

Flagella

This series of rotating arms moves deceptively smoothly and with a very organic feel even though made of hard plastic and if you look at the video below are pretty creepy!

Cilium

These are exactly what they look like, they react like hairs. Until you interact with them they are still and then a little touch from yourself and they come to life.

Planula

This sculpture waves abstractly....... inviting you to touch it. Beware though, if you do it rushes to get out of your way.

Bio-like display

This really is like something form a sci-fi film. These displays rotate and move whilst displaying random information. When a user sits down they recognise them, using facial recognition, and then set themselves up to display that persons email, favourite channel etc..... what ever the user has previously setup. Cool!

Fuhler

Fuhler looks very simplistic but does something, that again seems simple but is very clever in its execution. When you pull the line, on what looks like a fishing rod, Fuhler pulls back. You push it and Fuhler pushes back. This is the most human of all the exhibits that I've seen reviews for and now need to go to Tokyo.

Heres a video of the exhibition so you can see the 'robots' in action.

and cheers to Gizmag for the review.