Honda is not just a car manufacturer, though it is their most visible work. They have been trying to correct this, by taking their inventions to the public. In fact, just in January they brought an interesting invention to Edinburgh. A robot. Not just any robot, one which is capable of moving in any direction, turn, use stairs, even run. It also learns. So far it has learned to take most simple commands, dance, and communicate with people. It even knows how and when to wave.
Much like the ideas of i-Robot (not too bad of a film), the robot is designed to help people. Developers are hoping that ASIMO will contribute in hospitals and nursing homes, and eventually make their way to every home in the world.
The idea both excites and terrifies me. As I've mentioned before, I'm quite conservative when it comes to risk. These robots look adorable (like a kid in a space suit), and their sheer existance, which up until a couple of years ago was deemed physically impossible, is a breakthrough in technology. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to never have to do laundry again, or dishes, or cleaning the floors, but it seems to me that we've substituted a bit too much of our work for that of a machine. It's a great idea for hospitals, nursing homes, even fire departments or police stations if used properly, but do we really need another gadget at home?
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