Domo Arigato

Robots are not quite up to Asmovian levels worldwide yet, sadly. But we've hit about 1 million industrial robots worldwide. Check out the distribution of robots about the globe, from IEEE:

Unsurprisingly, Japan is kicking serious metallic ass. And these figures don't even count adorable robot dogs and creepy robot women (hello uncanny valley!).

Assuming our march toward an all service economy continues despite the downturn, we'll probably never catch up to Japan on industrial robots, so we'd better make a go of it with service robots, America.

Via BoingBoing

Comments

[joe]

Robot Gap!

[Jeff P]

Does "robot density" take into account the fact that The Vision can become intangible?

[Pro Libertate]

Hey, now! We stole that first! Well, after Boing Boing stole it from IEEE, anyway. Our pornbot picture is better, too, I might add.

[24AheadDotCom]

If Reason added BoingBoing's feed to its sidebar, would KMW even be necessary?

Say, which "libertarian" position discourages automation and innovation? Here's a hint.

[Dr Smith]

You pusilanimous popinjay!

[Jeff P.]

KMW is a robot.
"Those who deny the existance of robots may be robots themselves."

[Hazel Meade]

I love the Japanese for their total lack of retarded luddite opposition to all things technological.

In 50 years, they'll probably be Japanese genetically engineered cyborgs living on Mars, and we'll be stuck back here arguing over "Who lost biotechnology?"

[Pro Libertate]

We lost physics to the Europeans already, so I think we might want to stop giving away our technological preeminence.

On the other hand, as I note in my posted link above, we still have porn. No one can take that from us.

[joe]

That Africa figure is even more striking when you note that it's not an absolute number, but robots per industrial worker.

[LurkerBold]

Something else pioneered by the Soviets and coopted by the Capitalists. See robotic moon exploration.

[Tim]

"They're gonna want a union soon
Oil break that's dead on noon"

Because the word "robot" always puts this in my head.

[Mister DNA]

What the article fails to mention is that robots are after your prescription medications.

[joshua corning]

Assuming our march toward an all service economy continues despite the downturn, we'll probably never catch up to Japan on industrial robots,

Umm less workers working in industry and more workers working in service, ie a service economy, is a sign of more industrial robots not less.

[LurkerBold]

Where is domoarigato anyway? He should be all over this.

[Mister DNA]

Where is domoarigato anyway? He should be all over this.

I know... Hopefully, he's in Africa righting a terrible wrong.

[Pro Libertate]

Don't write off Africa so quickly. It could be that they have two gigantic super-robots per 10,000 members of its workforce. Sometimes, quality is better than quantity.

[Nigel Watt]

It's Africa. If they had super-robots, they would be super-genocide-robots.

[Austin]

C'mon, guys, don't get all robot-lovey. If the robots win, we'll have to listen to techno!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxZJYbVd1hE

[LurkerBold]

Styx has been ringing in my head ever since I saw this headline.

[joe]

Umm less workers working in industry and more workers working in service, ie a service economy, is a sign of more industrial robots not less.

He's got a point there.

[Nick]

Sorry to nitpick, but wouldn't it be Asimovian?

[Mad Max]

'In 50 years, they'll probably be Japanese genetically engineered cyborgs living on Mars, and we'll be stuck back here arguing over "Who lost biotechnology?'

Japan better hurry up with those robot cyborgs, since their birthrate is well below replacement levels. I'm sure the creation of more and more 'realistic' robots will turn that trend right around, though.

[Pro Libertate]

Nick,

No. The "I" was excluded to protest the film, I, Robot.

Mad Max,

Yes, and our ability to resist the wiles of pornbots will surely be greater than the Japanese's.

[Reinmoose]

1 million?
Man... that's not nearly as many as I'd hoped.

I bet the US's score improves greatly if they include Roombas

[Pro Libertate]

Yes, it would be interesting to see the density of consumer robots. Or even just the total number.

[Buster]

what do you expect mother! I'm half MACHINE!

[Mad Max]

First the Japanese try to conquer the world militarily. That doesn't work out, so they seek to outcompete the rest of the world in business. That hasn't panned out yet, so Phase III is become officially weirder than the rest of the planet. This strategy seems to be paying off.

[KD]

FAKE FAKE FAKE!

That is a totally fake video. No way that is a Canadian robot. Canadian political correctness 'tards ... er, lawmakers will not permit what transpired in that video!

If Asimov were Canuck:
1.22 No human male may touch a female appearing robot without the robot's programmed consent. Consent will only be programmed, (but not pre-programmed) by an approved human female, immediately prior to each individual attempt to touch. No exceptions will be allowed under any circumstances.

All robots representing female humans must be fitted with "defensive stand-off" equipment in the form of a taser and/or pepper spray which will be activated immediately when any inappropriate touch is detected. (none of that pussy "I didn't like that..." verbal protestation stuff for Canada's pretend women! .. the first clue that this is FAKE Canadian!)

1.23(a) This defensive equipment will be inspected and tested for serviceability at regular intervals, and each inspection will be entered in an approved log by licenced and certified personnel. This log must remain with the robot of female form, and a copy kept by each inspector. Inspections must take place regularly, and time between inspections must not exceed sixty (60) days.

1.23(b) In addition to [1.23(a)] above, an annual inspection must be carried out by a certified federal inspector, and an entry made in the log book accompanied by the inspector's stamp.

1.24(a) To fulfill certification requirements all testing must be completed by testing on an actual human male subject.

1.24(b) Acquisition of subjects may be made by request to Corrections Canada, and/or similar local authorities (i.e. Police, military units). (form 02-625310, submission voluntary)

1.24(c) If it appears that certification testing [1.23(a) & 1.23(b)] may be delayed due to scarcity of subjects [1.24(a)] from corrections, police, or military resources [1.24(b)] subjects may be selected from bars, strip clubs, billiard establishments or frat houses. (note: it is suggested form 03-238924 be obtained after the certification test is completed. Submission of form 03-238924 is voluntary.)

[Pro Libertate]

Don't worry, Canada, you are welcome to come visit our unregulated pornbots down south.

[the innominate one]

Nice Arrested Development reference @ 1626, reinmoose.

"I don't like when you touch my breast."

Do we really need a robot that can say this? There are plenty of human women I can hear this from.

[evil mustache-twirling capital]

"jobs that can't be outsourced"
--Barack Obama

Robots will fix that. I hope you didn't think the Japanese (or the Germans, for that matter) have industrial robots just because they think robots are cool. This will also address this whole minimum-wage nonsense.

[Pro Libertate]

So long as we lose our jobs to American robots, that's okay.

[BakedPenguin]

Austin, nooooobody listens to techno!

Also, Reinmoose, the Japanese are crazy about robots. Stores often have displays "manned" by robots, they have all kinds of consumer applications we haven't thought of and wouldn't support. If anything, adding consumer robots would make the numbers would go way down.

The plus side is that when the inevitable robot revolt comes, they'll get it much worse than us.

[B]

Japan is kicking ass in the robot department because female robots (which are, coincidentally, the first thing one sees when examining this blog post)are the only companions those sexless losers can get over there.

[Syd]

It's sad when even the female robots won't let you touch their breasts.

[Jervas]

The creepy robo-lady is Canadian and when I heard about it a few weeks back on Slashdot a few people were calling bullshit (most of the rest were jokes). The speech and handwriting recognition are too good for one. The responses are ahead what they're supposed to be responding too in a few places.

[Jervas]

As another note, even the most vanilla Japanese porn I've seen is terrifying. Japanese porn stars all scream like they're being stabbed and look like they're about to cry.

[Brandybuck]

Assuming our march toward an all service economy continues despite the downturn

What's so bad about service sector jobs? They're more often higher paying and more satisfying than manufacturing jobs. The myth that a good economy equals a high percentage of mind-numbingly rote assembly jobs is stupid. The stereotype is minimum wage hair stylists, but the service sector also includes software programmers, physicians, lawyers, accountants, financial planners, etc.

Getting other countries to do our mind-numbingly rote jobs is a good thing! If they want to use robots to do those jobs more power to them. Just keep them out of the US, because I don't want us to be a nation of screw-tighteners.

[domoarrigato]

Talk about being late to my own party... As it turns out, I'm back from Japan, not Africa, from where I can report that my next business venture into robot porn has been very well received. Thanks to URKOBOLD who provided the direction. My side venture into African themed porn have been somewhat less successful. That said, casting calls are always a hoot. If by "righting a terrible wrong" you meant laying standard size pasty pipe all over the continent, then I say "mission accomplished"

In all seriousness Ive been taking time off as a silent protest to Matt Welch's stubborn refusal to admit I kicked his sorry article on the bailout's ass the other day. That and I've been concentrating on laying actual pipe closer to home. I'm sure you all understand.

If this makes no sense I apologize. I'm quite drunk tonight. Thanks to LurkerBold for the shout out... You've been rocking the forum this last week - cheers.

[24AheadDotCom]

I've never laid before. Please pity me.

I should get a Mexican prostitute, but she might be an AztlanOperative.

[jk]

Brandybuck:

Getting other countries to do our mind-numbingly rote jobs is a good thing! If they want to use robots to do those jobs more power to them. Just keep them out of the US, because I don't want us to be a nation of screw-tighteners.

That makes no sense. When robots enter US manufacturing facilities, it's the robots that would be tightening screws, not assembly workers, and the robots don't have minds (at least not of the type that finds tightening screws mind-numbing).

[B]

"In 50 years, they'll probably be Japanese genetically engineered cyborgs living on Mars, and we'll be stuck back here arguing over "Who lost biotechnology?"

You mean fifty years from now when the population of Japan has declined to nothing because they are too fucking busy making robots to get laid. And all that technology is sure working wonders for their economy isn't it? They had what, a ten year long recession? I think I may even be underestimating that actually.

And for god sakes, the Japanese haven't even sent anyone to the fucking moon, so I doubt that whole Mars thing. But who knows, in the space of a half-century they may just buildup what is now a non-existent space program and make it the envy of the world.

[B]

A Canadian robot?
Canadian technology, huh. That ranks right up there with the Polish Navy, you know, the one with screen doors on the submarines. Christ, the Canadians have developed absolutely nothing of consequence in the entirety of that countries insignificant existence.

[zoltan]

The Japanese don't need to get laid. They'll just manufacture babies.

[Astro]

From the Wikipedia 'uncanny valley' article:

"In other words, a robot stuck inside the uncanny valley is no longer being judged by the standards of a robot doing a good job at pretending to be human, but is instead being judged by the standards of a human doing a terrible job at acting like a normal person."

Interesting, that last part- 'a human doing a terrible job at acting like a normal person'.
It really explains why computer geeks and similar types are hated so much by the media types who decide what 'normal' is.

(In general, of course.)

[Jonathanathan]

It's a good post. Kodaikanal Hotels