Be Afraid of the Robots

They're coming for us and you can't stop them.

[ravingpsycho]

Tomihira at Bottom of the Hill - 02/23/2013

[beafraidofrobots]

Robots Taking Record Number of Human Uteri

The Atlantic recently posted an article that began,

"Robotically assisted hysterectomy became 19 times more common in the U.S. over a period of just four years. Is that good?"

Firstly, no, this is NOT good. Secondly, what the hell?!? 

I may only act like I have a vagina, but I would not want a damn dirty robot going anywhere near my nether regions. Let alone giving me an ectomy of any sort.

Are our doctors all so hopped up on oxycontin that they can't perform surgery anymore? Have robots cut off every doctors' hands? 

Nothing good can come of this. And by the way, what the heck do they do with all that discarded uteri?!

You can read the terrifying story here: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/02/robots-taking-record-number-of-human-uteruses/273346/

[ravingpsycho]

Tomihira performing at Florida St. Festival, San Francisco 07/15/12

[angelinchains]

Misha vs. Dalek

[beafraidofrobots]

Do not hug the Dalek. I repeat, do not hug the Dalek.

[beafraidofrobots]

Robots 1. Humans O.

We can't even beat robot at rock, paper, scissors anymore. Researchers at a Japanese university have created a robot that can out-play you using a high-speed camera to determine your move. (By the way, I think a lot of sentences about killer robots starts with, "Researchers at a Japanese...")

[ravingpsycho]

Tomihira show on Friday, July 6 at Slims! (http://www.slimspresents.com/)

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/307961039299135/

[beafraidofrobots]

Meanwhile, in Non-Robot News ... Come Watch Tomhira at Slim's in San Francisco!

Super-cool band Tomhira plays at Slim's tomorrow in San Francisco. Come watch them and Red Baraat for an awesome way to start your weekend.

SHOW DETAILS: http://www.slimspresents.com/events/2012-07-06/red-baraat-2/

[beafraidofrobots]

I'm Still Alive!

I know it's been a while, but don't worry, I'll be back! The robot overlords tried their best to keep me down, but they didn't succeed. Screw you, robots!

[spankynoodles-blog]

[beafraidofrobots]

An armed robot shooting lasers riding and riding on a unicorn. Epic.

[beafraidofrobots]

For the Sad and Lonely?

I'm not often speechless, but this is cray-cray.

This is a video of some pervert demonstrating what the scientists at Tokyo University of Electro-Communications are billing the world's most accurate robotic buttocks. Technically they're, "humanoid buttocks that represents emotions with visual and tactual transformation of the muscles", which means they were designed to respond the same way our asses do (i.e. clench up when slapped, relax when massaged with a lubed Sharpie) Why? Your guess is as good as mine. "Sex dolls." That was my guess too. Now jam a stick of dynamite between those cheeks and let's end this thing!

[a-skynet-future]

Clothbot: A Robot that climbs your clothes! Really!

Isn’t the robot apocalypse scary enough? Do we really need to design robots that can crawl all over us?! This little guy reminds me of the bug/robot in The Matrix that enters Neo through the belly-button!

[beafraidofrobots]

Just imagine what it would feel like to have this little bugger crawling up your leg.

[beafraidofrobots]

Meet the Blob

This creation reminds me of a robotic jellyfish or octopus. Just carry around a couple of sharp objects and you'll be fine.

[theartofanimation]

Adam Oehlers

[beafraidofrobots]

This gives me the chills.

[beafraidofrobots]

For All the Lonely People Out There

Saw this post on myserendipities this morning. It's from 33rd Square. Isn't this the premise of every robots-go-mad movie? I'm thinking of Surrogates with Bruce Willis, I, Robot with Will Smith, or even A.I. Artificial Intelligence by Steven Spielberg.

A proposal is being put forward by the Robot Companions for Citizens (CA-RoboCom) consortium has the aim of giving a robot to every citizen in the European Union (EU).

According to their press release, this new generation of robots will extend the active independent lives of citizens, bolster the labour force,preserve and support human capabilities and experience, provide key services in our cities, and help us to maintain our planet.

[beafraidofrobots]

Killer Robots Are No Laughing Matter

A good compilation of killer robots from movies and TV from the folks at The Onion. Sure, laugh now.....

[beafraidofrobots]

Meanwhile, Back in Russia...

The robot arms race between U.S. and Russia has begun. Maybe the people who made the Soviet era's infamous Zaporozhet will make their robots too.

[beafraidofrobots]

URL: http://depts.washington.edu/hints/video1b.shtml

This is a really interesting experiment and the video is worth watching, even if it's just to watch the dumbass guy argue with a robot. 

These video clips are from a study we conducted on whether people hold a humanoid robot morally accountable for a harm it causes. In the first video clip presented here, Robovie and a participant play a visual scavenger hunt. The participant has chosen a list of items to find in the lab, and is promised a $20 prize if he can identify at least seven items in 2 minutes. Robovie is in charge of keeping score and making the final decision as to whether or not the participant wins. Although the game is easy enough that all participants win, Robovie nonetheless announces that the participant identified only five items and thus did not win the prize.

As you watch this video, note the tension in the participant's voice. At the end of his interaction with Robovie, he even accuses Robovie of lying. While this participant's reaction was on the strong end of the behaviors we observed, 79% of participants did object to Robovie’s ruling and engage in some type of argument with Robovie.